[Molecular pathological studies on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected cells and EBV-associated tumor cells].
Recent studies have indicated that different patterns of latent viral gene expression were observed in a number of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumors. Among the latent viral genes, EBERs and EBNA1 genes are commonly expressed in EBV-associated tumor cells. Out of eight EBERs-negative NPC cases, four were shown to be EBV DNA-positive by in situ PCR which could detect one copy of integrated EBV genome per cell. EBER1-expressing cells in paraffin-embedded sections of T-cell lymphoma cases were detected in about 44% of T-cell lymphoma cases while 66% of the cases showed positive for EBNA1 mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH) with EBNA1 specific RNA probe, indicating the presence of T-cell lymphomas expressing EBNA1 mRNA but not EBER1. LMP1 mRNA was expressed in 53% of the cases which were strongly associated with aggressive clinical course. Thus, the introduction of DNA-RNA ISH for detection of EBNA1 mRNA and in situ PCR for detection of latent EBV DNA could provide a unique tool for the detection of latently infected cells in histological sections.
Yamamoto
T
T
Department of Clinical Pathology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital.
Hirai
K
K
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral