Clinical and pathological aspects of EBV and KSHV infection

Excerpt

The human γ-herpesviruses Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) establish latency in cellular reservoirs that are maintained for the life of the infected individual. Intermittent reactivation leads to infection of new cells within the host and secretion of virions in saliva. Primary infections are usually asymptomatic. However, in immunocompromised patients and in other special but poorly understood circumstances, tumors and other virus-associated diseases may manifest. Both human γ-herpesviruses were first identified in tumors and primary effusion lymphomas are typically dually infected (Cesarman et al., ; Chang et al., ; Epstein, 2001). For all their similarities, however, there are also striking differences between the viruses. EBV is nearly ubiquitous whereas KSHV is restricted to particular populations. EBV is most commonly associated with B-, T- and NK-cell tumors and epithelial tumors, whereas KSHV is associated with endothelial and B-cell tumors. In this chapter, aspects of virus–disease associations and therapies will be explored.