title: Human herpesvirus-8.
abstract: Our current understanding of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has evolved from initial descriptions of this "idiopathic sarcoma" to a progressively detailed characterization of its probable infectious origin. This article traces the explosive discovery of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) and its etiologic associations with KS, Castleman's disease, and primary effusion lymphomas. A framework for understanding how viral infection leads to development of these unusual disease is presented. The possible role of HHV-8 in tumorigenesis, through viral manipulation of signal transduction pathways and cell cycle control, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gillison
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ambinder
mesh_terms: D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000821:virology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000821:virology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000821:virology