Polymorphism analysis of Epstein-Barr virus isolates of lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with mycosis fungoides.
In order to determine whether there is an association between the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and mycosis fungoides (MF) disease progression, PCR was performed to detect the EBV status of 20 MF patients; six EBV-positive patients were found. EBV variants may differ in their biological properties, such as their ability to transform cells; therefore, the ability of these variants to immortalize B cells in vitro was analysed. Six continuously growing cell lines were obtained from prolonged cultures of unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were taken from the six EBV-positive patients with MF. In order to characterize the EBV strains, EBNA-2 and LMP-1/LMP-2 gene polymorphisms in the six cell lines were also analysed. All patients were followed up for 10 years and it was noticed that EBV-positive patients had a poor prognosis with rapid disease progression and high mortality rates, compared to EBV-negative patients. EBV may therefore constitute a co-factor that accelerates the progression of disease.
De Francesco
M A
MA
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Gargiulo
F
F
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Esteban
P
P
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Calzavara-Pinton
P G
PG
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Venturini
M
M
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Perandin
F
F
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Baronio
M
M
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Pollara
C
C
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Terlenghi
L
L
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Manca
N
N
Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy 2Department of Dermatology, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins
C402641:EBNA-2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C071313:LMP-2 protein; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases