Role of viruses in the etiology of lymphomas (Meeting abstract).

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Role of viruses in the etiology of lymphomas (Meeting abstract).

Fifth International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, June 9-12, 1993, Lugano, Switzerland, p. 21, 1993.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/95606899
Weiss L; Div. of Pathology, City of Hope Natl. Medical Center, 1500 E.; Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010

Abstract: Several viruses have been proposed to be involved in the etiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6). HTLV-1 is a human retrovirus that is endemic in several regions, including the southernmost islands of Japan. It remains latent for many years after infection, but a minority of patients will develop adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Proviral integration sites are mono- or oligoclonal, with no apparent integration sites that are common among different cases of ATLL. HTLV-1 produces several proteins, including tax and rex, that may interact with the viral genome or cellular transcriptional factors. Evidence of HTLV-1 infection, either complete or defective, has also been found in approximately 10% of patients with mycosis fungoides, particularly the CD30+ large cell variant. EBV and HHV-6 are herpes viruses with a prevalence rate of approximately 90% in developed nations. Initial infection with either virus produces a permanent infection of lymphoid cells. EBV has been associated with lymphomas arising in immunocompromised patients, Burkitt's lymphoma (particularly in endemic regions of Africa and South America), sinonasal T cell lymphomas (particularly in Asia and South America), and sporadically with other B and T cell lymphomas. HHV-6 has been associated with a premalignant disorder termed atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation and with rare cases of B-cell lymphoma. Despite the documented associations between EBV and HHV-6 and various types of malignant lymphomas, no direct evidence of a role for the viruses in the etiology of the lymphomas has been obtained. It is possible that these viruses serve as a constant promoter of cellular proliferation, increasing the pool of cells at risk for lymphomagenesis by other mechanisms, and also perhaps increasing the frequency of other genetic events.

Keywords: *Herpesvirus 4, Human/METABOLISM *Herpesvirus 6, Human/METABOLISM Human *HTLV-I/METABOLISM Lymphoma, B-Cell/MICROBIOLOGY Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's/*MICROBIOLOGY ABSTRACT
950430
M9541153

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