​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Kaposi Sarcoma ( Human Herpesvirus type 8)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Kaposi Sarcoma  ( Human Herpesvirus type 8) 
Patients with AIDS are mostly affected by epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (KS), which is caused by Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8). KSHV is spread through semen and saliva.
 KS is an endothelial cell-derived spindle-cell tumor that causes lesions on the skin, face, or oral cavity that start off as bruised or discolored patches and eventually develop into ulcerated nodules. KSHV also causes multicentric Castleman disease, a multicentric angiofollicular B-cell lymphoproliferative illness, and primary effusion lymphoma, an AIDS-associated B-cell lymphoma in bodily cavities.

 HHV-8 causes latent infection in B cells and preferentially infects endothelium and B lymphocyte cells. Numerous viral homologues of cell growth regulating genes that enhance cell proliferation, block apoptosis, and encourage angiogenesis are encoded by HHV-8. Uncontrolled expression of the HHV-9 latency genes causes endothelial cells to undergo cell transformation and B cells to proliferate, which results in vascular tumors and B-cell lymphomas.

PCR, in situ immunohistochemistry, or DNA hybridization are used to identify HHV-8 infection.
Identification

 There is no vaccination to prevent infection with HHV-8, nor is there a specific antiviral treatment for the virus.
Notes The most prevalent cancer linked to AIDS is KS.

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