Molecular profile of Epstein-Barr virus in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-related lymphadenopathies and lymphomas.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients develop a spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders ranging from nonneoplastic lymphadenopathies to B-cell lymphomas. Although evidence suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) might be involved, its molecular profile and expression pattern in HIV-1-related lymphoproliferations remain to be defined. Using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, we studied EBV types and variants in 28 lymphadenopathy lesions and in 20 lymphomas (15 large cell and 5 Burkitt-like). EBV was detected in 89% of lymphadenopathies and in 80% of lymphomas; viral DNA content was significantly higher in the latter. EBNA2 and LMP1 gene analysis indicated that half of the EBV+ lymphadenopathies were coinfected with both EBV type 1 and 2 strains and/or multiple type 1 variants. Conversely, all but one lymphoma carried a single viral variant, consistently type 1 in large cell lymphomas, and type 2 in Burkitt-like tumors. Most lymphomas, but no lymphadenopathies, showed monoclonal Ig heavy-chain rearrangement. Analysis of 5 large cell lymphomas and 9 lymphadenopathies for EBV transcripts identified LMP1 mRNA in most samples, and the EBNA2 transcript in all tumors. These findings provide evidence of a heterogeneous EBV population in lymphadenopathy lesions, strengthen the notion that lymphomas arise from clonal expansion of EBV+ cells, and suggest different roles for EBV types 1 and 2 in HIV-1-related lymphoproliferations.
Ometto
L
L
Department of Oncology and Surgical Sciences, InterUniversity Center for Cancer Research, AIDS Reference Center, University of Padova, Italy.
Menin
C
C
Masiero
S
S
Bonaldi
L
L
Del Mistro
A
A
Cattelan
A M
AM
D'Andrea
E
E
De Rossi
A
A
Chieco-Bianchi
L
L
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral