Identification of antigenic proteins encoded by human herpesvirus 8 and seroprevalence in the general population and among patients with and without Kaposi's sarcoma

J Virol. 2000 Apr;74(8):3478-85. doi: 10.1128/jvi.74.8.3478-3485.2000.

Abstract

To establish a sensitive and specific antibody assay, potent antigenic proteins encoded by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) were studied. Fifteen recombinant HHV8-encoded proteins were produced as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. The sera from AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients reacted with four proteins encoded by open reading frames (ORFs) K8.1, 59, 65, and 73 in a Western blot assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using these four proteins as antigens (mixed-antigen ELISA) revealed that all 26 sera derived from KS patients (24 with and 2 without human immunodeficiency virus infection) became positive for anti-HHV8 antibodies. The presence of HHV8 was demonstrated in 14 (1. 4%) of 1,004 sera from the Japanese general population and 10 (1.9%) of 527 sera from patients without HHV8-associated diseases. The presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against HHV8 examined further by the mixed-antigen ELISA and Western blotting revealed IgG antibody in all ELISA-positive sera, while IgM antibody against ORF K8.1 was absent. These data suggest that the ORF 73 and 65 proteins are potent antigens for a sensitive serological assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / immunology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Open Reading Frames / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / epidemiology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / immunology*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / virology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Viral Proteins