title: Involvement of Epstein-Barr virus expression in testicular tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because orchitis has been described as a symptom of infectious mononucleosis which is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a human tumor virus, we tried to ascertain the relationship between EBV and testicular tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen seminomas, 11 embryonal carcinomas and 25 nonmalignant control testes were examined for persistence and expression of the EBV genome. To detect expression of EBV, mRNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining by monoclonal antibodies were performed. To confirm the EBV genome in testes, we used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Messenger RNA in situ hybridization showed that all 27 seminomas and embryonal carcinomas expressed EB viral RNA, but the 25 nonmalignant testes did not. Monoclonal antibody staining showed EBV-related nuclear antigen (EBNA) 2 and latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 expression in testicular tumors. Nested polymerase chain reaction detected the EBV genome in normal testes as well as in testicular tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that EBV is related to testicular tumors.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Osaka National Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimakage
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yutsudo
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018239:Seminoma / Q000821:virology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral