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Herpesvirus‐like DNA sequences in classic Kaposi's Sarcomas
Author(s) -
Sarcomas Kaposi'S,
Rady Peter L.,
Yen Angela,
Martin Robert W.,
Nedelcu Ioan,
Hughes Thomas K.,
Tyring Stephen K.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890470212
Subject(s) - biology , virology , polymerase chain reaction , reverse transcriptase , kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus , sarcoma , virus , malignancy , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , herpesviridae , viral disease , genetics , pathology , medicine
Abstract Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) accounts for more than 15% of AIDS‐related malignancies. The etiology of KS is unresolved but is postulated to be multi‐factorial, involving viruses and overexpression of cellular growth factors and/or oncogenes. Recently, herpesvirus‐like sequences (KSHV) were identified with high prevalence in AIDS‐KS (AKS), endemic KS, and in classic KS biopsies (CKS). To confirm the presence and the prevalence of the KSHV sequences, 18 CKS and 13 AKS samples were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. To our knowledge this is the highest number of CKS samples that has ever been included in a single study, and it is also important that the biopsies were obtained from different institutions and geographical locations. KSHV sequences were detected in 100% of the AKS samples and 72% of the CKS biopsies using PCR analysis. The presence of the unique KSHV sequences was confirmed by direct sequencing of representative PCR products obtained from AKS and CKS samples. Reverse transcriptase (RTI‐PCR experiments showed that the KSHV sequences were transcribed to mRNA in both AKS and CKS samples. Our results confirm that the putative new herpesvirus‐like agent is associated with both AKS and CKS and may have an etiological role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy. © 1995 WiIey‐Liss, Inc.