Lipoxins are host anti-inflammatory molecules that play a vital role in restoring tissue homeostasis. The efficacy of lipoxins and their analog epilipoxins in treating inflammation and its associated diseases has been well documented. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) are two well-known inflammation related diseases caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Controlling inflammation is one of the strategies adopted to treat KS and PEL, a primary motivation for exploring and evaluating the therapeutic potential of using lipoxins. This study documents how KSHV manipulates and downregulates the secretion of the anti-inflammatory lipoxin A4 in host cells and the viral factors involved in this process using Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also termed human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and B-cell lymphoproliferative primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). KS is a proliferative angiogenic tumor of endothelial cells characterized by vascular red/purplish lesions in the skin (1-3). PEL, also known as body cavity lymphoma, is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma primarily present in the body cavity (4). KS and PEL are a significant cause of death in HIV patients. The presence of a suppressed host immune system along with KSHV-coded immunomodulatory proteins contributes to KSHV infection, and the lifelong KSHV latency establishment is the primary factor for pathogenesis (5, 6). KSHV utilizes its latency cluster containing ORF73 (latency-associated nuclear antigen 1 [LANA-1]), ORF72 (viral cyclin [vCyclin]), ORF71 (K13/ vFLIP), and ORFK12 (kaposins A, B, and C), as well as 12 distinct pre-microRNAs, to modulate the host immune system and maintain lifelong latency (7-9). KSHV also encodes several homologs of cytokines and chemokines to alter the immune response (6).KSHV induces several proinflammatory host molecules such as COX-2/PGE2, 5-lipoxygenase, and LTB4 to establish latency and aid in its pathogenesis (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Beside upregulating proinflammatory pathways, KSHV also modulates the immune system by downregulating anti-inflammatory pathways (15). Since altering the host immune system is the hallmark of KSHV infection and pathogenesis, it is important to understand the relationship between the various components of the host immune system and KSHV to design better therapeutics.To date, there is no effective treatment for KS and PEL. Current treatment involves the use of chemotherapeutics that work by targeting DNA replication of all dividing cells. This approach has the following disadvantages: low efficacy, cytotoxic side effects, depletion of CD4, and risk of secondary malignancies. Above all, these anticancer drugs do not control viral replication and pathogenesis. Surgery is an expensive alternative effective for small size lesions the chance of disease relapse is high. Since KSHV in KS and PEL remains primarily in the latent form, antiviral drugs are not

The evaluation of proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis is a common technique used by biochemistry and molecular biology researchers. For laboratories that perform daily analyses of proteins, the cost of commercially available polyacrylamide gels (~$10/gel) can be considerable over time. To mitigate this cost, some researchers prepare their own polyacrylamide gels. Traditional methods of pouring these gels typically utilize specialized equipment and glass gel plates that can be expensive and preclude pouring many gels and storing them for future use. Furthermore, handling of glass plates during cleaning or gel pouring can result in accidental breakage creating a safety hazard, which may preclude their use in undergraduate laboratory classes. Our protocol demonstrates how to pour multiple protein gels simultaneously by recycling Invitrogen Nupage Novex minigel cassettes, and inexpensive materials purchased at a home improvement store. This economical and streamlined method includes a way to store the gels at 4°C for a few weeks. By re-using the plastic gel cassettes from commercially available gels, labs that run frequent protein gels can save significant costs and help the environment. In addition, plastic gel cassettes are extremely resistant to breakage, which makes them ideal for undergraduate laboratory classrooms.

The evaluation of proteins using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis is a common technique used by biochemistry and molecular biology researchers [1][2][3][4] . For laboratories that perform daily analyses of proteins, the cost of commercially available polyacrylamide gels (˜$10/gel) can be considerable over time. To mitigate this cost, some researchers prepare their own polyacrylamide gels. Traditional methods of pouring these gels typically utilize specialized equipment and glass gel plates that can be expensive and preclude pouring many gels and storing them for future use. Furthermore, handling of glass plates during cleaning or gel pouring can result in accidental breakage creating a safety hazard, which may preclude their use in undergraduate laboratory classes. Our protocol demonstrates how to pour multiple protein gels simultaneously by recycling Invitrogen Nupage Novex minigel cassettes, and inexpensive materials purchased at a home improvement store. This economical and streamlined method includes a way to store the gels at 4°C for a few weeks. By re-using the plastic gel cassettes from commercially available gels, labs that run frequent protein gels can save significant costs and help the environment. In addition, plastic gel cassettes are extremely resistant to breakage, which makes them ideal for undergraduate laboratory classrooms.