Epstein-Barr virus is localized in the tumour cells of nasal lymphomas of NK, T or B cell type.
Seven cases of nasal lymphoma were studied to identify the lineage of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ cells using dual-labelling methods. Five cases were phenotypically and genotypically of natural killer cell (NK) type with germ-line configuration of T-cell receptor (TcR) beta-chain gene and immunoglobulin heavy-chain joining region (IgJH) gene, with one case each of T- and B-cell type showing rearranged TcR beta or IgJH and lambda-light chain genes respectively. EBV genome was clonal in all these cases except in the B-cell case where its clonality was undeterminable. Using in situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA 1 and 2 (EBER), signal was detected in 45% to 88% of nucleated cells in the tumours. Immunostaining for EBV latent membrane protein-I (LMP) also revealed numerous LMP+ cells in 3/5 NK-type cases and the T- and B-cell cases. Using ISH for EBER combined with immunostaining for CD markers and double immunohistochemistry for LMP and CD markers, the predominant lineage of the EBV+ cells was identified as: CD2+CD3-CD19-CD20- CD45R0 +/- CD56+CD68- in the NK-type cases, CD2+CD3 +/- CD19-CD20- CD45R0+CD56-CD68- in the T-cell case and CD20+CD45R0-CD68- in the B-cell case, in agreement with the genotype and phenotype of each tumour. These results show that, in EBV+ nasal lymphomas of NK, T- or B-cell lineage, EBV was consistently associated with the tumour-cell population and support the view that EBV serves a promoting role in the pathogenesis of different types of EBV+ nasal lymphoma.
Tao
Q
Q
Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong.
Ho
F C
FC
Loke
S L
SL
Srivastava
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002999:Clone Cells; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000382:microbiology; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D004279:DNA, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins