Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Yes / KSHV is the causative agent of commonly fatal malignancies of immuno-compromised individuals, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). A hallmark of all herpesviruses is their biphasic lifecycle – viral latency and the productive lytic cycle, and it is well established that reactivation of the KSHV lytic cycle is associated with KS pathogenesis. Therefore, a thorough appreciation of the mechanisms that govern reactivation is required to better understand disease progression. The viral protein, replication and transcription activator (RTA), is the KSHV lytic switch protein due to its ability to drive the expression of various lytic genes, leading to reactivation of the entire lytic cycle. While the mechanisms for activating lytic gene expression have received much attention, how RTA impacts on cellular function is less well understood. To address this, we developed a cell line with doxycycline-inducible RTA expression and applied SILAC-based quantitative proteomics. Using this methodology, we have identified a novel cellular protein (AT-rich interacting domain containing 3B, ARID3B) whose expression was enhanced by RTA and that relocalised to replication compartments upon lytic reactivation. We also show that siRNA knockdown or overexpression of ARID3B led to an enhancement or inhibition of lytic reactivation, respectively. Furthermore, DNA affinity and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that ARID3B specifically interacts with A/T-rich elements in the KSHV origin of lytic replication (oriLyt), and this was dependent on lytic cycle reactivation. Therefore, we have identified a novel cellular protein whose expression is enhanced by KSHV RTA with the ability to inhibit KSHV reactivation.

O HHV-8 (herpesvírus 8 humano) é o agente etiológico do sarcoma de Kaposi (SK). Diferentemente dos outros herpesvírus, o HHV-8 é distribuído de modo não ubíquo ao redor do mundo. São sete os principais genótipos de HHV-8, de acordo com o padrão de variabilidade da ORF K1: A, B, C, D, E, F e Z. Estudos da variabilidade genética do HHV-8 poderão trazer melhores interpretações sobre o potencial patogênico dos genótipos de HHV-8 e das variações genotípicas funcionais. Dados sobre a variabilidade genética do HHV-8 no Brasil, em que o SK é associado ao HIV, permanecem escassos. Pelo nosso conhecimento, esse é o primeiro estudo que compara a variabilidade genética de HHV-8 em indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK e sem SK no Brasil. Objetivo. O estudo visou analisar a variabilidade genética do HHV-8 entre indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK e sem histórico de SK. Métodos. Sequências de DNA de HHV-8 foram investigadas em amostras criopreservadas de células mononucleares do sangue periférico a partir de 37 indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK (grupo 1); e de amostras de saliva de indivíduos sem SK (grupo 2), as quais foram selecionadas por meio da detecção positiva de DNA/ORF73/HHV-8 a partir de um total de 751 indivíduos. Dados demográficos e clínicos do estadio e evolução do SK, assim como parâmetros laboratoriais foram caracterizados. As análises moleculares e reconstruções filogenéticas foram baseadas nas ORFs K1 e K12 do HHV-8. Resultados. Foram obtidas sequências de DNA dos loci K1 e/ou K12 de 75 indivíduos, 34 indivíduos do grupo 1 e 41 do grupo 2. O sistema de primers empregado foi capaz de detectar os genótipos A, B, C, F e amplo perfil de subgenótipos de K1/HHV-8. Os dados não mostraram associação de genótipos de HHV-8 com a presença de SK ou estadio de SK. Todavia, o subgenótipo B1 predominou naqueles em que não houve registro de piora de SK (p=0,04). Os subgenótipos B1 e C3 foram igualmente predominantes em ambos os grupos. As frequências do genótipos A foram de 24% e 12,2% e dos genótipos B e C foram de 34,1 e 35,3%, nos grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente. O genótipo F foi descrito pela primeira no Brasil, um caso de cada grupo. Um amplo perfil de subgenótipos de C no grupo 2 sem SK foi encontrado (C1, C2, C3, C5 e C7). Subgenótipos K1 C5 e C7, exclusivos do grupo 2 (7%), foram confirmados como