HHV-8 (KSHV) does not establish latency in prostate cancer cell lines.
BACKGROUND
HHV-8 is a new herpesvirus found in lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma and some lymphoproliferative diseases. More recently, a report stated that normal prostate tissue also contains the virus.


METHODS
The expression of HHV-8 was examined by a sensitive reverse-transcriptase PCR for the viral genes ORF 72, ORF 73, ORF 74, and ORF 75. In coculture experiments we attempted to infect 3 commonly studied prostate cancer cell lines using induced and uninduced lymphoid cell lines harboring HHV-8 (KS-1, BC-1, and BC-2). For induction of viral genes, butyrate and phorbol esters were used.


CONCLUSIONS
At baseline, prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU-145, and PC-3 did not express viral gene products. Extensive coculture experiments were also negative. In no instance could latency for the virus be established. Our results argue against the involvement of HHV-8 in prostate cancer and for a limited tissue tropism of HHV-8.
Munker
R
R
Division of Hematology, UCLA Cedars Sinai Medical Center, USA. munker@gsf.de
Tasaka
T
T
Park
D
D
Miller
C W
CW
Koeffler
H P
HP
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D002087:Butyrates; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins