Loss of P16 Protein Expression and Its Association with Epstein-Barr Virus LMP-1 Expression in Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus Latent Member Protein-1 (EBV LMP-1) and loss of P16 protein expression are documented in lymphoma, indicating a relationship between them, but this relationship is not clear and sometimes contradictory. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the loss of P16 and EBV LMP-1 expression in Jordanian patients diagnosed with lymphoma.

Sections were made from archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks from 55 patients diagnosed with lymphoma. P16 expression and LMP-1 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies.

In Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL), the loss of P16 was higher in LMP-1 positive cases (61%) than LMP-1 negative cases (25%; P = 0.072). Conversely, in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), none of LMP-1 positive samples showed loss of P16. Furthermore, among LMP-1 HL positive cases, the loss of P16 was more frequent in male (75%) than female (33%). Also, there was a significantly higher proportion of LMP-1 positive cases showing loss of P16 in HL (11:18), compared to those in NHL (0:8, P < 0.001), confirming a difference between HL and NHL, concerning the LMP-1/P16 relationship.

A trend for an association between loss of P16 and LMP-1 expression was observed in HL but not NHL patients. These findings suggest that there are molecular and clinical differences in the pathogenesis and development of different subtypes of lymphoma.