title: Prevalence of LMP-1 gene in tonsils and non-neoplastic nasopharynxes by nest-polymerase chain reaction in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) in tonsils and non-neoplastic nasopharynxes in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nest-polymerase chain reaction (nest-PCR) was used to examine the presence of LMP-1 gene in lymphoid hyperplasia from non-neoplastic tonsillar and nasopharyngeal tissues and in tonsillar cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 152 cases, 64 biopsy tissues were obtained from lymphoid hyperplasia of nasopharynxes, 57 from tonsillectomy of non-neoplastic tonsils, and 31 from tonsillar cancers. LMP-1 was detected in 43.4% of the study group. Nineteen (29.7%) and 29 (50.9%) lymphoid hyperplasias from normal nasopharynxes and tonsils, respectively, and 18 (58.1%) biopsies from tonsillar cancers had positive LMP-1. The 30-base pair (bp) deleted variant was detected in 89.5% and 82.8% of normal nasopharynxes and tonsils, respectively, and in 66.7% of biopsies from tonsillar cancers (p =.198).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that the 30-bp variant was the predominant type of LMP-1 from a healthy population in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kwei-Shan Hsiang, Taoyuan, Linkou, Taiwan ROC.
authors.forename: Ping-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Ngan-Ming
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Chen-Kan
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Sheng-Po
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Tseng-Tong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Kuo-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chuen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Chi-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D017353:Gene Deletion; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013624:Taiwan; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins