Laboratory markers of tumor burden in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a comparison of viral load and serologic tests for Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present within the tumor cells of most cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Recent studies suggest that tumor burden is proportional to the level of EBV DNA in blood and that rapid blood testing can be used to guide therapeutic intervention. The relative utility of viral load vs. serology has been insufficiently studied. In our study, EBV viral load was measured by quantitative PCR using either real-time or end-point detection systems in serum samples from 124 NPC patients (93 pretreatment, 13 relapsed, 18 in remission) and 40 controls. Serologic titers against EBV early antigen were measured in the same serum samples. EBV DNA was detectable in 64 of 93 untreated NPC patients (69%; mean viral load 11,211 copies/ml), 11 of 13 relapsed NPC patients (85%; mean 53,039 copies/ml) and 0 of 18 remission patients. EBV DNA was detectable in only 1 of 40 non-NPC controls (3%). In 34 instances where paired plasma and serum samples were available for testing, both were effective sample types, and there was no significant difference between end-point and real-time methods for measuring viral load. Early antigen (EA) IgA and IgG titers were elevated in most NPC patients regardless of whether their disease was active or in remission. EBV viral load was more informative than was EA serology for distinguishing remission from relapsed disease. EBV DNA measurement appears to be a noninvasive way to monitor tumor burden after therapy.     

A role of late Epstein-Barr virus infection in multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seroconversion in a high multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence area and to evaluate the recall of diagnosed infectious mononucleosis in MS patients. METHODS: The study was based on information or blood samples, or both, from schoolchildren, young MS patients and matched controls. EBV serology was performed on 1154 blood samples. RESULTS : We demonstrate that more than one third of the population in a high MS prevalence area is seronegative to EBV at puberty. This is in contrast to the virtually complete seroconversion to EBV early in life in individuals from areas with a low prevalence of MS. Furthermore, we demonstrate that recall of diagnosed infectious mononucleosis (IM), but not recall of common childhood diseases, is significantly more frequent among MS patients than healthy controls. All MS patients, including patients without prior immunosuppressive treatment, were EBV seropositive. CONCLUSION: During or after puberty, EBV is transmitted to a major proportion of the population in an MS high-prevalence area. Together with our previous documentation of an association between late infection with EBV and an increased risk of developing MS, these data support a role of EBV infection in MS.     

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL): chromosomal integration of EBV in a novel CD2-positive PAL B-cell line

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) is a clinico-pathological entity arising in the pleural cavity of patients with long-standing inflammatory pyothorax. PAL is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but how this virus contributes to the development of the lymphoma is unknown. We have successfully obtained a novel EBV-infected PAL cell line, designated Pal-1. The cell line and its source coexpressed CD2 and CD20 molecules, but other representative B- and T-cell markers such as CD1, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD10 and CD19 were not found. The B-cell origin of Pal-1 cells was proven by rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain genes without rearranged T-cell receptor genes. Both the cell line and primary tumour cells carried monoclonal EBV genome. Although EBV genome is known to be maintained as circular extrachromosomal DNA, neither circular nor linear extrachromosomal EBV DNA was detectable in Pal-1 cells by in situ lysis gel analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated viral integration at a marker chromosome mostly consisting of the centromere region of chromosome 1. The viral integration event may enhance a chromosomal instability at the insertion site. This cell line represents the first example of EBV integration in PAL and could enable the study of the potential role of integrated viral infection in the development of PAL as well as mechanism of the aberrant phenotype expression.     

Human herpesvirus 8 and Epstein-Barr virus-related monotypic large B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder coexisting with mixed variant of Castleman's disease in a lymph node of a renal transplant recipient

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has been related to some malignant lymphoproliferations, including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). We describe a case of a HHV8 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive large B-cell lymphoproliferation coexisting with Castleman's disease in the same lymph node of a long-term renal transplant recipient. Biopsy revealed mixed type of Castleman's disease and anaplastic cells showing IgA restriction, although molecular analysis failed to detect monoclonality. Only large cells were co-infected by both EBV and HHV8. After reduction of immunosuppression, the lesion partially regressed. After 1 yr, local evolution required surgery followed by irradiation. The present case represents a unique form of localized monotypic but polyclonal large cell PTLD associated with Castleman's disease. It can be added to PTLD with HHV8 and EBV co-infection.     

