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PubMed2005

High incidence of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection in HIV-related solid immunoblastic/plasmablastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is known to be associated with two distinct lymphoproliferative disorders: primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD)/MCD-associated plasmablastic lymphoma. We here report a high incidence of KSHV infection in solid HIV-associated immunoblastic/plasmablastic non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), in patients lacking effusions and without evidence of (prior) MCD. Within a cohort of 99 HIV-related NHLs, 10 cases were found to be KSHV positive on the basis of immunostaining for KSHV LNA-1 as well as KSHV-specific polymerase chain reaction. All but one of the tumors coexpressed Epstein-Barr virus. Interestingly, all KSHV-positive cases belonged to a distinctive subgroup of 26 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas characterized by the expression of CD138 (syndecan-1) and plasmablastic/immunoblastic morphology. These KSHV-positive lymphomas were preceded by Kaposi sarcoma in 60% of the patients and involved the gastrointestinal tract in 80%. Our results indicate that KSHV infection is not restricted to PEL and MCD; it is also common (38%) in HIV-related solid immunoblastic/plasmablastic lymphomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Video imaging of firefly luciferase activity to identify and monitor herpesvirus infection in cell culture.

Expression of reporter genes incorporated into complex viral genomes is being used increasingly to monitor virus infection in cell culture and in the organism. One of the most sensitive markers is luciferase from Photinus pyralis which catalyzes a luminescent reaction that can be traced in cell and organ extracts in luminometers. A novel method is described for monitoring Iuciferase activity after infection of cells with recombinant herpesvirus (pseudorabies virus) which carries stably and expresses luciferase using ultra high sensitive photon-counting enhanced video image acquisition. The data show that firefly luciferase activity in virus-infected cells can be monitored without destruction of the cells using video equipment for either macroscopic image acquisition or microscopy. Resolution down to a single-cell level can thereby be achieved. This method increases greatly the potential of monitoring virus infection in real time with a non-destructive highly sensitive method in cell culture and should also help to assay viral spread in the animal.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of progressive lymphoproliferation and malignant lymphoma in persistent active herpesvirus infection.

Persistent active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infections may be accompanied by extensive lymphoproliferative reactions mimicking malignant lymphoma. Such atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferations (APL) can frequently be separated from malignant lymphoma only by detailed immunopathologic and virologic studies. Recommended procedures include immunotyping of lymphoid cells, extensive viral serology, in situ hybridization and Southern blotting for viral DNA, gene rearrangement and DNA ploidy studies. Clear separation of APL from malignant lymphoma is essential for therapeutic planning.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection in sex workers and women from the general population in Spain.

Transmission routes of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in the general population are poorly understood. Whereas sexual transmission appears to be common in homosexual men, the evidence for heterosexual transmission is less convincing. In our study, prevalence of KSHV infection was examined among women in the Spanish general population and among sex workers. Subjects consisted of 100 prostitutes and 100 women randomly sampled from the general population and age-matched to the prostitutes. Women had a personal interview and gynecologic examinations in which a blood sample, cervical cells and oral cells were obtained. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), oral and cervical samples were tested for KSHV DNA by quantitative real-time PCR. Sera were tested for antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by ELISA and against KSHV by latent IFA and K8.1 ELISA. Women who were positive in either serologic assay or PCR were considered infected by KSHV. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical scrapes were evaluated using the Hybrid Capture System. The study population had an average age of 30 years and were HIV-negative. Women from the general population were largely of Spanish nationality, and 61% reported lifetime monogamy. The majority of the prostitutes (76%) were immigrants, primarily from South America. Sex workers were twice as likely to be infected with KSHV than women in the general population (16% vs. 8%, prevalence odds ratio [OR] = 2.2). KSHV was more prevalent among HPV DNA-positive women (OR = 2.5) and among women with an early age at first sexual intercourse (OR = 2.7, p < 0.05). KSHV DNA was detected by PCR in 3% of the oral cavity samples, in 2% of the cervical samples of the prostitutes and in 1% of the cervical samples of women in the general population. All PBMC samples were negative. These results suggest that in low-risk countries for KSHV, oral shedding and heterosexual contacts are potential pathways for KSHV transmission.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Rejection, herpesvirus infection, and Ki-67 expression in endomyocardial biopsy specimens from heart transplant recipients.

