Figure 1

A human herpesvirus 8 K1 peptide induces dose-dependent cell death and activates caspase cascade in BJABK1 cells. BJABK1 cells were pulse-treated for 1 hour with 100 μM concentration of indicated Ig-like domain-derived peptides and 200 ng/mL of FasL (A), 100 μM concentration of the indicated peptide alone (B), and increasing concentrations of S20-3 or S8-2 peptides (C). Cells were, subsequently, incubated in a complete medium for 24 hours, stained with AnnexinV/PI, and examined by flow cytometry. (D) BJABK1 cells were treated with 100 μM peptide or DMSO for 1 hour. The cells were then washed and incubated in complete medium for 4 hours. Fluorometric caspase activity was analyzed by flow cytometry. The results are presented as means ± SD of triplicate wells. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences compared with control treatment; *P < 0.05.