Human herpesvirus type 8 and Kaposi's sarcoma.
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus or human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) is present in all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) as well as in primary effusion lymphomas and some cases of Castleman's disease. In KS tissues, HHV-8 is present in endothelial and spindle cells. Current serologic tests suggest that HHV-8 is predominantly found in those at risk of KS and is not as widespread as most other human herpesviruses. HHV-8 encodes various proteins that may play a role in promotion of cellular growth, including cyclin- and G-coupled protein receptor homologues, and anti-apoptotic proteins, including Bcl-2, IL-6 (i.e., interleukin 6), and FLIP (i.e., FLICE inhibitory protein) homologues. In addition, HHV-8 encodes two macrophage inflammatory-like proteins with anti-human immunodeficiency virus and angiogenic potential.
Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, London, U.K.
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Weiss
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Whitby
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Talbot
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Kellam
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Boshoff
D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D006801:Humans; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000821:virology*