HERPESVIRUS-LIKE DNA-SEQUENCES DETECTED IN ENDEMIC, CLASSIC, IATROGENIC AND EPIDEMIC KAPOSIS-SARCOMA (KS) BIOPSIES

The identification of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) clusters in sub-equatorial Africa (endemic KS, AKS) and the high frequency of KS in sexually tra nsmitted AIDS (epidemic KS, EKS), have previously suggested a role for infectious agents in the etiopathogenesis of KS. The recent identific ation of herpesvirus (HHV)-like DNA sequences in one Ease of EKS and t heir detection in >90% of all tested EKS, prompted us to determine the prevalence of these viral sequences in all types of KS, such as AKS, EKS, classic KS (CKS) and iatrogenic KS (IKS). The presence of herpesv irus(HHV)-like DNA sequences has been examined in 61 KS skin tumors ob tained from Greece, Italy, USA, Uganda and Kenya. All KS types(100%) w ere positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern-blot anal ysis, while 5 out of b (83%) and 4 out of 7 (57%) uninvolved autologou s skin biopsies from AKS and CKS patients, respectively, were positive for HHV-like sequences. All samples from non-KS patients were negativ e, i.e. 17 human biopsies from healthy individuals or patients affecte d by other pathologies, 5 human cell lines and 15 peripheral blood mon onuclear cells (PBMC) from HIV-positive subjects. These results sugges t that HHV-like sequences play a major role in the pathogenesis of thi s neoplasm. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.