LMP1 gene variants in Epstein Barr virus infection

LORENZETTI MARIO ALEJANDRO; ALTCHEH JAIME; MOSCATELLI GUILLERMO; MORONI SAMANTA; AVERSA LUIS; CHABAY PAOLA; PRECIADO MARIA VICTORIA

Birmingham

Congreso; 14th Biennial Conference of the International Association for Research on Epstein-Barr virus and Associated Diseases; 2010

International Association for Research on Epstein-Barr virus and Associated Diseases

In Argentina Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection occurs at an early age and may occasionally develop infectious mononucleosis (IM). EBV is also related with lymphoma development. Viral variants display polymorphisms in LMP1 gene. Objective: To study viral type and variants distribution among children with IM at diagnosis (T0), a month (T1) and three months (T2) and compare them with EBV+ pediatric lymphomas. Methods: Oral secretions (OS) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 11 VCA IgM+ children with IM and biopsies from 19 EBV+ lymphomas were included. Two PCR strategies were performed: EBNA3C for genotyping and LMP1 C-ter region. PCR products were directly sequenced. Results: Among IM EBV1 was predominant. LMP1 variants were wt and del30 with a repeat number varying from 4 ½ to 6 ½. Co-existence of two EBV variants was observed in PBMC and OS of 1 patient. All other patients maintained the same genotype and variants during follow up. Among tumors, both EBV genotypes showed similar incidence. LMP1 variants included wt and del30 with a number of repeats that varied between 3 ½ and 6 ½. Del30 variants were associated with a higher number of repeats. Conclusions: del30 and high repeat variants were found in IM and lymphomas, but were not malignancy related as previously described. Variants at T0 were sustained all through follow up both in OS and PBMC in all but one patient. This is the first study to address distribution and compartmentalization in pediatric patients with IM and its convalescence.