We examined 164 endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 29 patients who received an orthotopic heart transplant since 1984. Rejection was graded according to the Hannover classification. Non-isotopic in situ DNA hybridization was conducted on cryostat sections with biotinylated probes for herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus. Serial sections of 126 biopsies were investigated immunohistochemically for the presence of activated T lymphocytes and proliferating cells, with monoclonal antibodies against interleukin 2 receptors (CD 25) and Ki-67 antigen. Relations between rejection grades, presence of proliferating cells, and presence of herpesvirus DNA were determined for the total number of biopsies. For some patients correlation of these parameters was studied over time. Herpesviral nucleic acids were detected in 25% of all biopsies: 37% of biopsies with relevant rejection (grades A 2 or A 3; 39% of all biopsies) compared to 18% of biopsies graded A 0, A 1, or A 5 (61% of all samples) (P less than 0.01). 56% of the biopsies with infection showed relevant rejection as compared with only 33% of the uninfected. Ki-67 expression was found in 41% of all biopsies, mainly in infiltrating cells: 69% of biopsies with relevant rejection compared with 23% of cases of minor/no rejection (P much less than 0.001). Ki-67 expression was also associated with herpesvirus infection: 66% of infected biopsies contained Ki-67 positive cells compared with 33% of uninfected biopsies (P less than 0.001). Herpesvirus infection was usually observed within the interstitial cell population, which, in many cases, displayed a considerable Ki-67 expression, too. In few cases only, hybridization was unequivocally found in vascular wall cells or myocytes. Viral myocarditis does not only mimic graft rejection morphologically, but it may also affect the course of rejection, via induction of antigenic changes or direct injury of cardiac tissues. Virus infections may also elicit or aggravate obliterative coronary artery disease, and thus contribute to accelerated graft atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Recent advances in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection.

Herpesviruses are highly disseminated in nature, and nearly 100 Herpesviruses have been at least partially characterized. Seven Herpesviruses have been isolated so far from humans and one has recently been detected by sequence analysis. Consequently, the diagnosis of human Herpesvirus infection is based on eight different viruses. The diagnosis of a Herpesvirus infection can be achieved through the direct demonstration of the presence of the virus or its components (mainly nucleic acids and antigens) in pathological materials or indirectly through serology. In recent years much progress has been made in both directions and thanks to the detailed study of the viral genomes and their antigenic gene products and by the determination of the immune reactivity against individual antigenic polypeptides in different clinical settings. Progress in the direct detection of the viruses in pathological materials mainly regards the production of specific probes and their use with or without DNA amplification for the detection of viral genomes. Serological advances are mainly linked to the production, characterization and use of specific viral antigens by DNA recombinant procedures and by the production and use of synthetic peptides acting as good antigenic epitopes.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗
PubMed1999

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-infected primary effusion lymphomas.

Primary effusion lymphomas (PELs), which are rare lymphomas associated with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (or human herpesvirus-8) infection, present as malignant lymphomatous effusions in body cavities. Because PELs prefer liquid growth, we hypothesized that increased vascular permeability would be required for effusions to form. We found that the PEL cell lines BC-1, BCP-1, and BCBL-1 produce high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of RNA from the PEL cell lines amplified the 3 VEGF-secreted isoforms: VEGF/VPF(121), VEGF/VPF(145), and VEGF/VPF(165). Two of the PEL cell lines expressed the VEGF/VPF receptor Flt-1, but VEGF/VPF did not stimulate proliferation in these cells. Most (13/14) control SCID/beige mice inoculated intraperitoneally with BCBL-1 cells and subsequently observed or treated with control antibodies developed effusion lymphoma of human cell origin with prominent bloody ascites. In contrast, none (0/9) of the mice treated with a neutralizing antihuman VEGF/VPF antibody developed ascites and effusion lymphoma. These results demonstrate that VEGF/VPF is critical to BCBL-1 growth as effusion lymphoma in mice and suggest that VEGF/VPF stimulation of vascular permeability may be critical to the pathogenesis of PELs.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Herpesvirus infections in animals].

Eighty different types of animal herpesviruses are known that affect mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles and molluscs. During evolution the viruses adapted to each animal species, and thus interspecies transmission of an infection does not occur. An exception is the Aujeszky virus, which has a wide host spectrum. In addition to morphology and a typical virus-host relationship herpesviruses of man and animals possess such common characteristics that their overall aspects can be viewed. On this basis, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, immunology, therapy and prophylaxis are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Diagnosing herpesvirus infections by real-time amplification and rapid culture.

