Kaaya EE, Massambu C, Pyakurel P, Heiden T, Castanous-Velez E, Biberfeld P, Enbom M; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C10942.

Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, University of Dar-Es-Salaam, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most common tumor in HIV patients in Tanzania, is associated with herpes virus 8 (HHV8) but the pathogenesis is multifactorial and at present not clear. We analyzed the presence of HHV8 in biopsies and sera of AKS and EKS at various stages of development. Methodology: HHV-8 infected cells were evaluated by expression of the latent viral antigen (LANA) and phenotypic cell markers by triple immunostaining and serum HHV8-DNA by quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Frequency of LANA+ cells varied with stage of AKS and EKS in relation to CD34+ tumor spindle cells (SC). A fraction (35-45%) of CD34+ cells at nodular, patch and plaque stages were LANA negative, suggesting heterogeneity in cell population with regard to infectivity. A minor fraction (5-10%) of LANA+ cells in patch stages was CD34 negative mostly with an apparent leucocytic morphology. Proliferating Ki67+ cells were seen at all stages but more frequent in early than late KS. No significant difference in the relative number of CD34+/LANA+ cells was seen in comparable stages of AKS and EKS. Serum HHV8 DNA was moderately higher in AKS than EKS, and in males than females. In healthy Tanzanian blood donors HHV8 serum levels were significantly lower compared to KS patients. Few macrophages were HHV8+ at different stages of KS development. Conclusions: HHV8 in KS biopsies is mostly associated with SC but also other cells. The majority of CD34+ SC are LANA+ suggesting a selective advantage in viability for infected cells. The presence of considerable number of LANA-negative SC may reflect a continuous recruitment of non-infected SC precursors during KS development. The presence of HHV8 DNA in the serum indicates a high risk for blood transmission.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Antigens, CD34
• Antigens, Viral
• Communicable Diseases
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Herpesvirus 8, Human
• Humans
• Male
• Sarcoma, Kaposi
• Tanzania
• epidemiology
• immunology

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0033002

UI: 102277216

From Meeting Abstracts