Absence of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphomatoid papulosis. An immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study.
METHODS
Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and cutaneous Hodgkin's disease share many clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several lymphoid malignancies, including Hodgkin's disease. Given the similarities between LyP and Hodgkin's disease, we asked if EBV could be detected in lesions of LyP. We examined 31 specimens of LyP that were obtained from 24 patients for evidence of EBV by in situ hybridization to EBER1 transcripts and for immunohistochemistry of viral latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1).


RESULTS
In no instance there was there any evidence of EBV gene products by either in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of EBV in LyP suggests that this virus is not operative in the pathogenesis of LyP. Furthermore, it suggests that LyP and Hodgkin's disease may not share the same molecular mechanisms despite their phenotypic similarities.
Sangüeza
O P
OP
Department of Pathology and Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA.
Galloway
J
J
Eagan
P A
PA
Braziel
R M
RM
Gulley
M L
ML
D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017731:Lymphomatoid Papulosis / Q000821:virology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins