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Epstein-Barr virus: biology and disease
A T Cruchley1, D M Williams, G Niedobitek
1Department of Oral Pathology, St Bartholomew's, London, UK.
Oral Diseases
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes asymptomatic infections but is linked to cancers. EBV persists in lymphoid cells, with replication primarily observed in oral lesions like hairy leukoplakia.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread human herpesvirus associated with lymphoid and epithelial tumors, including Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- EBV infects and transforms B lymphocytes in vitro into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), characterized by constitutive expression of specific viral genes.
- EBV gene expression patterns vary between LCLs, immunoblastic lymphomas, and other associated tumors, indicating differential latency and replication stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct roles of lymphoid and epithelial cells in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infection, persistence, and replication in vivo.
- To clarify the controversial contribution of different cell types to EBV's life cycle within the human body.
- To discuss EBV's role in oral diseases and its impact on epithelial cell growth and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of EBV gene expression patterns in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and various EBV-associated tumors (IBL, BL, HD, NPC).
- Observation of EBV replication in vitro following activation of B cell lines.
- Examination of EBV presence and replication in vivo, particularly in hairy leukoplakia (HL) lesions in AIDS patients.
Main Results:
- EBV establishes latent infections in lymphoid cells, with distinct gene expression profiles observed in LCLs and associated lymphomas.
- Full EBV replication in vivo is reliably observed in hairy leukoplakia (HL), a benign oral lesion, suggesting it's a focus of viral replication.
- Studies suggest EBV persistence primarily resides in the lymphoid compartment, while HL represents a site of active replication rather than latency.
Conclusions:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persistence is predominantly linked to the lymphoid compartment.
- Hairy leukoplakia (HL) serves as a key in vivo site for EBV replication, distinct from latent infection.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate EBV's complex interactions with oral diseases and epithelial cell biology.