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Human herpesvirus 8 variants in sarcoid tissues
L Di Alberti1, A Piattelli, L Artese
1PHLS Virus Reference Division, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK.
Lancet (London, England)
|December 24, 1997
Summary
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA sequences were detected in sarcoid tissues, unlike in non-sarcoid tissues. Mycobacteria-like sequences were more common in sarcoid lymph nodes but did not identify specific species.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Infectious Disease
- Immunology
Background:
- The etiology of sarcoidosis remains unknown, with prior research implicating mycobacteria.
- This study investigated the presence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and mycobacterial DNA in sarcoidosis tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if HHV-8 and mycobacterial DNA sequences are present in tissues from sarcoidosis patients.
- To compare the prevalence of these sequences in sarcoidosis tissues versus non-sarcoid tissues.
Main Methods:
- Biopsy samples from 17 sarcoidosis patients and 96 controls were analyzed.
- Nested and heminested PCR techniques were employed to detect HHV-8 (ORF 26 and ORF 25) and mycobacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences.
- Sequence variations were analyzed using single-strand conformation polymorphism and dideoxy sequencing.
Main Results:
- HHV-8 ORF 26 DNA was significantly more prevalent in sarcoid tissues (lung, lymph node, skin, oral) compared to non-sarcoid tissues.
- Mycobacteria-like 16S rRNA DNA was more frequent in sarcoid lymph nodes but not other tissue types when compared to controls.
- Sequences of HHV-8 detected were varied, with some unique variants, and did not correspond to known mycobacterial species.
Conclusions:
- Variant HHV-8 DNA sequences are frequently found in various sarcoid tissues but not in non-sarcoid tissues.
- Mycobacteria-like sequences are more common in sarcoid lymph nodes, but their presence does not confirm infection by a specific mycobacterial species.