[Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in Sjögren's syndrome in Tunisia].
OBJECTIVE
The cause of Sjögren's syndrome is unclear. Several studies suggested the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the pathogenesis of this syndrome, but this always remains a subject of numerous controversies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of EBV in Sjögren's syndrome in Tunisia.


METHODS
A series of 31 paraffin-embedded biopsies of salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome were studied in comparison with 19 control glands. EBV was investigated by PCR, EBERs in situ hybridization and by immunohistochemistry for the detection of LMP1, EBNA2 and ZEBRA.


RESULTS
EBV DNA was detected by PCR in 3 of 22 PCR beta-globin positive Sjögren's syndrome cases (13.6%) and in 2 of 17 PCR beta-globin positive control glands (11.7%); in situ hybridization positivity was noted in rare lymphocytes in the 3 EBV positive cases of Sjögren's syndrome, but not in control glands; immunohistochemical study was negative in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
EBV infection does not appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome in Tunisia.
Trimeche
M
M
Laboratoire d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU de Farhat-Hached, Sousse, Tunisie.
Ziadi
S
S
Amara
K
K
Khelifa
M
M
Bahri
F
F
Mestiri
S
S
Braham
H
H
Hachana
M
M
Sriha
B
B
Mokni
M
M
Korbi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000821:virology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis; D014416:Tunisia; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C402640:EBNA-LP protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins