title: Lack of evidence for Epstein-Barr virus infection in myasthenia gravis thymus.
abstract: A role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in myasthenia gravis pathogenesis has been suggested recently. Using in situ hybridization for the detection of the EBV-encoded RNAs and EBNA1-specific immunohistochemistry, we found no latently infected cells in a series of thymus specimens from patients with myasthenia gravis showing lymphofollicular thymitis. In addition, using immunohistochemistry and an antibody specific for the viral immediate early protein BZLF1, no evidence of lytic EBV infection was seen in these cases. Our results therefore do not support a direct role of thymic EBV infection in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis.
authors: Institute for Pathology, Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Mandy
authors: M
authors: Meyer
authors: Ann-Kathrin
authors: AK
authors: Höls
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Liersch
authors: Rasmus
authors: R
authors: Leistner
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Gellert
authors: Berthold
authors: B
authors: Schalke
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Marx
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Niedobitek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000473:pathology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C432687:EBNA1BP2 protein, human; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators