Induction of Human Herpesvirus 8 Gene Expression in a Post-transplantation Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cell Line

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8 or Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus) is a gamma herpesvirus that is most likely the etiologic agent of both Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare HIV-associated lymphoma. The role of HHV-8 in post-transplant lymphoma is less well characterized. We demonstrate that HHV-8 is constitutively present in LH5-21 cells, an atypical patient derived post-transplant PEL cell line. LH5-21 cells lack detectable Epstein-Barr virus, express T cell-associated surface markers and have undergone immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement. Incubation with 12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or butyrate induces high levels of several HHV-8 encoded genes that are associated with lytic replication. The patient from whom this cell line was derived demonstrated a dramatic clinical response to withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy. While HHV-8 associated PELs in the post-transplant setting are rare, this study suggests that improvement in the host immunologic function might help in the management of some PELs.

• Post Transplantation Lymphoma
• Primary Effusion Lymphoma
• Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)
• Kaposi's Sarcoma