title: Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV patients.
abstract: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare cutaneous tumor caused by human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) infection that preferentially develops in case of severe immunosuppression, such as in HIV/AIDS disease. Haptoglobin (Hp), a polymorphic multifunctional plasma protein, exerts several immunomodulatory effects and is characterized by a genetic polymorphism leading to three major phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1 and Hp 2-2). This study investigated the influence of Hp genetic polymorphism on the development of KS in HIV-positive patients. 661 HIV patients were enrolled in the study with a median age of 35 years and a median follow-up time of 57 months. Hp phenotyping was performed using hemoglobin-supplemented starch gel electrophoresis. In case of low Hp concentration high pressure gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) was used. The Hp 1-1 phenotype was associated with a significant higher risk of KS compared to the combined group of Hp 2-1 and Hp 2-2 patients (p < 0.0005) which remained significant after adjustment for possible confounding variables (age, gender and AIDS status) (p < 0.001). In contrast, the Hp 2-1 phenotype carried the lowest risk. These findings point to the involvement of Hp phenotypes in the pathogenesis of KS, which may be due to a difference in skin immunosurveillance between the Hp phenotypes.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors: Reinhart
authors: R
authors: Speeckaert
authors: Bob
authors: B
authors: Colebunders
authors: Johan R
authors: JR
authors: Boelaert
authors: Lieve
authors: L
authors: Brochez
authors: Jos
authors: J
authors: Van Acker
authors: Filip
authors: F
authors: Van Wanzeele
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hemmer
authors: Marijn M
authors: MM
authors: Speeckaert
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Verhofstede
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: De Buyzere
authors: Vic
authors: V
authors: Arendt
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Plum
authors: Joris R
authors: JR
authors: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins