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Expression of Epstein–Barr Virus Transformation–Associated Genes in Tissues of Patients with EBV Lymphoproliferative Disease

1989; Massachusetts Medical Society; Volume: 321; Issue: 16 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1056/nejm198910193211604

1533-4406

Lawrence S. Young, Caroline Alfieri, Kathleen Hennessy, Helen Evans, Carl O’Hara, KS Anderson, Jerome Ritz, Ralph Shapiro, Alan B. Rickinson, Elliott Kieff,

Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with serious or fatal lymphoproliferative disease in immunocompromised patients. EBV nuclear protein 2 and latent membrane protein are characteristically expressed in B lymphocytes proliferating in vitro in response to growth transformation by EBV. These two proteins are thought to be effectors of lymphocyte growth since they increase the expression of B-lymphocyte activation (CD23) and cell-adhesion (LFA 3 and ICAM 1) molecules in vitro. Using monoclonal antibody-immune microscopy, we have demonstrated that these two EBV proteins and their associated B-lymphocyte activation or adhesion molecules are expressed in the infiltrating B lymphocytes in immunocompromised patients with EBV lymphoproliferative disease. These monoclonal antibodies should be useful in the early diagnosis of EBV lymphoproliferative disease and in distinguishing it from other B-lymphocyte cancers associated with EBV, such as Burkitt's lymphoma. The finding of EBV nuclear protein 2 and latent membrane protein and their associated activation or adhesion molecules provides a further pathophysiologic link between EBV and the proliferation of B lymphocytes in immunocompromised patients.