EBV-LMP1对鼻咽癌细胞系CNE1细胞转移相关因素的影响

背景与目的:已证实EB病毒(Epstein-Barrvirus,EBV)编码的潜伏膜蛋白1(latentmembraneprotein1,LMP1)能够诱导鼻咽癌细胞中基质金属蛋白酶9(matrixmetalloproteinase-9,MMP-9)的表达。本实验的目的是观察EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1(EBV-LMP1)对鼻咽癌细胞系CNE1细胞转移相关因素的影响,探讨LMP1在鼻咽癌侵袭、转移过程中的作用。方法:用免疫组化法及Westernblot法检测CNE1-GL(转染LMP1基因的CNE1细胞)和CNE1细胞中MMP-9的表达情况;用细胞-基质粘附实验、细胞运动实验和肿瘤细胞重组基底膜侵袭实验检测LMP1对CNE1细胞粘附、运动及侵袭能力的影响。结果:免疫组化法及Westernblot法结果均显示CNE1-GL细胞中MMP-9的表达明显高于CNE1细胞(P<0.05);肿瘤细胞-基质粘附实验结果显示,CNE1-GL的粘附能力(平均吸光度值为1.2508±0.0711),高于CNE1细胞(平均吸光度值为0.9519±0.068),两者相比差异有显著性(P<0.01)。运动实验及重组基底膜侵袭实验结果均显示,穿过游离的聚乙烯吡咯烷酮膜(polyvinylpyrroli-done-free,PVP-F)的CNE1-GL细胞数明显高于CNE1细胞(P<0.01)。结论:LMP1能够诱导CNE1细胞中MMP-9的表达,且增强CNE1细胞与基底膜的粘附能力、运动能力及侵袭能力。     

Expression of human tumor-associated antigen RCAS1 in Reed-Sternberg cells in association with Epstein-Barr virus infection: a potential mechanism of immune evasion

RCAS1 (receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) is present in neoplastic cells, induces apoptosis of natural killer (NK)/T cells and plays a role in immune evasion. Fas ligand (FasL) is considered to have similar roles. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein is expressed by malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H&RS) cells of EBV-associated Hodgkin's disease (HD) and considered to be a target of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). However, CTL response is inadequate in HD. To determine whether RCAS1 and FasL are expressed in EBV-associated HD and participate in immune evasion, tissues of 20 EBV(-) and 15 EBV(+) HD cases were immunohistochemically stained for RCAS1, FasL and HLA classes I and II, whose deficiencies could explain CTL escape. Lymphocytes surrounding H&RS cells tended to be CD4(+) cells and rarely CD8(+), TIA-1(+) (cytotoxic marker) or NK cells. HLA class I and/or II were expressed in all EBV(+) HD cases, and RCAS1-expressing H&RS cells were found in 14/15 (93%) EBV(+) HD cases but only 8/20 (40%) EBV(-) HD cases (p < 0.05). FasL was detected in 9/15 (60%) and 7/20 (35%) EBV(+) and EBV(-) HD cases, respectively. ssDNA-positive (apoptotic) lymphocytes, surrounding H&RS cells, were rarely seen but were present in RCAS1(+) cases (20/22 cases, 91%) rather than negative cases (0/13 cases, 0%) (p < 0.005). Our findings suggest that EBV(+) H&RS cells might evade the host immune response by expressing RCAS1 rather than FasL.     

Adenoviral gene transfer into dendritic cells efficiently amplifies the immune response to LMP2A antigen: a potential treatment strategy for Epstein-Barr virus--positive Hodgkin's lymphoma

The EBV-encoded LMP2A protein is consistently expressed in EBV(+) Hodgkin's lymphoma and can be targeted by CTLs. CTLs stimulated conventionally by LCLs have little activity against LMP2A(+) target cells. Here, we describe an alternative approach, based on the in vitro stimulation of CTLs with DCs genetically modified with 2 E1/E3-deleted recombinant adenoviruses, AdGFPLMP2A, encoding a fusion gene of GFP and LMP2A, and AdLMP2A, encoding LMP2A only. Transduction of DCs with AdGFPLMP2A at MOI 1,000 resulted in LMP2A expression in up to 88% of DCs. LMP2A protein was expressed in 40% of DCs transduced with AdLMP2A at an MOI of 100. Higher MOI resulted in DC death. CTL lines activated by transduced DCs had a higher frequency of LMP2A tetramer-specific CTLs than CTL lines activated by LCLs. CTLs stimulated with transduced DCs lysed both autologous fibroblasts infected with vaccinia virus LMP2A (FBvaccLMP2A) and autologous LCLs, which express LMP2A at lower levels. In contrast, CTLs generated from the same donors by stimulation with autologous LCLs showed minimal lysis of FBvaccLMP2A. Moreover, 1 donor who did not respond to LMP2A when CTLs were stimulated with LCLs became a responder when LMP2A was expressed by transduced DCs. Hence, recombinant adenoviruses encoding LMP2A effectively transduce DCs and direct the generation of LMP2A-specific CTLs. This approach will be a potent strategy in Hodgkin's lymphoma immunotherapy.     

鼻咽癌细胞系SUNE中EBV-LMP1基因对上皮细胞增殖的影响

目的研究鼻咽癌细胞系ＳＵＮＥ中ＥＢＶ┐ＬＭＰ１基因对上皮细胞增殖的影响,探索ＬＭＰ１在鼻咽癌发生中所起的作用。方法用ＬＭＰ１基因真核表达质粒转染人胚肾上皮细胞,检测ＬＭＰ１的表达,观察细胞在软琼脂中的集落形成能力,ＭＴＴ吸收能力以及ＰＣＮＡ的表达情况。结果被ＬＭＰ１基因转染的细胞生长旺盛,能在软琼脂中形成多个集落,ＭＴＴ吸收能力增强,ＰＣＮＡ的表达水平增高。结论ＬＭＰ１基因能明显改变上皮细胞的生物学行为,促进细胞的生长、增殖和转化,使转染的上皮细胞获得肿瘤细胞的生长特征。