Morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of malignant lymphomas in SIV-infected rhesus macaques

Eight cases of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques, aged 4-9 years, were phenotypically and immunologically characterized, using the updated Kiel classification, in order to determine both the differences and the similarities between these types of lymphoma in immunodeficient rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and man. The high-grade malignant tumors were of B-cell origin, with a predilection for extranodal growth in viscera and periorbital tissues. Immunophenotypical characterization showed that the monkey lymphomas were similar in many aspects to human immunodeficiency virus-associated lymphomas. The number of Ki67 positive cells varied from case to case and ranged from 50 to 90%. A serological screening for the simian equivalent of the Epstein-Barr virus (sEBV) by immunofluorescence assay revealed a prevalence of 92% of the sEBV antibodies in our cohort. The presence of Ebstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA-2) could be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in four out of eight cases. In situ hybridization revealed the presence of small EBV-encoded RNAs (EBER-1, EBER-2) in six of the eight cases. Further studies should define the precise role of herpesvirus infection for lymphomagenesis in SIV-induced immunodeficiency.