The
latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA-1) or
latent nuclear antigen (LNA, LNA-1), is a
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated
herpesvirus (
KSHV) latent
protein initially found by Moore and colleagues as a speckled nuclear antigen present in primary effusion lymphoma cells that reacts with antibodies from patients with KS. It is the most immunodominant KSHV protein identified by Western-blotting as 222–234 kDa double bands migrate slower than the predicted molecular weight. LANA has been suspected of playing a crucial role in modulating viral and cellular
gene expression. It is commonly used as an antigen in blood tests to detect antibodies in persons that have been exposed to KSHV.