High Prevalence of Torque Teno (TT) Virus in Classical Kaposi's Sarcoma

Abstract

Human herpes virus 8 infection is the primary and necessary factor in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma, but is not sufficient per se to trigger the onset of the disease. In order to search for virological cofactors associated with the occurrence of the disease, we investigated the prevalence of active infection by two newly discovered viruses, hepatitis G virus and TT virus, among patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma. Serum of 24 patients with Mediterranean Kaposi's sarcoma was investigated using polymerase chain reaction and compared with that of 68 healthy subjects. Cutaneous samples from patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and healthy subjects were investigated for TT virus DNA. No patient had serum markers for hepatitis G virus. TT virus DNA was present in the serum of 21/24 (87.5%) patients and 32/68 (47%) controls (p=0.002). TT virus DNA was present in the lesional skin of 5/18 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (27.7%), but not in the skin of controls. TT virus might play a role as a cofactor in the clinical emergence of Kaposi's sarcoma in patients infected with Human herpes virus 8, perhaps by immunosuppressive effects or by a common transmission pathway for these two viruses.

Characterization of Stool Virome in Children Newly Diagnosed With Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis

“…42,43 Although they have been detected in fluid and tissue samples representing a wide range of human diseases, they are also found in in healthy individuals. [43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Some studies suggest that anelloviruses may impact the severity of inflammation through the regulation of inflammatory cytokine homeostasis. It has been proposed that a higher prevalence of anelloviruses may alter the balance of proinflamatory cytokines and that anelloviruses may indirectly augment disease.…”

Kaposi sarcoma: A continuing conundrum

“…It has been speculated that this virus might be a cofactor. 60 Other factors may also be significant, such as volcanic or iron-containing wet clay soil inducing inflammation and lymphedema on the lower extremities. Lymphedema, in particular, may produce local immunosuppression and thererfore represent an immunologically vulnerable site for the development of KS and other neoplastic proliferations.…”

Prevalence of Torque teno virus in healthy donors of Paraná State, southern Brazil

“…Epidemiological studies have evidenced the prevalence of TTV in other pathological conditions, such as in autoimmune diseases, 4 respiratory conditions 6 and cancer. 7 However, information is still lacking on TTV infection and the development of pathologies, as well as the change in the course of a particular disease. 3 , 5…”