Procedures using real-time technique were developed to demonstrate the presence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in miscellaneous clinical specimens. The assays were compared to rapid culture using centrifugation followed by detection with monoclonal antibodies. A total of 711 consecutive samples were collected from different patient groups. Throat swabs were obtained from transplant patients; dermal or oral specimens were collected from patients suspected for VZV or HSV infection. Genital specimens were taken from patients who attended the Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the Dijkzigt Hospital Rotterdam presenting with symptoms of a primary genital ulcer. Nucleic acid extraction was carried out using a MagnaPure LC instrument. The amplification steps were performed on the ABI Prism 7700 sequence detection system. To monitor the process of extraction and amplification, a universal control consisting of seal herpesvirus type 1 (PhHV-1) was added to the clinical specimens. By culture 127 of 668 (19%) samples were positive for HSV-1, 72 of 668 (10.8%) specimens were positive for HSV-2, and 17 of 366 (4.6%) were positive for VZV. Using real-time amplification the numbers of positive specimens were 143 of 668 (21.4%), 97 of 668 (14.5%), and 27 of 366 (7.4%), respectively. Eighty-six specimens were tested for CMV, 12 (14.0%) were positive by culture, and 17 (19.8%) were positive by real-time PCR. The clinical data of the patients with discrepant results were reviewed thoroughly. In all cases the patients with only real-time PCR-positive results could be considered as truly infected. We concluded that the real-time amplification technique is suitable for the detection of human herpesvirus infection. It offers a semiquantitative and reliable assay with a quick result that is more sensitive than rapid culture, especially for the diagnosis of HSV-2 and VZV infections.

Computer Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Turkey herpesvirus infection in chickens: induction of lymphoproliferative lesions and characterization of vaccinal immunity against Marek's disease.

Chickens vaccinated at hatching with high doses of turkey herpesvirus (HVT) developed viremia that peaked in titer around the 12th day and gradually declined. HVT infection also induced mild microscopic lymphoproliferative lesions in the nerves and gonads. These lesions were most prominent around the 12th day and then regressed. The fact that such lesions were also induced by HVT in cyclophosphamide-treated chicks suggests that they were T-cell-dependent. Some of the cells in early HVT lesions appeared to have morphologic properties of neoplastic cells. HVT viremia and lesions were both dose-dependent and were less in chickens with maternal antibodies against Marek's disease virus (MDV). Sequential studies on chickens vaccinated with HVT and challenged with MDV showed that chickens were protected against the earliest detectable MD viremia and lymphoproliferative lesion response attributed to MD. Also, the transient necrobiotic lesions associated with productive infection of thymic lymphocytes by MDV were totally absent in vaccinated chickens. These data provide further insight on the mechanisms by which HVT protects against MD lymphoma induction. A limited oncogenic (transforming) potential of HVT as suggested by our data would provide the basis to assume that at least one component of HVT-induced immunity may be directed against tumor-specific antigens. On the other hand, our observations that HVT protects against productive MDV infection in the thymus and against cell-associated viremia are evidence for an anti-viral immune response. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Naturally-occurring neonatal canine herpesvirus infection.

The detailed clinical and epidemiological history and the pathology of neonatal canine herpesvirus (CHV) disease in a naturally infected litter of pups is reported. Herpesvirus was isolated from the brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney and intestine of one of the affected litter which died on day 10 after whelping. The isolation of virus correlated with the distinctive gross and histological changes in these organs. Herpesvirus was isolated also from the anterior vagina of the bitch 18 days after whelping --a finding which may be of significance in the epidemiology of the natural disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Virus-induced atherosclerosis. Herpesvirus infection alters aortic cholesterol metabolism and accumulation.

Infection of normocholesterolemic, specific-pathogen-free chickens with Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDV) has been shown histologically to lead to chronic atherosclerosis like that in humans. The development of herpesvirus-induced atherosclerosis in vivo and the presence of specific Marek's antigen within aortic cells suggested that MDV infection may modify lipid metabolism and lead to significant lipid accumulation. Experiments reported herein were designed to determine the types and quantity of lipid present in aortas from MDV-infected and uninfected chickens between 2 and 8 months of age following infection and assess one possible mechanism of lipid accumulation by evaluating the effect of MDV infection on aortic cholesterol and cholesteryl ester (CE) metabolism. Chromatographic-fluorometric analyses indicated that at 4 and 8 months of age after MDV inoculation, MDV-infected animals had a significant (P less than 0.05) two-fold to threefold increase in total aortic lipid accumulation characterized by significant increases in cholesterol, CE, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid as compared with aortas from uninfected animals. At 8 months of age, similar increases in aortic lipid accumulation were observed in MDV-infected animals as compared with those animals vaccinated with turkey herpesvirus and later challenged with MDV. CE synthetic activity was increased significantly by 50% at 4 months of age in the MDV-infected group as compared with the uninfected group, which could explain the initial increase in CE accumulation. By 8 months of age, the authors also observed a twofold increase in CE synthetic activity and a 30% and 80% reduction in lysosomal and cytoplasmic CE hydrolytic activities, respectively, in aortas of MDV-infected chickens as compared to controls. Moreover, infection with MDV blocked the activation of cytoplasmic CE hydrolytic activity by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Taken together, these results suggest that lipid accretion in aortas of MDV-infected chickens results, in part, from alterations in cholesterol/CE metabolism during early stages of the disease. These findings support the hypothesis that human atherosclerosis may result from specific herpesvirus infection which can alter lipid metabolism and lead to lipid accretion.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unlikely association between clinically apparent herpesvirus infection and coronary incidence at older ages. The Framingham Heart Study.

