BCL-2 but not its Epstein-Barr virus-encoded homologue, BHRF1, is commonly expressed in posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders.
Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is virtually always associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. BCL-2 and other proteins that confer resistance to apoptosis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of malignancies including lymphomas. One EBV protein, BHRF1, is a homologue of BCL-2, whereas another, the latency membrane protein 1 (LMP-1), upregulates BCL-2 expression in vitro. In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to study the expression of these viral and cellular proteins as well as a variety of other EBV-encoded proteins in PTLD. BHRF1 was not detected in any PTLD specimen, whereas BCL-2 was shown in 12 of 17 lesions examined. With one exception, all LMP1-positive cases also expressed BCL-2 and the absence of LMP1 was always associated with a lack of BCL-2 expression. The results do not support a role for the EBV homologue of BCL-2 in PTLD, but they do support a role for viral induction of BCL-2 expression.
Murray
P G
PG
Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Swinnen
L J
LJ
Constandinou
C M
CM
Pyle
J M
JM
Carr
T J
TJ
Hardwick
J M
JM
Ambinder
R F
RF
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014180:Transplantation; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014775:Virus Activation
D000956:Antigens, Viral; C083278:BHRF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins