Epstein–Barr Virus Replication in Oropharyngeal Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Despite the well-established tropism of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for human B lymphocytes, the cell type within the oropharynx capable of allowing EBV replication has never been conclusively identified. Using in situ cytohybridization, we demonstrated EBV DNA in oropharyngeal epithelial cells from 10 of 12 patients with infectious mononucleosis. In duplicates of specimens found to contain cell-associated EBV DNA, we detected EBV RNA in two of four samples, using a biotin-labeled EBV DNA probe, thereby confirming the intracellular location of the viral genome. In 20 of 28 throat washings analyzed, cytohybridization results and assays for cell-free infectious virus were in agreement. In seven of the eight remaining specimens, cytohybridization identified intracellular EBV DNA in the absence of detectable extracellular virus. We conclude that the oropharyngeal epithelial cell may be the target cell type that is productively infected in infectious mononucleosis.

Epstein-Barr virus–associated lymphoproliferative disorders

“…Primary infection is usually asymptomatic in childhood; but in adolescence or adulthood, it is associated with a self-limiting infectious mononucleosis syndrome in approximately one third of the cases [4,5]. The virus is secreted in the saliva, and human infection occurs through oral transmission [6]. Oropharyngeal infection results in a lytic (productive) infection followed by infection of circulating B cells, leading to persistence of the viral DNA as an episome in the nucleus, thus establishing latent infection [7,8].…”

Altered immune response to glycine‐rich sequences of epstein‐barr nuclear antigen‐1 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

“…The virus is ubiquitous, infecting more than 90% of people by adulthood. The infection persists in a portion of B lymphocytes, and other cells, such as salivary gland cells (2) and epithelial cells (3). may also be reservoirs for the virus.…”

Epstein‐Barr virus B95.8 produced in 293 cells shows marked tropism for differentiated primary epithelial cells and reveals interindividual variation in susceptibility to viral infection

“…1 In this regard, investigation of tissues from IM patients has led to contradictory conclusions as to whether B cells or pharyngeal epithelial cells are the primary target cells. 2 More recent reports favour the idea that intramucosal B cells are the primary site of infection. [3][4][5] Similar divergence of views exist regarding the site of EBV replication and propagation.…”

“…Whether epithelial cells, or even other cell types, support virus multiplication in vivo is still a matter of controversial debate. 2,4,7 Analysis of epidemiological and molecular data accumulated since the discovery of the virus has led the WHO to classify EBV as a tumour virus. 8 EBV causes at least 1% of all human tumours worldwide, including several subtypes of B and T cell lymphomas but also of gastric and nasopharyngeal carcinomas.…”