recombinantes. Não houve variabilidade genotípica de HHV-8 em amostras biológicas diferentes do mesmo indivíduo em oito casos estudados. Sítios polimórficos (6/59) em regiões codificadoras de miRNA do locus K12 foram observados, sendo 70% presentes exclusivamente em sequências de HHV-8 do grupo com SK e protótipos de SK. Conclusão. Embora não houvesse associação entre genótipos de HHV-8 e presença ou estadio de SK, o subgenótipo B1 foi significativamente relacionado ao melhor prognóstico de SK. Alguns recombinantes foram observados no locus K1 de HHV-8 em indivíduos do grupo 2 sem SK. A presença de SNPs em regiões codificadoras de miR12-12 e miR12-10 predominou em sequências de HHV-8 de indivíduos com SK, grupo 1, e protótipos de SK epidêmico, endêmico e clássico. A escoha de primers foi importante para garantir a amplificação de todos os genótipos e amplo perfil de subgenotipos de HHV-8. / HHV-8 (Human Herpes Virus 8) is the etiological agent of Kaposi\'s sarcoma (KS). Unlike other herpesviruses, the distribution of HHV-8 is not so ubiquitous around the world. There are seven major HHV-8 genotypes, according to the variability pattern of the ORF K1: A, B, C, D, E, F and Z. Studies on the genetic variability of HHV-8 may help to better understand the pathogenic potential of HHV-8 genotypes and their functional genotypic variations. Data on the genetic variability of HHV-8 in Brazil, where KS is associated with HIV infected people, remain scarce. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing the genetic variability of HHV-8 among HIV-infected individuals with KS and without KS in Brazil. Objective. The study aimed to analyze the genetic variability of HHV-8 among HIV-infected individuals with and without KS. Casuistry and Methods. HHV-8 DNA sequences were obtained from samples of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 37 individuals infected with HIV-KS (group 1); and saliva from individuals without KS (group 2) who were selected by means of detection of positive DNA/ORF73/HHV-8 from a total of 751 individuals. Demographic and clinical data (stage and progression of KS), as well as laboratory parameters were characterized. Molecular analysis and phylogenetic reconstructions were based on sequences of the ORFs K1 and/or K12 of HHV-8. Results. K1 and/or K12 DNA sequences of HHV-8 were obtained from 75 subjects, 34 from group 1 and 41 from group 2. The primer system used was able to detect the genotypes A, B, C, F and a wide profile of HHV- 8 K1 subgenotypes. Data showed no association of genotypes with the occurrence of KS or with visceral KS either. However, subgenotype B1 predominated in individuals who did not report any progression of KS (p=0.04). Subgenotypes B1 and C3 were equally prevalent in both groups. Genotype A frequencies were 24 % and 12.2% and genotypes B and C were 34.1 and 35.3 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively. We also described here for the first time the genotype F of HHV-8 in Brazil. A wide profile of subgenotypes C (C1, C2, C3, C5 and C7) in the group without KS was found. HHV-8 K1 DNA sequences of group 2 (7%) belonging to subgenotypes C5 and C7 were confirmed as recombinants. Our findings did not show virus variability in the same patient in samples collected at different times or from different biological material in the eight cases studied here. There was no statistical difference regarding the presence/absence of a given SNP from locus K12 between groups with and without KS. However, there were a total of 6/59 polymorphic sites in coding regions of miRNA, 70% of which present only in the HHV-8 DNA sequence of group with KS and KS prototypes. Conclusion. Although there was no association between HHV-8 genotypes and the presence of KS and KS clinical stage, subgenotype B1 was significantly related to the absence of progression of KS. Some recombinants in K1/HHV-8 locus were observed in the group without KS. The presence of SNPs in coding regions of miR12-12 and miR12- 10 predominated in sequences of HHV- 8 of SK cases (group 1) and of epidemic, endemic and classic KS prototypes. The choice of primers was essential to ensure amplification of all HHV- 8 genotypes and wide profile de subgenotypes.

