Human herpesvirus 8 establishes a latent infection in prostates of Tobago men resulting in increased macrophage infiltration

• Published in: The Prostate Vol. 76; no. 8; pp. 735 - 743
• Main Authors: Henning, Jill D., Bunker, Clareann H., Patrick, Alan L., Jenkins, Frank J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: African descent; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Antigens, CD20 - metabolism; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic - metabolism; Antigens, Viral - metabolism; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; B-Lymphocytes - pathology; Biomarkers - metabolism; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Herpesviridae Infections - pathology; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Human herpesvirus 8; Humans; inflammation; latent infection; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - pathology; Male; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Prostate - metabolism; Prostate - pathology; Prostate - virology; prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - virology; Trinidad and Tobago; Viral Proteins - metabolism; Trinidad and Tobago; prostate cancer; latent infection; inflammation; African descent; human herpesvirus 8
• ISSN: 0270-4137; 1097-0045
• DOI: 10.1002/pros.23163

Background The Caribbean island of Tobago, which is 97% African ancestry, has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world. We have previously reported that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) infection is significantly associated with prostate cancer in Tobago. In this study, we extend those results testing the hypothesis that HHV‐8 seropositive Tobagonian men have a chronic HHV‐8 infection in their prostates that is associated with increased inflammation. Methods Prostate sections were screened by immunohistochemistry for the expression of HHV‐8 proteins K8.1 and LANA‐1 and for presence of B cells (CD20) and macrophages (CD68). Results HHV‐8 antigen expression representing lytic and latent infections was seen in 73.9% of prostates from HHV‐8 seropositive subjects. Latent infections were seen predominantly in glandular epithelia whereas lytic gene expression was seen mainly in macrophages in prostate stroma. Macrophage infiltrates were significantly increased in sections expressing HHV‐8 proteins. Conclusion HHV‐8 establishes a chronic latent infection in the prostate, which is associated with an increased macrophage infiltrate. Prostate 76:735–743, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.