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The expression of the Epstein‐Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA‐I) in oral hairy leukoplakia
Author(s) -
Cruchley AT,
Murray PG,
Niedobitek G,
Reynolds GM,
Williams DM,
Young LS
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-0825.1997.tb00354.x
Subject(s) - lytic cycle , epstein–barr virus , virus , biology , virology , oral mucosa , antigen , epithelium , antibody , pathology , immunology , medicine , genetics , anatomy
OBJECTIVE: Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) is characterised by the presence of a replicative Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in the superficial layers of the epithelium. There is some doubt, however, whether this reflects activation of a latent infection of the basal epithelial cells. EBV latency is associated with the expression of the viral gene product EBNA‐I and the aim of this study was to investigate EBNA‐I expression in OHL. METHODS: 22 biopsies of clinically suspicious OHL and three cases of normal mucosa were available as fresh frozen or paraffin embedded material. EBNA‐I was detected immunocytochemically using a rat monoclonal antibody (IH4‐I) following microwave irradiation. Lytic EBV infection was confirmed by the identification of the BZLF‐I protein. RESULTS: 16 of the 22 cases displayed focal replicative EBV meeting the criteria for OHL, and in 13 of these, EBNA‐I expression was restricted to the nuclei of epithelial cells in the upper layers of the epithelium. EBNA‐I expression was absent from the basal cells in all cases and in the nine BZLF‐I negative mucosal biopsies. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that lytic EBV infection in OHL is not the result of activation of a latent infection of basal cells and suggests a role for EBNA‐I, not only in latent EBV infection, but also in virus replication.