title: Analysis of the ORFK1 hypervariable regions reveal distinct HHV-8 clustering in Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Kaposi's cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Classical Kaposi's Sarcoma (cKS) is a rare vascular tumor, which develops in subjects infected with Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). Beside the host predisposing factors, viral genetic variants might possibly be related to disease development. The aim of this study was to identify HHV-8 variants in patients with cKS or in HHV-8 infected subjects either asymptomatic or with cKS-unrelated cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The VR1 and VR2 regions of the ORF K1 sequence were analyzed in samples (peripheral blood and/or lesional tissue) collected between 2000 and 2010 from 27 subjects with HHV-8 infection, established by the presence of anti-HHV-8 antibodies. On the basis of viral genotyping, a phylogenetic analysis and a time-scaled evaluation were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two main clades of HHV-8, corresponding to A and C subtypes, were identified. Moreover, for each subtype, two main clusters were found distinctively associated to cKS or non-cKS subjects. Selective pressure analysis showed twelve sites of the K1 coding gene (VR1 and VR2 regions) under positive selective pressure and one site under negative pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, present data suggest that HHV-8 genetic variants may influence the susceptibility to cKS in individuals with HHV-8 infection.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology, San Gallicano Dermatology Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, Rome, 00144, Italy. cordiali-fei@ifo.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cordiali-Fei
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trento
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovanetti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Agosto
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordignon
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farchi
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lesnoni La Parola
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sperduti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristaudo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ensoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000235:genetics*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C111600:K1 protein, Human herpesvirus 8; D014764:Viral Proteins