Detection of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in normal prostates.
BACKGROUND
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA has been detected in semen and prostatic tissues in some, but not all reports. We have analyzed prostate tissues from HHV-8 seropositive men for the expression of viral proteins and determined if expression of these proteins are associated with increased inflammation.


METHODS
Paraffin sections of non-cancerous prostates from HHV-8 seropositive (n = 16) and seronegative (n = 2) men who died with AIDS were screened for expression of three viral proteins by immunohistochemistry. Levels of inflammation were determined by expression of CD68 and CD20. Cellular proliferation was determined by expression of Ki67.


RESULTS
Among the 16 HHV-8 seropositive cases, 68.9% (11/16) (95% C.I. = 0.41-0.89) were positive for HHV-8 protein expression, while the 2 seronegative patients showed no HHV-8 protein expression. There was increased inflammation among HHV-8 positive prostates.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that HHV-8 is present in normal prostates of HIV-infected men and the expression of viral proteins is associated with increased localized inflammation.
Montgomery
J D
JD
Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Jacobson
L P
LP
Dhir
R
R
Jenkins
F J
FJ
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C113454:K8.1 protein, Human herpesvirus 8; C109540:latency-associated nuclear antigen