Evidence of lytic infection of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in EBV‐positive gastric carcinoma

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Abstract
Twenty‐one cases of gastric carcinoma were tested for the presence of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. EBV genome was detected in 3 (14%) of the 21 cases. In situ hybridization for EBV‐encoded small RNA 1 showed that EBV genomes were present in almost all carcinoma cells of the 3 cases. Southern hybridization for terminal repeats of the EBV‐DNA revealed that the cases carried an individual monoclonal EBV genome. The analysis demonstrated the presence of linear form of EBV‐DNA indicating lytic EBV infection in one of the cases. The expression of EBV genes in the cases was analyzed by reverse transcription‐PCR. The mRNA for EBV‐determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) initiating from the BamHI‐Q promoter was detected, while both BamHI‐W and ‐C promoters were not detected. EBNA2 and latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 mRNAs were not detected in all cases, while LMP2A mRNA was detected in 2 cases. The transcripts of EBV immediate‐early genes, BZLF1 and/or BRLF1 were detected in 2 of the cases. The transcripts of late lytic genes (BcLF1 and BLLF1) were detected partly in the 3 cases. Our results indicate that lytic EBV infection occurs in EBV‐positive gastric carcinomas. J. Med. Virol. 66:351‐359, 2002.