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Human Herpesvirus 8 Cellular Immune Responses in Homosexual Men

Authors :
F. R. Bethke
Thomas R. O'Brien
James J. Goedert
James E. Whitman
Gene M. Shearer
Dharam V. Ablashi
Steven L. Zeichner
Joel M. Palefsky
Charles M. Trubey
Howard D. Strickler
Source :
The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 180:1682-1685
Publication Year :
1999
Publisher :
Oxford University Press (OUP), 1999.

Abstract

Little is known about cellular immunity to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). T cell proliferative responses to purified HHV-8 were measured in homosexual men, a group with elevated HHV-8 seroprevalence and high risk of KS. None of 20 blood donor controls had T cell responses to HHV-8. Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative homosexual men, 8 (42%) of 19 HHV-8 seropositive men responded as did 4 (16%) of 25 HHV-8 seronegative men. Among HIV-positive homosexual men, however, none of 21 HHV-8 seropositives had T cell responses to HHV-8, even though most responded to common recall antigens, and 10 had >/=400 CD4 cells/mm3. The results suggest that HHV-8 T cell proliferative responses are common in HIV-negative homosexual men and that HIV infection may be associated with diminished HHV-8 cellular immunity, possibly before there is substantial depletion of CD4 cells. If correct, this could explain why KS occurs relatively early in HIV infection/AIDS.

Details

ISSN :
15376613 and 00221899
Volume :
180
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....6ffa663a183129bbd37a25c63e99cbc5
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1086/315056