Stains & CD markers
HHV8 / KSHV / LANA


Last author update: 1 May 2013
Last staff update: 22 February 2024

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PubMed Search: HHV8 / KSHV / LANA

Nat Pernick, M.D.
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Cite this page: Pernick N. HHV8 / KSHV. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainshhv8.html. Accessed March 19th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Human Herpes Virus 8 is also known as Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpes Virus
  • Gamma herpesvirus identified as an etiologic agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma in 1994
  • Latently infects endothelial cells, monocytes and B cells in Kaposi’s sarcoma patients
  • HHV8 Latency Associated Nuclear Antigen, highly expressed during latent HHV8 infection, is commonly used for IHC testing
Clinical features
  • HHV8 infection is associated with 3 HIV related lymphoproliferative disorders: primary effusion lymphoma, multicentric Castleman’s disease and multicentric Castleman’s disease-associated plasmablastic lymphoma
  • IHC is sensitive and specific for Kaposi’s sarcoma but PCR is not due to its presence in other tumors (including hemangiomas) in immunocompromised (may be present within intratumoral blood mononuclear cells, Mod Pathol 2005;18:463)
  • LANA interacts with pRb, which regulates beginning of S phase of cell cycle; also inhibits p53
  • Presence in serum is associated with developing Kaposi sarcoma in immunocompromised individuals
  • References: Am J Surg Pathol 2002;26:1363
Microscopic (histologic) images

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LANA+ Kaposi sarcoma

Soft tissue, foot: Kaposi sarcoma

Positive staining - disease
  • HHV8 associated Kaposi sarcoma (endothelial and spindle cells, 92% sensitive and highly specific), primary effusion lymphoma, multicentric Castleman disease
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