O HHV-8 (herpesvírus 8 humano) é o agente etiológico do sarcoma de Kaposi (SK). Diferentemente dos outros herpesvírus, o HHV-8 é distribuído de modo não ubíquo ao redor do mundo. São sete os principais genótipos de HHV-8, de acordo com o padrão de variabilidade da ORF K1: A, B, C, D, E, F e Z. Estudos da variabilidade genética do HHV-8 poderão trazer melhores interpretações sobre o potencial patogênico dos genótipos de HHV-8 e das variações genotípicas funcionais. Dados sobre a variabilidade genética do HHV-8 no Brasil, em que o SK é associado ao HIV, permanecem escassos. Pelo nosso conhecimento, esse é o primeiro estudo que compara a variabilidade genética de HHV-8 em indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK e sem SK no Brasil. Objetivo. O estudo visou analisar a variabilidade genética do HHV-8 entre indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK e sem histórico de SK. Métodos. Sequências de DNA de HHV-8 foram investigadas em amostras criopreservadas de células mononucleares do sangue periférico a partir de 37 indivíduos infectados por HIV com SK (grupo 1); e de amostras de saliva de indivíduos sem SK (grupo 2), as quais foram selecionadas por meio da detecção positiva de DNA/ORF73/HHV-8 a partir de um total de 751 indivíduos. Dados demográficos e clínicos do estadio e evolução do SK, assim como parâmetros laboratoriais foram caracterizados. As análises moleculares e reconstruções filogenéticas foram baseadas nas ORFs K1 e K12 do HHV-8. Resultados. Foram obtidas sequências de DNA dos loci K1 e/ou K12 de 75 indivíduos, 34 indivíduos do grupo 1 e 41 do grupo 2. O sistema de primers empregado foi capaz de detectar os genótipos A, B, C, F e amplo perfil de subgenótipos de K1/HHV-8. Os dados não mostraram associação de genótipos de HHV-8 com a presença de SK ou estadio de SK. Todavia, o subgenótipo B1 predominou naqueles em que não houve registro de piora de SK (p=0,04). Os subgenótipos B1 e C3 foram igualmente predominantes em ambos os grupos. As frequências do genótipos A foram de 24% e 12,2% e dos genótipos B e C foram de 34,1 e 35,3%, nos grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente. O genótipo F foi descrito pela primeira no Brasil, um caso de cada grupo. Um amplo perfil de subgenótipos de C no grupo 2 sem SK foi encontrado (C1, C2, C3, C5 e C7). Subgenótipos K1 C5 e C7, exclusivos do grupo 2 (7%), foram confirmados como recombinantes. Não houve variabilidade genotípica de HHV-8 em amostras biológicas diferentes do mesmo indivíduo em oito casos estudados. Sítios polimórficos (6/59) em regiões codificadoras de miRNA do locus K12 foram observados, sendo 70% presentes exclusivamente em sequências de HHV-8 do grupo com SK e protótipos de SK. Conclusão. Embora não houvesse associação entre genótipos de HHV-8 e presença ou estadio de SK, o subgenótipo B1 foi significativamente relacionado ao melhor prognóstico de SK. Alguns recombinantes foram observados no locus K1 de HHV-8 em indivíduos do grupo 2 sem SK. A presença de SNPs em regiões codificadoras de miR12-12 e miR12-10 predominou em sequências de HHV-8 de indivíduos com SK, grupo 1, e protótipos de SK epidêmico, endêmico e clássico. A escoha de primers foi importante para garantir a amplificação de todos os genótipos e amplo perfil de subgenotipos de HHV-8. / HHV-8 (Human Herpes Virus 8) is the etiological agent of Kaposi\'s sarcoma (KS). Unlike other herpesviruses, the distribution of HHV-8 is not so ubiquitous around the world. There are seven major HHV-8 genotypes, according to the variability pattern of the ORF K1: A, B, C, D, E, F and Z. Studies on the genetic variability of HHV-8 may help to better understand the pathogenic potential of HHV-8 genotypes and their functional genotypic variations. Data on the genetic variability of HHV-8 in Brazil, where KS is associated with HIV infected people, remain scarce. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing the genetic variability of HHV-8 among HIV-infected individuals with KS and without KS in Brazil. Objective. The study aimed to analyze the genetic variability of HHV-8 among HIV-infected individuals with and without KS. Casuistry and Methods. HHV-8 DNA sequences were obtained from samples of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 37 individuals infected with HIV-KS (group 1); and saliva from individuals without KS (group 2) who were selected by means of detection of positive DNA/ORF73/HHV-8 from a total of 751 individuals. Demographic and clinical data (stage and progression of KS), as well as laboratory parameters were characterized. Molecular analysis and phylogenetic reconstructions were based on sequences of the ORFs K1 and/or K12 of HHV-8. Results. K1 and/or K12 DNA sequences of HHV-8 were obtained from 75 subjects, 34 from group 1 and 41 from group 2. The primer system used was able to detect the genotypes A, B, C, F and a wide profile of HHV- 8 K1 subgenotypes. Data showed no association of genotypes with the occurrence of KS or with visceral KS either. However, subgenotype B1 predominated in individuals who did not report any progression of KS (p=0.04). Subgenotypes B1 and C3 were equally prevalent in both groups. Genotype A frequencies were 24 % and 12.2% and genotypes B and C were 34.1 and 35.3 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively. We also described here for the first time the genotype F of HHV-8 in Brazil. A wide profile of subgenotypes C (C1, C2, C3, C5 and C7) in the group without KS was found. HHV-8 K1 DNA sequences of group 2 (7%) belonging to subgenotypes C5 and C7 were confirmed as recombinants. Our findings did not show virus variability in the same patient in samples collected at different times or from different biological material in the eight cases studied here. There was no statistical difference regarding the presence/absence of a given SNP from locus K12 between groups with and without KS. However, there were a total of 6/59 polymorphic sites in coding regions of miRNA, 70% of which present only in the HHV-8 DNA sequence of group with KS and KS prototypes. Conclusion. Although there was no association between HHV-8 genotypes and the presence of KS and KS clinical stage, subgenotype B1 was significantly related to the absence of progression of KS. Some recombinants in K1/HHV-8 locus were observed in the group without KS. The presence of SNPs in coding regions of miR12-12 and miR12- 10 predominated in sequences of HHV- 8 of SK cases (group 1) and of epidemic, endemic and classic KS prototypes. The choice of primers was essential to ensure amplification of all HHV- 8 genotypes and wide profile de subgenotypes.