Experimental studies in chickens have shown a relationship of a herpesvirus to atherosclerosis. The hypothesis of an association in humans was tested by using data on the history of cold sores and other manifestations of herpes infections reported by 658 male and 919 female participants (ages 58 to 89) in the Framingham Heart Study from 1977 to 1979 and on the prevalence and subsequent 6-year incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Approximately 40% of the men and 52% of the women reported a history of ever having "fever blisters or cold sores." Overall, there was no association between a history of such oropharyngeal manifestations and prevalent CHD. Only in the subgroup of women with recurrent infections was there a suggestion of a possible relationship (relative risk = 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 2.1). Among members of the cohort without CHD at baseline there was no association between the history of cold sores, chicken pox, shingles, or infectious mononucleosis and 6-year CHD incidence. However, a possible interaction among women with recurrent herpes, lower levels of serum cholesterol, and incidence of angina pectoris without myocardial infarction was suggested in post hoc analyses. These data from the Framingham cohort do not support the notion that any self-reported clinically manifest herpesvirus infection has a strong etiological role in older persons, but they do raise issues to be addressed in any further research.

Chickenpox↗
PubMed2001

Polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic adjunct in herpesvirus infections of the nervous system.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a powerful technique that allows detection of minute quantities of DNA or RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), vesicle and endoneurial fluids, blood, fresh-frozen, and even formalin-fixed tissues. Various infectious agents can be detected with high specificity and sensitivity, including bacteria, parasites, rickettsia and viruses. PCR analysis of CSF has revolutionized the diagnosis of nervous system viral infections, particularly those caused by human herpesviruses (HHV), and has now replaced brain biopsy as the gold standard for diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. PCR analysis of both CSF and nervous system tissues has also broadened our understanding of the spectrum of disease caused by HSV-1 and -2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and HHV-6. Nonetheless, positive tissue PCR results must be interpreted cautiously, especially in cases that lack corroborating clinical and neuropathologic evidence of infection. Moreover, positive PCR results from tissues do not distinguish latent from productive (lytic) viral infections. In several neurological diseases, negative PCR results have provided strong evidence against a role for herpesviruses as the causative agents. This review focuses on the use of PCR tests to diagnose HSV and VZV infections of the nervous system.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed2002

Reduced functional capacity of CD8+ T cells expanded by post-exposure vaccination of gamma-herpesvirus-infected CD4-deficient mice.

Mice (I-A(b-/-)) that lack CD4(+) T cells remain healthy for at least three months after respiratory exposure to the murine gamma-herpesvirus 68 (gammaHV68), then succumb with symptoms of chronic wasting disease. Postexposure challenge of gammaHV68-infected I-A(b+/+) and I-A(b-/-) mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus (Vacc-p56) expressing an antigenic gammaHV68 peptide caused a massive increase in the numbers of D(b)p56-specific CD8(+) T cells. Previous experiments showed that, despite the large numbers of potential CTL effectors, there was little effect on the long-term survival of the CD4-deficient group and no diminution in the level of persistent virus shedding and latency. Comparison of the expanded CD8(+)D(b)p56(+) sets in the I-A(b+/+) and I-A(b-/-) mice indicated that these two T cell populations were not identical. More CD69(high)CD8(+) D(b)p56(+) T cells were found in the CD4-deficient mice, an effect that might be thought to reflect higher Ag load. By contrast, the mean fluorescence intensity of staining for the CD44 glycoprotein was diminished on CD8(+)D(b)p56(+) T cells from the I-A(b-/-) group, the level of CTL activity was lower on a per cell basis, and the relative prevalence of IFN-gamma(+)TNF-alpha(+) T cells detected after in vitro stimulation with the p56 peptide was decreased. Given that this experimental system provides an accessible model for evaluating postexposure vaccination protocols that might be used in diseases like HIV/AIDS, the further need is to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms and the relative significance of lack of CD4(+) T help vs higher Ag load for these expanded CD8(+) effector populations.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1986

Varicella-like herpesvirus infections of nonhuman primates.

