Abstract
Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is virtually always associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. BCL-2 and other proteins that confer resistance to apoptosis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of malignancies including lymphomas. One EBV protein, BHRF1, is a homologue of BCL-2, whereas another, the latency membrane protein 1 (LMP-1), upregulates BCL-2 expression in vitro. In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry to study the expression of these viral and cellular proteins as well as a variety of other EBV-encoded proteins in PTLD. BHRF1 was not detected in any PTLD specimen, whereas BCL-2 was shown in 12 of 17 lesions examined. With one exception, all LMP1-positive cases also expressed BCL-2 and the absence of LMP1 was always associated with a lack of BCL-2 expression. The results do not support a role for the EBV homologue of BCL-2 in PTLD, but they do support a role for viral induction of BCL-2 expression.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antigens, Viral / biosynthesis
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Antigens, Viral / genetics
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Apoptosis
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DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Viral*
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Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte
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Herpesviridae Infections / genetics*
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Herpesviridae Infections / virology
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / pathogenicity*
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Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology
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Humans
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In Situ Hybridization
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / genetics*
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Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Postoperative Complications / metabolism
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Postoperative Complications / virology*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Transplantation
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Tumor Virus Infections / genetics*
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Tumor Virus Infections / virology
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Viral Matrix Proteins / biosynthesis
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Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
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Viral Matrix Proteins / physiology*
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Viral Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Viral Proteins / genetics
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Virus Activation
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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BHRF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
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Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Viral Matrix Proteins
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Viral Proteins