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High incidence of EBV genome in CD30-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
P Kanavaros1, N M Jiwa, P C de Bruin
1Department of Pathology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is found in a significant number of non-Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with Hodgkin's disease, specifically in CD30-positive Reed-Sternberg cells.
- CD30 is a marker often found on lymphoma cells, and its association with EBV in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and transcriptional activity of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in CD30-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).
- To explore the potential association between EBV infection and CD30 expression in NHLs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA in situ hybridization (DISH) to detect the EBV genome in 60 CD30-positive NHLs.
- Employed immunohistochemistry to detect latent EBV proteins (LMP and EBNA-2) in tumor cells.
- Included CD30-negative NHLs and reactive lymph nodes as controls.
Main Results:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected by PCR in 67% of CD30-positive NHLs, compared to 21-24% in controls.
- The EBV genome was localized to tumor cell nuclei using DISH in a subset of PCR-positive cases.
- Latent EBV protein LMP was detected in 15% of CD30-positive NHLs, exclusively in EBV-positive cases.
Conclusions:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is transcriptionally active in a substantial proportion of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).
- A likely association exists between EBV presence and CD30 expression in NHLs.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of EBV in lymphomagenesis.
Abstract:
In Hodgkin's disease, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is found in CD30-positive Reed-Sternberg cells. We therefore studied 60 CD30-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) for the presence of EBV by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA in situ hybridization (DISH), and by immunohistochemistry for the latent EBV proteins LMP and EBNA-2. CD30-negative NHLs and reactive lymph nodes served as controls. The CD30-positive cases comprised 17 anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) (> 75 per cent CD30-positive cells) and 43 non-ALCLs (with 5-35 per cent CD30-positive cells). By PCR, 40 of 60 CD30-positive NHLs (67 per cent) were EBV-positive; in CD30-negative cases, 6/29 (21 per cent) were EBV-positive, as were 12/50 (24 per cent) reactive lymph nodes. The DISH procedure demonstrated the EBV genome exclusively in the nuclei of tumour cells in 23 of the 37 PCR EBV-positive cases that were tested. PCR-negative cases were always DISH-negative, as were the PCR-positive reactive lymph nodes and CD30-negative NHLs. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated LMP in neoplastic cells of 7/47 (15 per cent) CD30-positive NHLs, both ALCL and non-ALCL always in PCR EBV-positive cases, but never in the two control groups. EBNA-2 staining could not be detected. It is concluded that EBV is present (and transcriptionally active) in a sizeable number of NHLs and an association between the presence of the EBV genome and CD30 expression seems likely.