Expression of Epstein-Barr virus transformation-associated genes in tissues of patients with EBV lymphoproliferative disease

Article Abstract:

A new method of identifying B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells, that have been infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been developed. Epstein-Barr virus is a herpesvirus that is the causative agent of mononucleosis in Western societies; it has been associated with nasopharyngeal cancer in Asiatic populations and Burkitt's lymphoma in African populations. In patients who have deficiencies of their immune systems such as occur as a result of organ transplantation, AIDS, or other abnormalities, the proliferation of B lymphocytes infected with EBV can give rise to very severe or fatal illness. Newly developed immunologic sera were used to identify and immunologically stain infected lymphocytes in the sectioned tissues of biopsy specimens. The sera work by identifying unique proteins produced by the EBV in the host cells: EBV nuclear protein 2 and lateral membrane protein in B lymphocytes. The technique can effectively identify B lymphocytes that are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus and can thus be used to investigate the role of this virus in human disease and to assess the progress and treatment of EBV-caused diseases.

Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis, Causes of, Herpesviruses, Monoclonal antibodies, Mononucleosis, Infectious mononucleosis, Immunodiagnosis

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Epstein-Barr virus - increasing evidence of a link to carcinoma

Article Abstract:

A 1995 study may help explain how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may lead to the development nasal cancer. Researchers found EBV proteins and RNA in abnormal nasal cells of people who later developed nasal tumors. In particular, the viral latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) was expressed in all tested premalignant nasal tissue. LMP-1 is known to stimulate cell growth in B lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, skin cells, and cells that form the lining of other organs. LMP-1 may resemble the tumor necrosis factor receptor CD40 in how it stimulates cell growth. Both LMP-1 and CD40 may act on the same protein within each cell to cause growth. The understanding of these pathways that cause cell growth, may allow for a therapy that blocks the progression from EBV infection to cancer. In addition, resistance to EBV infection may help prevent nasal cancer.

Editorial

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Clonal proliferations of cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus in preinvasive lesions related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Article Abstract:

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of the nasal passages may precede and cause the development of nasal cancer. Researchers retrospectively analyzed nasal passage biopsies from 11 patients with dysplasia or carcinoma before they had developed invasive tumors. EBV-encoded RNA was detected in all eight of the samples that were tested with in situ hybridization and antibody staining. The EBV protein called latent membrane protein 1 was detected in all 6 of the samples tested for its presence. Other tests indicated that identical EBV genes were expressed before and after the cancer became invasive. These various tests prove the presence of EBV infection in all 11 of the biopsies taken before tumor invasion. Thus, EBV growth may be focussed in nasal cells with dysplasia or carcinoma and this infection may lead to tumor invasion.

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