Thus, the induction of human IL-6 during KSHV infection may modulate the function of CD8+ T cells in a way that favors the establishment and dissemination of KSHV infection within the lymphocyte compartment independent of traditional CD4+ helper T cells, which would be an interesting dynamic in the context of CD4+ T cell immunosuppression associated with HIV infection where KSHV-mediated malignancies are common. Here, CD4 is linked to HIV infectious disease.