At least three distinct herpesviruses cause varicella like exanthematous diseases among nonhuman primates. Spontaneous epizootics have resulted in high morbidity and mortality rates among Cercopithecus aethiops, Erythrocebus patas and Macaca species in research colonies. Mild infections have been observed in infant chimpanzees and a gorilla. This group of diseases is of interest not only because they are a threat to primate colonies, but also because their pathologic similarity to progressive human varicella makes them a potentially valuable animal model of this disease. The nonhuman primate varicella-like exanthematous diseases are reviewed and compared to varicella in man.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cell-mediated cytolysis of equine herpesvirus-infected cells by leukocytes from young vaccinated horses.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the administration of modified-live equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) to young horses with residual maternal antibodies stimulated EHV-specific cytolytic responses, and whether these responses were crossreactive between EHV-1 and EHV-4. Eighteen clinically normal Belgian cross-foals were used in the study and were commingled in two adjacent pens. Skin biopsies were harvested from 16 foals within 24 h of birth and fibroblast cultures were established, expanded and cryopreserved. Beginning at approximately 10 weeks of age, 10 randomly chosen foals were inoculated on days 0, 21, and 43 of the study with a vaccine containing modified-live EHV-1. Blood mononuclear leukocytes were obtained on days 0, 32, and 50 for the assessment of EHV-specific cytolytic activity using 5 h and 18 h chromium release assays. EHV-1-specific antibodies were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using serum collected on days -21, 0, 32, and 50 of the study. Lymphocyte blastogenic tests and bioassays for interferon activity were conducted on day 50. After two vaccinations, mononuclear leukocytes from seven of ten vaccinated foals had cytolytic activity against autologous EHV-1 cells and leukocytes from six of ten lysed EHV-4-infected cells when tested in an 18 h assay. This activity was enhanced by exogenous interleukin 2 and was markedly reduced using target cells from unrelated horses. Cytotoxicity was not detected in a 5 h assay following in vitro stimulation of leukocytes. After three vaccinations, blood leukocytes from 6/6 vaccinated foals and 0/6 unvaccinated foals had proliferative responses EHV-1. There were no significant differences in interferon production by leukocytes from these foals. Twelve foals tested had low concentrations of (maternal) EHV-1-specific antibody prior to vaccination. Five of eight foals tested had increases in EHV-specific antibodies, while 4/4 commingled unvaccinated foals had a decrease or no change in EHV-specific antibodies. These results demonstrate cytotoxic cellular immune responses can be induced in young horses with maternal antibodies following administration of modified-live vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Murine gamma-herpesvirus infection causes V(beta)4-specific CDR3-restricted clonal expansions within CD8(+) peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Infection of mice with the gamma-herpesvirus MHV-68 results in lytic infection in the lung cleared by CD8(+) cells and establishment of lifelong latency. An Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-like infectious mononucleosis (IM) syndrome emerges approximately 3 weeks after infection. In human IM, the majority of T cells in the peripheral blood are monoclonal or oligoclonal and are frequently specific for lytic or latent viral epitopes. However, a unique feature of MHV-68-induced IM is a prominent MHC haplotype-independent expansion of CD8(+) T cells, the majority of which utilize V(beta)4 chains in their alphabetaTCR. The ligand driving the V(beta)4 expansion is unknown, but the V(beta) bias and MHC haplotype independence raised the possibility that these cells were responding to a virally encoded or a virally induced endogenous superantigen (sAg). The aim of this study was to determine whether this rapidly proliferating subset is composed of polyclonally or clonally expanded T cells. Complementarity-determining region (CDR)-3 size analysis of V(beta)4(+)CD8(+) cells in infected mice demonstrated CDR3-restricted expansions in the V(beta)4 family as a whole. More refined analysis demonstrated major distortions in every J(beta) subfamily. V-D-J junctional region sequencing indicated that these CDR3 size-restricted expansions were composed of clonal or oligoclonal populations. The sequences were largely unique in individual mice, although evidence for 'public' or highly conserved T cell expansions was also seen between different mice. Taken together with previous studies showing an apparent MHC independence, the data suggest that a novel ligand, distinct from conventional sAg and peptide-MHC, drives proliferation of V(beta)4(+)CD8(+) T cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