title: Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA sequences in bone marrow of children with leukemia.
abstract: To investigate the possibility that hemopoietic cells may become infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), viral DNA was studied by molecular hybridization in bone marrow aspirates of 51 children with leukemia. HBV-DNA was found in the bone marrow of eight children (15%) and Southern blot analysis revealed the presence of free, monomeric viral sequences. Only one of the eight children with HBV-DNA in bone marrow cells was HBsAg-positive in serum, whereas two additional patients were transiently HBsAg-positive in serum during follow-up, but were negative at the time HBV-DNA was found in bone marrow. Four other cases developed antibodies to HBV. Cases of myeloid leukemia were more frequently positive for HBV-DNA in bone marrow (55%), compared with cases of lymphoid leukemia (7%). These results indicate that hemopoietic cells are susceptible to infection with hepatitis B virus and stimulate new interest into the relation of HBV infection to the development of some forms of leukemia, as four of eight cases of myeloid leukemia were HBV-DNA positive in bone marrow aspirates at diagnosis, prior to receiving any transfusion therapy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pontisso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Locasciulli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cattoretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schirò
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stenico
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001483:Base Sequence; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral