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Quantitative Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Related Gene Expression in Patients with Chronic Active EBV Infection

¹ Department of Virology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine;
² Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine;
³ Division of Immunology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute;
⁴ Department of Virology, Division of Medical Science, Medical Research Institute, Graduate School of

⁵ E-mail: hkimura{at}med.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a systemic EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder characterised by persistent or recurrent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms in patients with no known immunodeficiency. The detailed pathogenesis of the disease is unknown, and no standard treatment regimen has been developed. EBV gene expression was analysed in peripheral blood samples collected from 24 patients with chronic active EBV infection. The expression levels of six latent and two lytic EBV genes were quantified by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) 1 and BamHI-A rightward transcripts (BARTs) were abundantly detected in all patients, and latent membrane protein (LMP) 2 was observed in most patients. EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 1 and LMP1 were detected less frequently and were expressed at lower levels. EBNA2 and the two lytic genes were not detected in any of the patients. The pattern of latent gene expression was determined to be latency type II. EBNA1 was detected more frequently and at higher levels in the in clinically active patients. Quantifying EBV gene expression is useful in clarifying the pathogenesis of chronic active EBV infection and may provide information regarding a patient's disease prognosis, as well as possible therapeutic interventions.

Received 22 May 2009; accepted 25 September 2009.