Angiogenesis, Kaposi's Sarcoma and Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus.
Tumor angiogenesis is the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels in tumors, serving to supply nutrients and oxygen, and remove metabolic wastes. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a multifocal angioproliferative disorder characterized by spindle cell proliferation, neo-angiogenesis, inflammation, and edema, is associated with infection by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Recent studies indicate that KSHV infection directly promotes angiogenesis and inflammation through an autocrine and paracrine mechanism by inducing pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Many of these cytokines are also expressed in KS lesions, implicating a direct role of KSHV in the pathogenesis of this malignancy. Several KSHV genes are involved in KSHV-induced angiogenesis. These studies have provided insights into the pathogenesis of KS, and identified potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy.
Kang
Tao
T
Tumor Virology Group, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China;
Ye
Feng-Chun
FC
Gao
Shou-Jiang
SJ
Wang
Lin-Ding
LD