Subtypes of Epstein-Barr virus in human immunodeficiency virus- associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Biopsy samples obtained from 20 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were assessed for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and HIV sequences. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NHL tissue and specific viral gene sequences were sought using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). EBV sequences were found in 10 NHL samples (50%), with five tumors showing A-type and five B-type sequences. By serologic testing, 18 of 19 patients had antibodies to EBV, with 14 patients having antibodies to A-type EBV and 11 to B-type EBV. Serology confirmed the high prevalence of type B EBV in HIV-infected patients, but was not a reliable indicator of the EBV subtype present in the lymphomas. HIV sequences were present in biopsy tissue but at a level consistent with an origin from bystander HIV-infected cells. All 20 patients were negative by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus-type I. The high prevalence of type B EBV in these tumors is similar to the findings in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, where 40% of the tumors have type B viral sequences. In normal populations, type B EBV is rarely found outside the nasopharynx. These studies support the hypothesis that EBV is an important cofactor in NHL in HIV-infected persons. The finding that B- type EBV is present in 25% of HIV-associated NHL suggests that this EBV subtype may be an important human pathogen with a wider geographic distribution than originally thought.

Epstein‐barr virus (EBV) in malaysian upper‐aerodigestive‐tract lymphoma: Incidence and sub‐type

“…These findings were in concordance with observations made by Zimber et al (1986), who found type B in 5 of 38 lymphoblastoid cell lines, all of which derived from Central Africa, New Guinea and La Reunion. All cell lines from Caucasian whites, Asians and populations from Young et al, 1987Hu et al, 1991Chen et al, 1992Gledhill et al, 1991Lin et al, 1993Boyle et al, 1991Borisch et al, 1992De-Re et a/., 1993Borisch et al, 1993 other parts of Africa showed EBV type A. However, Sixbey et al (1989) found EBV in 34 of 157 throat washings from healthy donors (22%).…”

“…Nonetheless, EBV type B has been found in throat washings in 40% of healthy volunteers (Sixbey et al, 1989). However, it has been reported that EBV type B is commonly found in AIDS-related lymphomas, accounting for approximately 50% of cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and HD developing in AIDS patients (Boyle et al, 1991;De-Re et al, 1993). In Western HD tissue from patients with no apparent immunodeficiency, the predominant EBV sub-type is A (Gledhill et al, 1991;Lin et al, 1993).…”

Characteristics of Epstein‐Barr virus isolated from the malignant lymphomas in Korea

“…Type 1 virus has been detected almost exclusively in normal or reactive lymphoid tissues as well as malignant lymphomas, except equatorial Africa, where both types 1 and 2 EBV have been identi®ed with high frequency Chen et al, 1996;Kunimoto et al, 1992]. Type 2 virus can transform effectively B cells in immunode®cient populations, and increased frequency of this virus has been found in AIDS patients and AIDS-related lymphoproliferative disorders [Boyle et al, 1991;Kyaw et al, 1992;Shibata et al, 1993]. In the present study, type 1 virus was also a predominant strain.…”

Epstein‐Barr virus in gastric carcinoma in Suzhou, China and Osaka, Japan: Association with clinico‐pathologic factors and HLA‐subtype

“…Differences in subtype frequency have been reported for different geographic areas (Zimber et al, 1986) and immunologic conditions, i.e., in immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients (Boyle et al, 1991). Previous results report that most cases of NPC of immunocompetent patients in Asia contained type A EBV (Chen et al, 1992).…”