title: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoid tissues of patients with infectious mononucleosis by in situ hybridization.
abstract: Although the immunological response during infectious mononucleosis (IMN) has been studied in detail, little is known about the spread of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in lymphoid organs or the topographical distribution of the infected cells. In this study, EBV was detected in 11 lymph nodes, 4 tonsils, and 1 spleen of 16 patients with IMN. The predominant cell type positive for the EBV genome was identified as small lymphocytes localized chiefly within typical T areas, preferentially in perifollicular and interfollicular regions of the lymph node. A few endothelia of epithelioid venules were also found to be positive. Furthermore, a small number of sinus lining cells of lymph nodes exhibited labelling. Altogether, only a small number of cells, not exceeding 1 per cent of all cells, were infected with EBV. Our results show that only a small number of lymphocytes carry the EBV and that besides B lymphocytes, other cell constituents of lymphatic tissues are infected by EBV during IMN.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prange
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kreipe
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Radzun
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Parwaresch
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000382:microbiology*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology