title: The oncogenic 30 and 69 bp deletion variants of the EBV LMP-1 gene are common in HIV-negative lymphoproliferations, both malignant and benign.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro studies have shown that the 30 and 69 base pair (bp) deletion variants of the latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 gene of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have a higher transforming capacity than the wild-type variant. In recent years these studies have triggered an in vivo search for such potentially oncogenic variants in lymphoid tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the prevalence of LMP-1 gene variants in EBV-positive lymph nodes from 60 HIV-negative Italian patients with benign and malignant lymphoid disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30 bp variant was detected in 10 of 39 (25.6%) malignant lymphomas but also in 4 of 13 (30%) reactive lymphadenitis with follicular hyperplasia. Of note is the fact that the 69 bp variant was detected in three cases of malignant lymphoproliferation but also in two cases of localized Castleman's disease of hyalin vascular type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The molecular detection of the oncogenic variants of the LMP-1 gene in a lymph node biopsy as an indicator of the aggressiveness of the EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease must be considered with caution. The relatively high frequency of the 69 bp variant in our series compared with that reported in the literature probably reflects a different incidence of LMP-1 variants in healthy populations from different geographical areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cagossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiorana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marasca
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Artusi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005787:Gene Frequency; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral