Herpes Virus 8 Antibody

HHV 8 encodes a latent nuclear antigen (LNA), which is the product of the viral gene orf 73. LNA is capable of forming a complex with retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, which may be related to its oncogenic activity. HHV8 is associated with three different diseases observed in AIDS patients; kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma (which is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting the body cavities) and multicentric Castleman's disease. HHV 8 is the likely etiological agent of Kaposis sarcoma.