C O M M E N T

Viral IL-6 l i n k e d t o c a n c e r ?
ultiple myeloma (MM) is a
M common form of cancer in
which plasma cells in the bone
marrow begin to proliferate un-
controllably. Little is known about
the factors leading to MM, but one
cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), has
been identified as a potent growth
factor for myeloma cells. A recently
identified virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-
associated herpesvirus (KSHV),
encodes a viral form of IL-6 that is
homologous to the human form
and also demonstrates similar bio-
logical activity. Rettig et al. have
now observed that the stromal cells
in the bone marrow of M M patients
are infected with KSHV. Surpris-
ingly, KSHV is only found in the
bone marrow stromal cells and
does not appear to infect the plas-
ma cells directly. As KSHV seems
to be absent from the bone marrow
of healthy individuals or patients
with other malignancies, infection
with KSHV and the production of
viral IL-6 may play a causative
role in M M by transforming nor-
mally quiescent plasma cells into
plasmacytomas. In contrast to
other oncogenic viruses, which
infect the actual cells that become
cancerous, M M may provide an
example of how a viral infection
of one cell type (bone marrow
stromal cells) leads to the malig-
nant transformation of another
cell type (plasma cells becoming
plasmacytomas).
Rettig, M.B. etal. (1997) Kaposi's sar-
coma-associated herpesvirus infection
of bone marrow dendritic cells from
multiple myeloma patients, Science
276, 1851-1854
Mark Slifka
e-mail: mslifka@scripps.edu

TTO

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Editor Adrian Bird, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Edinburgh

October issue: H o w to sequence a small genome

A poster f r o m Trends in Microbiology a n d Trends in Genetics
by Claire Fraser a n d colleagues at the Institute of G e n o m i c Research.

Recent technical advances have led to an exponential rise in the number of small genomes being completely
sequenced. This poster aims to highlight the key steps required to resolve small genomes, from random sequencing
to microarray analysis.

Copyright© 1997ElsevierScienceLtd.Allrightsreserved.0966 842X/97/$17.00

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