title: HHV-8 infection and multiple myeloma.
abstract: Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease. Recently, this gamma-herpes virus was also found in the nonmalignant bone marrow dendritic cells of the majority of myeloma patients. In addition, HHV-8 is also detectable in the peripheral blood of most myeloma patients. In contrast, this virus is rarely detected in close contacts of myeloma patients or healthy subjects. Furthermore, only about one-third of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are infected with HHV-8. Sequencing of HHV-8 DNA isolated from myeloma patients shows both interpatient differences and conserved differences unique to myeloma compared to HHV-8 in other malignancies. Consistent expression of both the viral homologs of interferon regulatory factor and interleukin-8 receptor in myeloma suggests a possible role for these transforming viral genes in the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Sjak-Shie
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vescio
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berenson
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D012747:Sexual Partners