Increased expression of Epstein-Barr virus in primary biliary cirrhosis patients.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n = 26), formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded liver tissues (n = 11) and saliva (n = 15) of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients were used for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The semiquantitative analysis of EBV-DNA was also carried out in a reconstructive experiment using an EBV-infected cell line. The PBMCs of PBC patients showed increased levels of EBV-DNA (61%) in contrast to chronic active hepatitis patients (19%), liver cirrhosis patients (14%) and healthy individuals (11%). Furthermore, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded liver tissues, as well as saliva from PBC patients, also demonstrated increased levels of EBV-DNA when compared to healthy individuals and those with other liver diseases. The increased levels of EBV-DNA in the PBMC, liver tissue and saliva of the PBC patients suggest that those patients may have a depressed immune function against EBV infection.
Morshed
S A
SA
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
Nishioka
M
M
Saito
I
I
Komiyama
K
K
Moro
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000382:microbiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology
D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral