HHV-8 and EBV are not commonly found in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (IPF/UIP) is a diffuse and progressive lung disease whose pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Recently, the presence of Herpesvirus-specific DNA was detected in the large majority of cases of a series of IPF/UIP and other lung interstitial diseases. We have therefore tested our own IPF/UIP series for the presence of HHV-8 and EBV proteins.


METHODS
We used a variety of sensitive technologies including immunohistochemistry with NCL-HHV8-LNA and EBV-LMP1 antibodies, as well as of EBV RNA (EBER) by in-situ hybridisation; the presence of HHV-8 and EBV DNA was also investigated by means of PCR and subsequent analysis using a microfluidic apparatus.


RESULTS
Despite the good sample quality, immunohistochemical, in-situ hybridisation and PCR results were negative for both EBV and HHV-8.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that EBV and HHV-8 are not involved in the pathogenesis of IPF/UIP.
Zamò
Alberto
A
Department of Pathology, University of Verona, Italy.
Poletti
Venerino
V
Reghellin
Daniela
D
Montagna
Licia
L
Pedron
Serena
S
Piccoli
Paola
P
Chilosi
Marco
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral