AIMS Kaposi's sarcoma is a vascular tumour of uncertain pathogenesis possibly caused by an infectious agent, identified in high risk groups. Accumulating solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and seroepidemiological data suggest that a previously undescribed herpes DNA virus (human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)) is the causative agent. Using a unique cohort of early Kaposi's sarcoma, the precis...

BACKGROUND The presence of Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) DNA is predictive of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) among patients with HIV-associated or iatrogenic immunosuppression. However, correlates of HHV8-DNA detection in the general population remain undefined. METHODS We assessed correlates of HHV8-DNA detection among Italian adults without KS who had antibodies against HHV8-latent nuclear antigen by imm...

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus, causes Kaposi’s sarcoma (1) and is associated with body cavity-based lymphomas and multicentric Castleman’s disease (2,3). HHV8 is spread sexually (4,5), but other routes of transmission probably exist because, in some cases, infection has been shown to be acquired in childhood in HHV8-endemic areas, such as Mediterranean E...

BACKGROUND It has already been established that the prevalence of human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) in the general population varies among different geographical areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HHV8 infection in the Greek population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight hundred blood samples were collected consecutively from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative in...

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is a herpesvirus that is always associated with Kaposi sarcoma. An enzyme-linked immunoenzymatic assay was used to detect antibodies to the latent nuclear antigen of HHV8 in kidney transplant patients and kidney transplant candidates from Tunisia. A significantly high HHV8 seroprevalence was documented; 17% of kidney transplant patients and 23% in kidney transplant ca...

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), which has been suggested as the causal agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. We describe a patient affected concomitantly by sarcoidosis and KS. HHV8 sequences were detected with PCR only on KS lesions, whereas sarcoid tissues did not harbor HHV8 DNA. Immune dysfunction related to sarcoidosis may have facilitated...

BACKGROUND Although rare in mainland Japan, classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is frequently reported in Okinawa, a subtropical island in southern Japan. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has been identified in the tumours and geographical differences occur. AIM To sequence HHV8 in classic and AIDS associated KS in Okinawa. MATERIALS/METHODS Eight classic KS cases, one AIDS associated KS, five granulom...

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection leads to potent activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in primary and transformed cells. We used recombinant HHV8 (rKSHV.219) expressing green fluorescent protein under the constitutive cellular promoter elongation factor 2α and red fluorescent protein under an early HHV8 lytic gene promoter T1.1 to monitor replication during infection of human foreskin...

BACKGROUND The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is increased severalfold in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV). Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has also been implicated in KS. We investigated several factors that may determine the onset of KS, particularly HHV8 infection in individuals after becoming seropositive for HIV. METHODS We studied 366 individuals belonging t...