Molecular pathogenesis of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in HIV-infected individuals is currently poorly understood; however, recent molecular studies have subdivided these lymphomas into distinct molecular pathologic entities. Similar to endemic and sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma, monoclonal B-lymphoma subsets were found to be infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or have c-myc gene rearrangements, suggesting a role for EBV infection or chromosomal translocation in a subset of AIDS NHLs. Similar to lymphomas that occur in immunosuppressed transplant patients, EBV-positive polyclonal lymphomas also have been described. Unique to HIV-infected patients, however, is the subset of polyclonal B-cell lymphoma with no evidence for EBV infection. Based on these molecular studies, it is apparent that the AIDS NHLs represent a heterogeneous set of diseases with a number of pathogenic processes involved in lymphomagenesis.
Shiramizu
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco.
McGrath
M S
MS
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics