Human herpesvirus type 8 variants circulating in Europe, Africa and North America in classic, endemic and epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma lesions during pre-AIDS and AIDS era.
Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) variants have been found heterogeneously distributed among human populations living in diverse geographic regions, but their differential pathogenicity in Kaposi's sarcoma development remains controversial. In the present study, HHV-8 variant distribution has been analyzed in classic, iatrogenic, endemic as well as epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) during pre-AIDS and AIDS period (1971-2008) in countries with different KS incidence rate. DNA samples from cutaneous KS lesions of 68 patients living in Africa (n=23, Cameroon, Kenya and Uganda), Europe (n=34, Greece and Italy) and North America (n=11) have been subjected to PCR amplification of HHV-8 ORF 26, T0.7, K1 and K14.1/15, followed by direct nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Among the 23 African samples, the majority of HHV-8 ORF 26 variants clustered with the subtype R (n=12) and B (n=5). Conversely, the viral sequences obtained from 45 European and North European tumors belonged mainly to subtype A/C (n=36). In general, HHV-8 and K1 variant clustering paralleled that of ORF 26 and T0.7. Genotyping of the K14.1/15 loci revealed a large predominance of P subtype in all tumors. In conclusion, comparison of the HHV-8 sequences from classic or endemic versus AIDS-associated KS showed a strong linkage of the HHV-8 variants with specific populations, which has not changed during AIDS epidemic.
Tornesello
Maria Lina
ML
Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology and AIDS Reference Centre, National Cancer Institute "Fondazione Pascale", Cappella Cangiani, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Biryahwaho
Benon
B
Downing
Robert
R
Hatzakis
Angelo
A
Alessi
Elvio
E
Cusini
Marco
M
Ruocco
Vincenzo
V
Katongole-Mbidde
Edward
E
Loquercio
Giovanna
G
Buonaguro
Luigi
L
Buonaguro
Franco M
FM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*