title: Human herpesvirus type 8 in salivary gland tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The new human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in all types of Kaposi's sarcomas, as well as in body-cavity lymphomas and Castleman's disease, furthermore molecular biologic studies have identified a number of potential viral oncogenes. There is evidence for sexual transmission of HHV-8 in HIV-seropositive patients, but the route of infection among the HIV-seronegative population is uncertain. Findings of HHV-8 DNA in saliva in some cases are suggestive of nonsexual transmission associated with latent infection of the salivary gland (as it is known for EBV, CMV, HHV-6 and HHV-7).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As little is known about the etiological factors of salivary gland tumors and to give more insights into HHV-8 cell tropism normal salivary gland tissue (n=12) and different salivary glands neoplasm (n=58) were tested for HHV-8 sequences and antigens in HIV-seronegative patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies of both normal salivary gland and tumors were investigated for HHV-8 sequences. A nested-PCR method was used for amplification of HHV-8 DNA fragments and the nature of the amplification products was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. In addition, we used an in situ hybridization technique and immunohistochemical staining for detection of HHV-8 infected cells. The sera of the respective patients were tested for anti-HHV-8 antibodies using commercial IFA and an ELISA-assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HHV-8 DNA sequences could be detected in one bilateral MALT-lymphoma of the parotid gland of a HHV-8 seropositive female patient suffering from Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The remaining parotid samples did neither show HHV-8 sequences nor HHV-8 antigens. Using above assays only one additional patient was seropositive for HHV-8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that HHV-8 does not usually infect the salivary gland in HIV-seronegative patients and does not seem to play a pathogenic role in vascular and epithelial salivary gland neoplasm. Pathogenic role of HHV-8 in Sjögren's syndrome associated MALT-lymphoma remains unclear and should be subject of further studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Cologne Medical School, D-50924, Cologne, Germany. peter.klussmann@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Klussmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guntinas-Lichius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jungehuelsing
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sloots
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Ablashi
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Krueger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral