Introduction: The Epstein-Barr virus is a member of herpesvirus family. It plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma, other B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, X chromosome-linked lymphoproliferative disease, Hodgkin lymphomas and a part of T-cell lymphomas. It has been suggested that association of Epstein-Barr virus with lymphomas and its pathological significance in disease varies in different geographical areas. The aim of our study was to reveal the role of Epstein-Barr virus in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas diagnosed in Hungary. The authors asked: A) What is the frequency of the presence of virus genome in the biopsy specimen from B-cell non-Hodgkin patients? B) Which types of virus latency can be observed?
Patients and methods: Genomic DNA and EBER-specific RNA of Epstein-Barr virus in paraffin-embedded specimens were detected by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation, respectively.
Results: Out of 36 B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases, 16 (45%) were found to be positive for Epstein-Barr virus by the above methods. Expression of latency genes, nuclear antigene-2 and latent membrane protein-1 was studied by immunohistochemical technique. The 16 virus-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases showed Epstein-Barr virus latency types II. (37%) or III. (63%).
Conclusions: The authors data suggest that Epstein-Barr virus may be associated with the development of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas in Hungarian patients.