Detection rate and intratumoral virus load of human herpesvirus-8 in immunodeficiency-related B-cell lymphoid malignancies.
Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and Castleman's disease, has been found in circulating B-cells and might have a causative role in B-cell malignancies associated with immunodeficiency syndromes. We determined the rate of detection and intratumoral virus load of HHV-8 by means of a semiquantitative approach in post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLDs), AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), including both Burkitt's lymphomas (BLs) and large cell lymphomas (LCLs), as well as in control groups consisting of follicular hyperplasias (FHs) and HIV-negative LCLs. HHV-8 sequences were detected at a similar rate in HIV-negative PTLDs (24%), HIV-negative LCLs (22%) and HIV-negative FHs (17%). The detection rate was significantly higher in HIV-positive BLs (73%), HIV-positive LCLs (67%), and HIV-positive FHs (65%) supporting the view of an epidemiological link between HHV-8 and HIV infections. The viral load was 10(2) genome copies per cell in the single case of primary effusion lymphoma included in the LCL group while it was 10(-3) copy per cell (median value; range: 10(-4)-10(-1)) in all the other HHV-8-positive samples. No significant difference of viral load was found according to HIV status. The virus loads of PTLDs and HIV-positive LCLs were significantly higher than those observed in HIV-positive BLs and FHs, suggesting, to some extent, that the degree of immunodeficiency may influence HHV-8 replication. However, with the exception of the single case of primary effusion lymphoma studied, the low intratumoral load of HHV-8 strongly argues against a direct causative agent of the virus in the occurrence of PTLDs and AIDS-related NHLs.
Feuillard
J
J
Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Centre Hospitalier Avicenne, Bobigny, France.
Aubin
J T
JT
Poirel
L
L
Davi
F
F
Kujas
M
M
Rousselet
M C
MC
Angonin
R
R
Raphaël
M
M
Agut
H
H
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000821:virology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral