Analysis of Epstein‐Barr virus in hodgkin's disease: Experience of a single university hospital in Korea

Hodgkin's disease is known to be associated with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection in Western countries, and viral nucleic acids and proteins have been identified within Reed‐Sternberg (RS) cells, which are the histopathologic hallmark of the disease process. Twenty‐five cases of Hodgkin's disease from a single university hospital in Korea were studied for evidence of EBV by in situ hybridization for EBV DNA and RNA and immunohistochemistry for an EBV latent protein. EBV nucleic acids were studied by a rapid (60 minutes) in situ hybridization procedure, which utilized biotinylated DNA probes specific for the following nucleic acid sequences: (1) EBV EBER1 RNA (an abundant RNA sequence expressed during latent EBV infection), (2) EBV Not l repeats (a tandemly repeated DNA sequence, which has been established to identify amplified EBV genome in lytic EBV infection), and (3) BAM HI W (a DNA sequence reiterated 11 times within the viral genome). In addition, immunohistochemistry for EBV latent membrane protein, a protein that is capable of inducing cellular transformation in cell culture, was also performed. EBV was identified within the neoplastic RS cells by at least one method in 19/25 cases (76%). The mixed cellularity subtype was the most common subtype associated with EBV infection (11/13–85%). In situ hybridization for EBV EBER1 RNA was the most sensitive method for EBV detection and was present in 17/25 cases. A significant proportion of Korean Hodgkin's disease cases is associated with EBV infection. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.