Biomaterial Database

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-encoded oncogenes and oncogenesis. 1998

P S Moore, and Y Chang

Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

Molecular biologic studies of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) have identified a number of potential viral oncogenes that may contribute to KSHV-related neoplasia including a D-type cyclin, an IL-6-like cytokine, and a novel member of the interferon regulatory factor family. KSHV is functionally related to other DNA tumor viruses by encoding specific proteins to inhibit pRb, pro-apoptotic, and interferon-signaling tumor suppressor pathways. The virus appears to employ molecular piracy of cellular regulatory genes as a mechanism to avoid cellular antiviral responses. The transparency of the KSHV genome allows ready identification of the cellular regulatory pathways which may be involved in transformation by KSHV. This provides strong support to the notion that some tumor suppressor pathways serve the dual function of being antiviral pathways to induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and enhanced cell-mediated immunity in response to virus infection. Neoplasia may result from specific viral strategies to overcome these host defense pathways.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012514	Sarcoma, Kaposi	A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.	Kaposi Sarcoma,Kaposi's Sarcoma,Multiple Idiopathic Pigmented Hemangiosarcoma,Kaposis Sarcoma,Sarcoma, Kaposi's
D016679	Genome, Viral	The complete genetic complement contained in a DNA or RNA molecule in a virus.	Viral Genome,Genomes, Viral,Viral Genomes
D019288	Herpesvirus 8, Human	A species in the genus RHADINOVIRUS, subfamily GAMMAHERPESVIRINAE, isolated from patients with AIDS-related and "classical" Kaposi sarcoma.	Herpesvirus, Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated,KSHV,Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus,HHV-8,Herpesvirus, Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated,Human Herpesvirus 8,Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus,Herpesvirus, Kaposi Sarcoma Associated,Herpesvirus, Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated,Herpesvirus, Kaposis Sarcoma-Associated,Herpesviruses, Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated,Kaposi Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus,Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus,Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesviruses,Kaposis Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus,Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus, Kaposi,Sarcoma-Associated Herpesviruses, Kaposi's