title: Epstein-Barr virus receptors but not viral DNA are present in normal and malignant oral epithelium.
abstract: The presence and distribution of Epstein-Barr Virus receptors (EBVR's) on a range of normal (n = 18), dysplastic (n = 10) and malignant (n = 20) oral mucosa were studied by immunocytochemical methods using the monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) HB5 and B2. EBVR's were demonstrated as membrane staining of the spinous layers of normal non- and parakeratinized epithelium, indicating that EBVR's are differentiation-linked. This distribution was retained in dysplastic epithelium. Tissue from oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC's) showed variable reactivity of only a few cells scattered randomly within the samples. Furthermore, a sensitive in situ hybridization (ISH) technique was used to determine if Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was present in normal (n = 15) and oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue (n = 20). No EBV DNA was demonstrated within either normal or malignant epithelium, suggesting that the virus does not persist in normal oral stratified squamous epithelium nor is there any evidence for a role in oral carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Sciences, Hunterian Institute, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Talacko
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011991:Receptors, Virus