title: Detection of polyomavirus simian virus 40 tumor antigen DNA in AIDS-related systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: Systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (S-NHL) is a common malignancy during HIV infection, and it is hypothesized that infectious agents may be involved in the etiology. Epstein-Barr virus DNA is found in <40% of patients with AIDS-related S-NHL, suggesting that other oncogenic viruses, such as polyomaviruses, may play a role in pathogenesis. We analyzed AIDS-related S-NHL samples, NHL samples from HIV-negative patients, peripheral blood leukocytes from HIV-infected and -uninfected patients without NHL, and lymph nodes without tumors from HIV-infected patients. Specimens were examined by polymerase chain reaction analysis with use of primers specific for an N-terminal region of the oncoprotein large tumor antigen ( T-ag ) gene conserved among all three polyomaviruses (simian virus 40 [SV40], JC virus, and BK virus). Polyomavirus T-ag DNA sequences, proven to be SV40-specific, were detected more frequently in AIDS-related S-NHL samples (6 of 26) than in peripheral blood leukocytes from HIV-infected patients (6 of 26 vs. 0 of 69; p =.0001), NHL samples from HIV-negative patients (6 of 26 vs. 0 of 10; p =.09), or lymph nodes (6 of 26 vs. 0 of 7; p =.16). Sequences of C-terminal T-ag DNA from SV40 were amplified from two AIDS-related S-NHL samples. Epstein-Barr virus DNA sequences were detected in 38% (10 of 26) AIDS-related S-NHL samples, 50% (5 of 10) HIV-negative S-NHL samples, and 57% (4 of 7) lymph nodes. None of the S-NHL samples were positive for both Epstein-Barr virus DNA and SV40 DNA. Further studies of the possible role of SV40 in the pathogenesis of S-NHL are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. rvilchez@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Regis A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vilchez
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lednicky
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Halvorson
authors.forename: Zoe S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kozinetz
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Butel
mesh_terms: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D004279:DNA, Viral