Absence of Kaposi Sarcoma Among Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel Despite High Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8

Kaposi's sarcoma had been recognized as unique human cancer for a century before it manifested as an AIDS-defining illness with a suspected infectious etiology. The discovery of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus-8, in 1994 by using representational difference analysis, a subtractive method previously employed for cloning differences in human genomic DNA, was a fitting harbinger for the powerful bioinformatic approaches since employed to understand its pathogenesis in KS. Indeed, the discovery of KSHV was rapidly followed by publication of its complete sequence, which revealed that the virus had coopted a wide armamentarium of human genes; in the short time since then, the functions of many of these viral gene variants in cell growth control, signaling apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immunomodulation have been characterized. This critical literature review explores the pathogenic potential of these genes within the framework of current knowledge of the basic herpesvirology of KSHV, including the relationships between viral genotypic variation and the four clinicoepidemiologic forms of Kaposi's sarcoma, current viral detection methods and their utility, primary infection by KSHV, tissue culture and animal models of latent- and lytic-cycle gene expression and pathogenesis, and viral reactivation from latency. Recent advances in models of de novo endothelial infection, microarray analyses of the host response to infection, receptor identification, and cloning of full-length, infectious KSHV genomic DNA promise to reveal key molecular mechanisms of the candidate pathogeneic genes when expressed in the context of viral infection

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“…Despite clinical heterogeneity, all forms of KS in Africa are associated with KSHV infection (62,92,104,176,290 (201).…”

Section: Endemic (African) Ksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Genetics of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

Dourmishev

Palmeri

et al. 2003

Microbiol Mol Biol Rev

309

367

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“…After the identification of HHV8 as the etiologic agent of KS, the C. Reinheimer (&) Á R. Allwinn Á M. Stürmer Institute for Medical Virology, JW Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany e-mail: claudia.reinheimer@kgu.de development of serological assays made seroepidemiological studies possible. Generally, HHV8 has a restricted geographical distribution, ranging from approximately 1-3% in North American blood donors to more than 70% in regions of Africa where HHV8 is endemic; however, a low prevalence is observed in the general population [13] which is in contrast to most other human herpes viruses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do fewer cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma in HIV-infected patients reflect a decrease in HHV8 seroprevalence?

Reinheimer

Allwinn

Stürmer

2011

Med Microbiol Immunol

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Infection with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) is associated with development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS); therefore also known as KS-associated herpes virus. KS is closely associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and consequently HHV8 seroprevalence is higher in HIV-infected compared to HIV-negative patients. Currently, KS is rarely seen in clinical practice, which might be a consequence of an optimized anti-HIV treatment leading to an improved immunological status, or alternatively of a decrease in HHV8 prevalence. To determine the prevalence of HHV8 antibodies in HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative patients from the University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and to compare our results with previously published data to illustrate trends in the spread of infection. Hundred serum samples each of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were analyzed for HHV8 antibodies by using an IgG immunofluorescence test. The overall HHV8 seroprevalence was 16% with no statistically significant gender-specific differences; however, the distribution between the HIV-infected patients and the HIV-negative control group was significantly different (30 and 2%, respectively). The highest rate of seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients was detected at the age of 40-49 (42%) and the lowest rate at the age of 20-29 years (16.6%). In comparison with formerly conducted studies, our data clearly showed an increase in the HHV8 seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients, both in men and women. Therefore, we conclude that the low rate of clinical KS is associated with an improved immunological status due to an optimized anti-HIV therapy.

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“…In general, the seroprevalence rates of KSHV in different geographical regions correlate with the incidence rates of CKS (Gao et al, 1996;Chatlynne and Ablashi, 1999;Schulz, 1999;Antman and Chang, 2000). Yet, genetic and/or environmental cofactors affecting the risk of CKS after KSHV infection probably play an important role, and thus may modify the relationship between the seroprevalence of KSHV and incidence of KS (Ariyoshi et al, 1998;Goedert et al, 2002;Grossman et al, 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of classic Kaposi's sarcoma in the Israeli Jewish population between 1960 and 1998

et al. 2003

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Absence of Kaposi Sarcoma Among Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel Despite High Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8

Abstract: Although HHV-8 infection is common in Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel, these patients almost never develop KS, in marked contrast to the strong association usually observed. The mechanism behind this population's unique protection requires further study.

Cited by 28 publications

References 21 publications

Molecular Genetics of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

Molecular Genetics of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) Epidemiology and Pathogenesis

Do fewer cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma in HIV-infected patients reflect a decrease in HHV8 seroprevalence?

Epidemiology of classic Kaposi's sarcoma in the Israeli Jewish population between 1960 and 1998

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