Herpesviral infections are currently incurable and are associated with severe human diseases, such as cancer. Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV), like all herpesviruses, undergoes a long-term, latent infection where few viral products are made as a mechanism to evade the host immune system. Recently, the KSHV latent genome was shown to have bivalent histone marks thought to keep the virus poised for replication. However, it is unclear how the virus prevents spurious leaky transcription from this primed state. The 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of transcripts is a common site of gene expression regulation, however less than half of the KSHV 3'-UTRs have been mapped and few studies have interrogated their role during infection. The work presented here is the first large-scale map and analysis of the KSHV 3'-UTRs. Four methods were used to identify the 3'-UTRs expressed by the ~85 KSHV genes, including prediction algorithms, 3'-RACE, DNA tiling array, and next generation deep sequencing analysis. The role of each KSHV 3'-UTR in gene expression was then examined using luciferase reporter assays and showed a surprising prevalence of negative regulation conveyed during latent infection. Sequential deletions across numerous 3'-UTRs indicated RNA structure is likely involved in this regulation. In addition, several KSHV 3'-UTRs conveyed an increase in translation during lytic infection through enhanced recognition by the cap-dependent translation initiation machinery activated via the MNK1 kinase. A second mechanism of KSHV gene regulation was identified through motifs encoded in the K7 3'-UTR. This work indicated that a previously characterized RNA element and a novel putative hairpin are both partially responsible for negative regulation conveyed by the K7 3'-UTR. We hypothesize that these structural motifs control expression of the K7 transcript by altering its sub-cellular location and/or via RNA stability. This work represents a broad 3'-UTR study that mapped the KSHV 3'-UTRs and is the first large-scale functional analysis of 3'-UTRs from a large genome virus. We have implicated post-transcriptional mechanisms, along with known transcriptional regulation, in viral evasion of the immune response during latency and the escape of viral-mediated host shutoff. These results identify new potential targets for therapeutic intervention of KSHV-associated disease. / text

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) causes several tumours and hyperproliferative disorders. Hypoxia plays an important role in KSHV lifecycle, as hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are involved in the latent/lytic switch and affect other KSHV genes, and as KSHV infection can in turn enhance cellular levels of HIFs. Two KSHV-associated tumours tend to develop in settings of relative hypoxia; Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) often occurs in the lower extremities and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) exists in pleural effusions. A better knowledge of the pathways that regulate KSHV infection in hypoxia is therefore essential for an improved understanding of viral infection and pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in regulating the expression of genes in oncogenesis, and herpesviruses, including KSHV, encode for miRNAs. This thesis describes a multidisciplinary approach toward understanding the mechanisms behind the hypoxia-regulated miRNA-mRNA networks in the context of KSHV infection. The question of miRNA and mRNA regulation through hypoxia, KSHV or both is addressed in this thesis by deep sequencing and gene expression assays as well as various transfection and functional assays. In chronically infected cells compared to uninfected controls, it is demonstrated that the majority of cellular miRNAs whose expression is affected are substantially down-regulated. A third of this down-regulation can be attributed to a single genomic region, 14q32 cluster, where miRNAs are lowly expressed in infected cells. In hypoxia, hsa-miR-210 is the only miRNA to be consistently up-regulated in the KSHVinfected cell lines subjected to deep sequencing in this study. Computational approaches additionally allowed for the investigation of mRNA targets. Inversely correlated miRNAmRNA target pairs were identified and distributed into canonical pathways and biological networks. Taken together, these results suggest that miRNAs affected by hypoxic stress and/or viral infection are implicated in the pathogenesis of KSHV-related diseases. It is expected that the outcomes of these studies will change our understanding of how KSHV uses the host RNA silencing machinery to its advantage and how this intersects with the use of the cell's response to hypoxia.

