Human herpesvirus 8 cellular immune responses in homosexual men.
Little is known about cellular immunity to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). T cell proliferative responses to purified HHV-8 were measured in homosexual men, a group with elevated HHV-8 seroprevalence and high risk of KS. None of 20 blood donor controls had T cell responses to HHV-8. Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative homosexual men, 8 (42%) of 19 HHV-8 seropositive men responded as did 4 (16%) of 25 HHV-8 seronegative men. Among HIV-positive homosexual men, however, none of 21 HHV-8 seropositives had T cell responses to HHV-8, even though most responded to common recall antigens, and 10 had >/=400 CD4 cells/mm3. The results suggest that HHV-8 T cell proliferative responses are common in HIV-negative homosexual men and that HIV infection may be associated with diminished HHV-8 cellular immunity, possibly before there is substantial depletion of CD4 cells. If correct, this could explain why KS occurs relatively early in HIV infection/AIDS.
Strickler
H D
HD
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Strickle@aecom.yu.edu
Goedert
J J
JJ
Bethke
F R
FR
Trubey
C M
CM
O'Brien
T R
TR
Palefsky
J
J
Whitman
J E
JE
Ablashi
D
D
Zeichner
S
S
Shearer
G M
GM
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral