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Clinical Microbiology Reviews, July 2002, p. 439-464, Vol. 15, No. 3
0893-8512/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.3.439-464.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Spectrum of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus, or Human Herpesvirus 8, Diseases

Dharam V. Ablashi,1,2* Louise G. Chatlynne,1 James E. Whitman, Jr.,1 and Ethel Cesarman3

Advanced Biotechnologies Inc., Columbia, Maryland,1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.,2 Department of Pathology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York3

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), discovered in 1994, is a human rhadinovirus (gamma-2 herpesvirus). Unlike other human herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, and HHV-7), it is not widespread in the general population and has many unique proteins. HHV-8 is strongly associated with all subtypes of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), multicentric Castleman's disease, and a rare form of B-cell lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma. In addition, HHV-8 DNA sequences have been found in association with other diseases, but the role of the virus in these diseases is largely unconfirmed and remains controversial. The seroprevalence of HHV-8, based on detection of latent and lytic proteins, is 2 to 5% in healthy donors except in certain geographic areas where the virus is endemic, 80 to 95% in classic KS patients, and 40 to 50% in HIV-1 patients without KS. This virus can be transmitted both sexually and through body fluids (e.g., saliva and blood). HHV-8 is a transforming virus, as evidenced by its presence in human malignancies, by the in vitro transforming properties of several of its viral genes, and by its ability to transform some primary cells in culture. It is not, however, sufficient for transformation, and other cofactors such as immunosuppressive cytokines are involved in the development of HHV-8-associated malignancies. In this article, we review the biology, molecular virology, epidemiology, transmission, detection methods, pathogenesis, and antiviral therapy of this newly discovered human herpesvirus.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Advanced Biotechnologies Inc., Rivers Park II, 9108 Guilford Rd., Columbia, MD 21046. Phone: (301) 470-3220. Fax: (301) 497-9773. E-mail: dablashi{at}abionline.com.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, July 2002, p. 439-464, Vol. 15, No. 3
0893-8512/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.3.439-464.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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