The systemic distribution of Epstein-Barr virus genomes in fatal post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders. An in situ hybridization study.
The systemic distribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes was studied in paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 fatal cases of Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), using an in situ hybridization technique employing an alpha-35S-dCTP-radiolabeled BamHI-W fragment of EBV DNA. The presence of EBV was documented in various PTLD-involved organs. The hybridization signal for the virus localized predominantly in the abnormal lymphoid cells, but signals also were detected in hepatocytes and/or adrenal cortical cells in five cases. The distribution of autoradiographic label within the lymphoid cells was focal and its intensity varied from field to field suggesting a nonuniformity of the viral genomic load in the infected tissues. Recruitment of EBV genome-bearing cells was not observed into inflammatory mononuclear infiltrates found in organs without histopathologic evidence of PTLD.
Randhawa
P S
PS
Department of Pathology, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Jaffe
R
R
Demetris
A J
AJ
Nalesnik
M
M
Starzl
T E
TE
Chen
Y Y
YY
Weiss
L M
LM
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006321:Heart / Q000382:microbiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014180:Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*