title: Epstein-Barr virus replication in tongue epithelial cells.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persistently infects B-cells in humans and can be shed into the saliva. The cellular source of infectious virus is uncertain. Hairy leukoplakia, an AIDS-associated lesion of the tongue, supports EBV replication in epithelial cells. However, the general significance of this observation has remained doubtful. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we demonstrate evidence of EBV replication in tongue epithelial cells in 4 of 168 samples from 84 autopsy cases. Thus, in patients who do not have AIDS, squamous epithelial cells of the tongue rarely support EBV replication. However, all individuals with evidence of EBV replication were either on immunosuppressive therapy or were terminally ill cancer patients, suggesting that an impairment of the immune system may have allowed EBV replication to occur at this site. Thus, our findings are consistent with the idea that EBV replication in oropharyngeal epithelial cells is an infrequent event.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, Friedrich Alexander University, Krankenhausstr. 8-10, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, Friedrich Alexander University, Krankenhausstr. 8-10, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Phroso
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frangou
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands2.
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Middeldorp
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, Friedrich Alexander University, Krankenhausstr. 8-10, 91054 Erlangen, Germany1.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niedobitek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014059:Tongue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins