title: Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) DNA and virus-encoded antigen in oral lesions.
abstract: Archival oral tissues comprising 51 squamous cell carcinomas, 18 non-malignant lesions and 7 normal mucosa samples were investigated for human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6)-encoded antigens and HHV-6 DNA. The virus-specific antigens were detected by an immunohistochemical method using monoclonal antibodies. Two further techniques used for HHV-6 DNA detection included the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with virus-specific primers and in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotides specific for HHV-6A and HHV-6B genotypes. A high proportion (79-80%) of the squamous cell carcinomas were positive for HHV-6 with the various detection methods. In cases of lichen planus and leukoplakia a high prevalence rate (67-100%) was noted with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques but a lower proportion (22-33%) was detected with the PCR method. All 7 normal tissues tested were negative for HHV-6. The HHV-6 variant B was found in 60% of the oral carcinoma tissues analysed. The study demonstrates the frequent presence of HHV-6 in neoplastic and non-malignant lesions of the oral cavity. While the role of HHV-6 in oral mucosal tissues remains to be determined, the in vitro tumorigenic potential of the virus suggests a possible role in the etiopathogenesis of oral lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arivananthan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandrashekran
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: B Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Hashim
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004076:Digoxigenin; D005838:Genotype; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000821:virology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000821:virology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004076:Digoxigenin