Background: Surgical disease related to HIV is scantily documented with a paucity of data detailing the manifestations of HIV in surgery especially in resource-poor, high prevalence settings such as in South Africa. This review provides an update on the topical issues surrounding HIV and surgery. Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, aspects of diagnosis and management of: HIV- associated salivary gland disease in particular parotid gland enlargement; Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lower limb lymphoedema; AIDS- related abdominal malignancies due to KS and lymphoma; Acalculous cholecystitis and HIV- cholangiopathy and HIV- associated vasculopathy. Methods: A collective review of the literature was performed and data sourced from a search of relevant electronic medical databases for literature from the period 2000 to the present date. Studies under each section were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Content analysis was used to analyse data. Results: The HIV pandemic has resulted in an increased frequency of benign lymphoepithelial cysts making it the commonest cause of parotidomegaly in most surgical practices. KS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with chronic lymphoedema. Lymphoedema may be present without cutaneous lesions, making clinical diagnosis of KS difficult. The gastrointestinal tract is the commonest site of extra- cutaneous KS. Surgical management of the lymphoma patient is restricted nowadays to determining the diagnosis and in some cases to evaluate disease stage. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is an important part of the management of biliary tract conditions in addition to relevant surgical procedures. HIV- vasculopathy represents a distinct clinico- pathological entity characterized by a vasculitis with probable immune- mediated or direct HIV- related injury to the vessel wall. Conclusion: The rising incidence of HIV in South Africa and other developing countries has been associated with new and unusual disease manifestations requiring surgical management for diagnostic, palliative or curative intent. It is crucial that surgeons remain abreast of new developments related to the challenging spectrum of HIV and its protean manifestations. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

L'objectif de cette thèse menée dans le cadre de l'essai clinique ANRS 154 Lenakap a été d'étudier l'impact clinique et immunologique d'un traitement par lénalidomide dans la maladie de Kaposi liée au VIH (MK-VIH) et d'identifier de nouveaux biomarqueurs de la pathologie, notamment à travers l'étude du trio de chimiokine et récepteurs CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7. A l'heure actuelle aucun traitement curatif de la MK-VIH n'est disponible. Le lénalidomide, un immunomodulateur pléïotrope, ciblant différentes anomalies rencontrées dans la MK constitue une perspective thérapeutique dans cette indication. L'interprétation de la réponse clinique des patients au traitement au cours de l'essai clinique ANRS 154 Lenakap est difficile, notamment en raison de discordances entre les scores d'évaluation utilisés. Cependant, nos résultats ont montré une bonne tolérance du lénalidomide chez les patients inclus, infectés par le VIH et traités par antirétroviraux. Aucune interaction médicamenteuse pharmacologiquement ou cliniquement significative n'a été détectée chez les patients, ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives pour la prise en charge de ces derniers, y compris dans d'autres indications, tels que le myélome multiple et les syndromes myélodysplasiques. Nous avons également mis en évidence l'impact du TNF-α, de l'IFN-γ et de l'IL-10 dans la progression de la MK-VIH.L'ensemble des mécanismes physiopathologiques de la MK n'est pas encore élucidé et nous ne disposons actuellement d'aucun biomarqueur, de suivi d'évolution, ou de réponse au traitement dans cette indication. Des données de la littérature suggèrent une implication du trio CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 dans la physiopathologie de la MK-VIH. Nos analyses immunohistochimiques et par immunofluorescence, couplées à la mise au point d'une technique de quantification sur lames numérisées ont permis de mettre en évidence la présence augmentée des protéines CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 dans les lésions de MK. Les corrélations positives retrouvées entre les protéines du trio et la présence du virus sous forme latente, la prolifération cellulaire et à la présence du facteur de croissance VEGF, suggèrent de possibles effets autocrines et paracrines du trio à l'origine d'une propagation tissulaire du virus et d'effets prolifératif et pro-angiogénique dans le MK. Cette étude suggère pour la première fois le rôle de biomarqueur tissulaire, témoin du processus physiopathologique de la MK, pour le trio CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7. En revanche, CXCL12 ne semble pas être un biomarqueur plasmatique à la fois de la physiopathologie ou de la progression de la MK. Enfin, cette étude confirme l'état pro-inflammatoire des patients infectés par le VIH et rapporte une immunomodulation particulière chez les patients MK-VIH avec des taux plasmatiques de TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma et IL-10 augmentés, peut-être à l'origine du développement et de la