ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) sequence variations in HHV8 related tumours in Okinawa, a subtropical island in southern Japan

K Kamiyama¹, T Kinjo¹, K Chinen¹, T Iwamasa¹, H Uezato², J-i Miyagi³, N Mori⁴ and N Yamane⁵

¹ Division of Pathology and Cell Biology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan
² Division of Dermatology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus
³ Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus
⁴ Division of Molecular Virology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus
⁵ Division of Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
MrK Kamiyama
Division of Pathology and Cell Biology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan; igbucho{at}jim.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

Background: Although rare in mainland Japan, classic Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is frequently reported in Okinawa, a subtropical island in southern Japan. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has been identified in the tumours and geographical differences occur.

Aim: To sequence HHV8 in classic and AIDS associated KS in Okinawa.

Materials/Methods: Eight classic KS cases, one AIDS associated KS, five granuloma pyogenicum cases, two inflammatory pseudotumours, two Castleman’s disease cases, one angiosarcoma, and one primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) were studied. As a control, HHV8 positive cultured PEL cells (TY-1) were used. The presence of HHV8 sequences was evaluated by PCR and in situ hybridisation. PCR products were sequenced.

Results: There were no histological differences among KS resulting from the different virus genotypes. HHV8 was detected in all cases of KS, in one PEL, and one granuloma pyogenicum. Eight classic KS cases and one granuloma pyogenicum were infected with HHV8 genotype II/C (K1 region) or subtype C (ORF26 region), which had a five amino acid deletion at K1 VR2 region. An AIDS associated KS and a PEL were infected with type I/A virus.

Conclusion: In Okinawa, classic KS cases and one granuloma pyogenicum case were infected with HHV8 genotype II/C, also classified as subtype C. AIDS associated KS and PEL were infected with a different HHV8 (genotype I/A), similar to that found in the USA. In Okinawa, HHV8 infection is more than four times higher than in mainland Japan, resulting in many cases of KS because of HHV8 genotype II/C infection.

Keywords: human herpesvirus 8 genotype; Kaposi’s sarcoma; granuloma pyogenicum; Castleman’s disease; primary effusion lymphoma

Abbreviations: bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; HHV8, human herpesvirus 8; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; IL-6, interleukin 6; ISH, in situ hybridisation; ITAM, immunoreceptor tyrosine based activation motif; KS, Kaposi’s sarcoma; ORF, open reading frame; PEL, primary effusion lymphoma; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; VR, variable region

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