title: The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus-8) in Kaposi's sarcoma, malignant lymphoma, and other diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two novel nonhuman DNA fragments were discovered in an AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesion using representational difference analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  These sequences belong to a previously unidentified gamma-2-herpesvirus exhibiting homology with Herpesvirus saimiri and Epstein-Barr virus. This virus was named Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and provisionally designated human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  KSHV is detectable in more than 90% of classical-Mediterranean, iatrogenic, endemic-African, and AIDS-epidemic KS lesions. In situ PCR studies have demonstrated KSHV in the spindle cells and endothelial cells of KS lesions. KSHV appears to be a transmissible B-lymphotropic herpesvirus. It is detectable in circulating B cells in some HIV-infected patients, and this finding appears to predict the future development of KS among these individuals. KSHV has been identified in a rare and distinct subset of malignant lymphoma referred to as body cavity-based lymphoma but not in other lymphoid neoplasms. KSHV is absent from most other HIV- and non-HIV-associated lymphadenopathies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies should lead to a better understanding of the role of KSHV in the pathogenesis of these disorders and may eventually show that KSHV represents the long sought-after etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cesarman
mesh_terms: D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000821:virology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000821:virology*