title: The role of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in the pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma.
abstract: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an unusual vascular tumour caused by an oncogenic-herpesvirus, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV 8). KS lesions are characterized by an abundant inflammatory infiltrate, the presence of KSHV-infected endothelial cells that show signs of aberrant differentiation, as well as faulty angiogenesis/ vascularization. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of these histological features of KS, with an emphasis on the viral proteins that are responsible for their development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, Hannover-Braunschweig Site, Germany.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gramolelli
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014774:Virulence
keywords: KSHV; Kaposi sarcoma; aberrant angiogenesis; atypical differentiation; inflammation; invasiveness; oncogenesis