This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Inghirami, G. Articles by Knowles, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Inghirami, G. Articles by Knowles, D. M.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 136, 1429-1436, Copyright © 1990 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Western thymomas lack Epstein-Barr virus by Southern blotting analysis and by polymerase chain reaction

G Inghirami, M Chilosi and DM Knowles
Department of Pathology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

The authors investigated 16 western thymomas, 9 from the United States and 7 from Europe, for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA sequences by both Southern blot hybridization analysis and polymerase chain reaction using EBV-specific DNA probes that detect the long internal repeat and terminal repeat regions and the EBNA-1 gene. None of the 16 thymomas contained evidence of the EBV genome, even though we could detect EBV by Southern blotting when EBV DNA represents less than or equal to 1% of the total DNA and by polymerase chain reaction when a single EBV-positive cell is present among 10(5) EBV-negative cells. These results fail to demonstrate EBV genome in western thymomas and stand in contrast to those of McGuire et al (Am J Pathol 1988, 131:385) who previously reported that the EBV genome is present in thymomas occurring in southern Chinese patients. Therefore EBV does not appear to be implicated in the pathogenesis of all thymomas. The presence of EBV in eastern thymomas, regions where EBV is endemic may be due to epidemiologic factors and/or genetic predispositions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Takeuchi, H. Fujita, F. Iwasaki, T. Takeuchi, K.-I. Imadome, T. Okumiya, T. Matsui, and M. Takahashi A Case of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Thymic Carcinoid and Investigation of Existence of EBV-Infected Cells in Thymus and Thymic Tumors J. Clin. Microbiol., June 1, 2004; 42(6): 2850 - 2854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. C. Chan, T. T. C. Yip, W. Y. W. Tsang, S. Seneviratne, Y.F. Poon, C. S. C. Wong, and V. W. S. Ma Lack of Evidence of Pathogenetic Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Thymic Lymphoid Hyperplasia and Thymomas in the Chinese Population of Hong Kong International Journal of Surgical Pathology, July 1, 1994; 2(1): 17 - 22. [Abstract] [PDF]