Do viral chemokines modulate Kaposi's sarcoma?

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angiogenic tumor of mixed cellularity most commonly found in homosexual men infected with HIV. Both molecular and epidemiologic evidence has linked a newly described herpesvirus to this disease. This virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), encodes a number of cellular homologues, including two genes that share remarkable similarity to the human chemokine macrophage inhibitory factor-1 alpha. Recently, studies have begun to shed light on the roles these viral chemokines (vMIP-I and vMIP-II) may play in the complex pathogenesis of KS. The vMIP peptides may contribute to the formation of new blood vessels (neovascularization), inhibit infection by certain strains of HIV-1 and modify the cellular immune response.