Hepatitis C and G viruses in B-cell lymphomas of the skin.
BACKGROUND
The etiology of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) of the skin has still to be elucidated. So far, Borrelia sp. has been identified as the causative agent of some cases of B-cell LPDs of the skin. Apart from bacterial pathogens, recent studies suggested that also flaviviruses, in particular hepatitis C (HCV) and G (HGV) viruses, may be involved in the pathogenesis of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Most studies were performed in patients with known HCV infection, but the overall frequency of HCV- and HGV-RNA in tumoral tissue of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) is unknown.


METHODS
We examined 23 tumor biopsies of various forms of CBCLs by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing for the presence of HCV and HGV.


RESULTS
HCV-RNA sequences were detected in seven of 23 (30%) of the tumor biopsies. In contrast, RNA sequences of HGV were not detected in any of the tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Interestingly, the presence of HCV in our series of primary CBCLs was not restricted to a distinct clinicopathologic subform. HCV which can infect B cells, may play a role in pathogenesis of one-third of CBCLs, whereas HGV is not involved in CBCLs. Further molecular studies and therapeutic trials are needed to clarify the putative pathogenetic role of HCV in CBCLs.
Michaelis
Sonja
S
Unit of Dermatopathology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Kazakov
Dmitry V
DV
Schmid
Mirka
M
Dummer
Reinhard
R
Burg
Günter
G
Kempf
Werner
W
D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral