Detection of antibodies against viral capsid proteins of human herpesvirus 8 in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.
Sequences of a new herpesvirus with homology to gammaherpesvirinae were recently identified in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Subsequently this novel virus, called KS-associated virus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus (HHV) 8 was detected in classical KS and AIDS-associated body cavity based lymphomas by polymerase chain reaction. In this report major and minor capsid proteins of HHV-8 were molecularly cloned and produced as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Sera from 69 HIV-1 infected patients with KS, 30 HIV-1 infected patients without KS and 106 control individuals were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-HHV-8 capsid IgM and IgG antibodies. Sera from four patients were tested over periods ranging from 18 months to 6 years. IgG antibodies directed against HHV-8 capsid antigens were detected in patients with AIDS-associated KS and in some AIDS patients without KS. Seroconversion with IgM and IgG antibodies directed against HHV-8 capsid proteins occurred more than 1 year prior to diagnosis of KS. In a considerable portion of KS patients no IgM or IgG antibodies against HHV-8 capsid proteins were detected. In these patients there was an inverse relationship between antibodies against HHV-8orf26 and the CD4/CD8 ratio, suggesting that the inconsistency of anti-HHV-8orf26 antibodies is due at least partly to an impaired immune response. No reactivity against HHV-8 capsid antigens was detected in the vast majority of sera from HIV-negative control individuals. Our findings indicate that a specific humoral immune response against capsid proteins is raised in HHV-8 infected individuals, and that anti-capsid antibodies can be used to diagnose HHV-8 infection. The correlation between occurrence of anti-HHV-8 antibodies and KS supports the hypothesis of a causative role of HHV-8.
André
S
S
Max-yon-Pottenkofer Institut für Virologie, Universität München, Germany.
Schatz
O
O
Bogner
J R
JR
Zeichhardt
H
H
Stöffler-Meilicke
M
M
Jahn
H U
HU
Ullrich
R
R
Sonntag
A K
AK
Kehm
R
R
Haas
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D000914:Antibodies, Viral