Heterogeneity of viral IL-6 expression in HHV-8-associated diseases.
In order to characterize the expression of the viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6) homologue in various human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)-associated diseases, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were applied to formalin-fixed specimens. These assays showed consistent expression of vIL-6 in primary effusion lymphomas and in a case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lymphadenopathy with a Castleman's disease-like appearance. In contrast, Kaposi's sarcoma specimens showed marked differences among specimens. In a consecutive series of specimens from the Johns Hopkins archives, vIL-6 expression was demonstrated in one of 13 cases. However, among 7 specimens selected from the AIDS Malignancy Bank because of their high levels of the T1.1 lytic transcript and virion production, vIL-6 expression was consistently demonstrated in infiltrating mononuclear cells and occasional spindle-shaped cells. Thus vIL-6 expression in clinical specimens correlates with other measures of the lytic viral cycle. Both assays generally give congruent results and are consistent with the possibility that vIL-6 expression plays a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of HHV-8-associated diseases.
Cannon
J S
JS
Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Nicholas
J
J
Orenstein
J M
JM
Mann
R B
RB
Murray
P G
PG
Browning
P J
PJ
DiGiuseppe
J A
JA
Cesarman
E
E
Hayward
G S
GS
Ambinder
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008223:Lymphoma; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014764:Viral Proteins