Stains & CD markers
HHV8 / KSHV / LANA


Last author update: 1 May 2013
Last staff update: 24 August 2023

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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 November 29th, 2023.
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
  • Sensitive but not specific for Kaposi’s sarcoma, due to 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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