Herpes-like sequences in HIV-infected and uninfected Kaposi's sarcoma patients

Recently, Yuan Chang et al. detected the presence of unique DNA sequences in 90% of Kaposi's sarcomas (KS) and 15% of non-KS tissues in HIV-infected individuals. These sequences, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures and sequenced by Chang et al., share DNA homology with genes of the capsid and tegument proteins of Herpes saimiri and Epstein-Barr viruses. In evaluating the presence of this herpesvirus-like sequence, we have synthesized primers for one of the reported sequences, designated the KS330Bam fragment, and used the PCR procedure to examine 13 KS biopsies, 12 corresponding normal tissues, 7 KS-derived cell lines, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 30 subjects. Our studies confirm those of Chang et al. and indicate that the herpesvirus-like sequence can be found in all 13 KS biopsies studied, including one from an individual not infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).