progression de la maladie. / The objective of my PhD works, conducted as part of the clinical trial ANRS 154 Lenakap, was to evaluate the clinical and immunological impact of lenalidomide in patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) and to identify new biomarkers of disease, particularly through the study of the trio CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 So far, no cure for the AIDS-KS is available. Lenalidomide, an oral immunomodulating agent targeting various anomalies observed in KS is a therapeutic perspective in this indication. Evaluation of clinical response to treatment in the ANRS 154 Lenakap clinical trial was difficult, especially because of discrepancies observed between assessments scores used to evaluate this parameter. However, lenalidomide was well tolerated in patients infected with HIV and treated with antiretroviral drugs. We detected no pharmacologically or clinically significant drug interactions between lénalidomide and antiretroviral drugs, opening new perspectives for the treatment of HIV-positive patients, including other indications such as multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes. We also highlighted the impact of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-10 in the progression of AIDS-KS. All pathophysiological mechanisms of KS are not yet elucidated, and so far, no biomarker is available to monitor evolution, or response to treatment in this indication. Some data suggest an involvement of the trio CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 in the pathophysiology of KS. Our immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis, coupled to a technique for quantification of digitized slides, have allowed us to demonstrate the over-expression of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 proteins in KS cutaneous lesions. Moreover, we reported for the first time the simultaneous in situ up-regulation of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 in AIDS- and classic-KS. These deregulations correlated with lesion severity, latent viral load, proliferation and angiogenesis. This suggests a possible autocrine and paracrine effects of the trio leading to the virus propagation, the cells proliferation and the angiogenic process observed in KS. Our results further indicate that the trio could be used in KS rather as a histologic than a circulating biomarker. Finally, this study confirms the pro-inflammatory state of HIV-infected patients and highlights a specific immune modulation in AIDS-KS patients with increased TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-10 plasma levels. This microenvironment may participate in the disease progression.

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) is a cancer-causing virus, primarily affecting AIDS patients. KSHV is found in 3-10% of the U.S. population and can cause a range of cancers in the highly immunosuppressed; these cancers include Kaposi's sarcoma, pleural effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). The current techniques for treating these cancers are relatively ineffective, largely due to their inefficiency at targeting tumors formed by the infection. One protein produced by KSHV, the viral homolog of interleukin-6 (vIL-6), is thought to play a major role in tumor development post-infection. Here a novel animal model is implemented to study the ways vIL-6 affects tumor development through growth factors and other cytokines within infected highly immune-deficient Rag2-/-γc-/- mice. Mice were subcutaneously injected with one of three types of cells: B cells infected with a wild-type (WT) KSHV, B cells infected with mutant KSHV without the gene for viral interleukin 6, and a negative control of uninfected B cells. After allowing time for tumors to develop the mice were sacrificed and the tumors assessed. Analysis of the physical properties of the tumors, as well as markers expressed by the tumors, were used to help determine whether vIL-6 could be an appropriate target when treating these cancers. In this study vIL-6 was seen to influence certain B cell markers (CD30), as well as onset of tumors (with no significant increase in overall tumor mass, but with marginally statistically significant increase in tumor number). This indicates that although vIL-6 could play a small role as a target for cancer, further investigation into the relationship of CD30 in these types of cancers needs to be explored. It was also found that the KSHV viral-infection decreases the development of tumors compared with uninfected immortalized B cells (BJAB). Not only would results from this experiment help develop new treatments, and change the lives of those suffering with cancers induced by KSHV, but they would provide a foundation for future studies with these types of cancers.

Thesis (D.Tech.: Radiography)-Dept. of Radiography, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 xxiii, 166 leaves / The purpose of this study was to evaluate 99mTc- methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) imaging, in terms of sensitivity and specificity, for non invasively detecting extracutaneous involvement of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and for differentiating pulmonary infection from malignancy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients before and after treatment. Current investigations are invasive.