Detection of human herpesvirus 8 sequences in cutaneous cherry angiomas

Arch Dermatol Res. 2013 Sep;305(7):659-64. doi: 10.1007/s00403-013-1346-5. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

Cherry angiomas (CAs) are common vascular benign skin tumors, characterized by abnormal angiogenesis, whose etiology is still unclear and poorly studied. We investigated the presence of HHV8 in CAs due to virus ability of inducing neoangiogenesis in endothelial cells. A total of 29 patients were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, blinded analysis of skin specimens including various vascular lesions. All clinical samples were anonymized and analyzed by three different biomolecular assays to minimize the risk of false positive/negative results. Results showed that 53 % of eruptive CAs harbor HHV8 sequences, with the highest viral loads in samples derived from immunosuppressed patients. By contrast, no paucilesional CAs were positive for HHV8. Considering HHV8 prevalence in the Mediterranean population (10-15 %), results obtained in eruptive CAs are significant and suggest for the first time a possible involvement of HHV8 in eruptive cherry angiomas development, particularly in the context of immunosuppression, similar to that recognized for major HHV8-induced pathologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / virology*
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / pathology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / virology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / virology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology*
  • Viral Load / immunology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral