Absence of a reservoir of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in normal tongue epithelium.
We examined human tongue epithelium and serum samples at autopsy for evidence of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Although clinical serology revealed anti-EBV antibodies in most sera indicating past EBV infection, we found no Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-coding sequences in tongue tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or Epstein-Barr-encoded RNA (EBER1) by in situ hybridization. Tongue epithelium does not appear to be a natural reservoir for latent EBV in immunocompetent hosts.
Miller
D R
DR
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7842.
Heard
P L
PL
Cagle
M P
MP
DiMaio
D
D
Ench
Y
Y
Morrison
D G
DG
Eagan
P A
PA
Gulley
M L
ML
Jenson
H B
HB
Moyer
M P
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001769:Blood; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015534:Trans-Activators