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Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infects endothelial and spindle cells

Nature Medicine volume 1, pages 1274–1278 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a vascular tumour that contains characteristic spindle cells forming slit-like spaces, may have an infectious aetiology. Recently, sequences of a new human herpesvirus, KSHV/HHV-8, have been identified in both HIV-associated and classical KS. We sought to identify the target cell of this virus in KS tumour tissue. Using PCR in situ hybridization (PCR-ISH) we show that KSHV/HHV-8 is present in the flat endothelial cells lining vascular spaces of KS lesions as well as in typical KS spindle cells. These findings show that KSHV/HHV-8 is present in the cell types thought to represent neoplastic cells in these lesions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virology Laboratory, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6BJ, UK

    Chris Boshoff, Thomas F. Schulz & Robin A. Weiss

  2. Nuffield Department of Pathology and Bacteriology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Margaret M. Kennedy, Andrew K. Graham, J. O'D. McGee & John J. O'Leary

  3. Department of Histopathology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6BJ, UK

    Cyril Fisher

  4. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1, UK

    Alero Thomas

Authors
  1. Chris Boshoff
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  2. Thomas F. Schulz
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  3. Margaret M. Kennedy
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  4. Andrew K. Graham
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  5. Cyril Fisher
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  6. Alero Thomas
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  7. J. O'D. McGee
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  8. Robin A. Weiss
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  9. John J. O'Leary
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Boshoff, C., Schulz, T., Kennedy, M. et al. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infects endothelial and spindle cells. Nat Med 1, 1274–1278 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1295-1274

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1295-1274

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