Detection of Epstein--Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen-2 mRNA by in situ hybridization

A mRNA in situ hybridization method was developed to detect mRNA of Epstein--Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA2). Strong in situ hybridization signals were detected in EBNA2-transfected cells with the antisense probe but not with the sense probe of this mRNA. Hybridization signals were also found in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients with invasive uterine cervical cancer and with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The sensitivity of mRNA in situ hybridization was higher than that of Northern blotting, and almost the same as that of immunofluorescence staining using monoclonal anti-EBNA2 antibody. It is concluded that this method is useful for sensitive and convenient detection of EBNA2.