BACKGROUND:

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes 12 distinct microRNA genes, all of which are located within the latency-associated region that is highly expressed in all KSHV-associated malignancies.

METHODS:

We amplified, cloned, and sequenced a 2.8-kbp-long region containing a cluster of 10 microRNAs plus a 646-bp fragment of K12/T0.7 containing the remaining 2 microRNAs from 5 primary effusion lymphoma-derived cell lines and from 17 patient samples. The patients included 2 with classic KS, 12 with AIDS-KS (8 from the United States, 1 from Europe, 3 from Africa, and 4 from Central/South America), and 2 with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). Additionally, we analyzed the K1, open reading frame 75, and K15 genes to determine KSHV subtypes, and we performed a phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTS:

Phylogenetic analysis of the 2.8-kbp microRNA region revealed 2 distinct clusters of sequences: a major (A/C) and a variant (B/Q) cluster. The variant cluster included sequences from 3 patients of African origin and both patients with MCD. Some microRNAs were highly conserved, whereas others had changes that could affect processing and, therefore, biological activity.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate that KSHV microRNA genes are under tight selection in vivo and suggest that they contribute to the biological activity and possibly the pathogenesis of KSHV-associated malignancies.