Bacterial infection and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Bacterial Infection and Non-Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphoma: Interactions between Pathogen, Host and the Tumor Environment

“…Chronic infection in the course of Lyme borreliosis such as acrodermatitis chronica atrophica, and polyradiculoneuritis may lead to the development of B-cell lymphomas. The DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi has been detected in biopsy samples of patients from Europe and Australia diagnosed with cutaneous MALT lymphomas and also in tissue samples from patients diagnosed with FL and DLBCL [ 14 , 53 ]. Furthermore, clinical observations from case reports of patients with low-stage cutaneous MALT lymphoma treated with antibiotics alone, mainly from the cephalosporin and tetracycline groups, led to regression of infiltrative lesions [ 5 , 86 ].…”

“…It has been speculated that Chlamydia may play a role in the development of MALT lymphoma of other sites, such as the lung, skin, uterus, bowel, and stomach [ 92 , 93 , 96 ]. Chlamydia was isolated from conjunctival swabs and from blood samples taken from patients with lymphoma [ 14 , 97 ]. Chlamydia is intracellular bacteria that infect humans through contact with infected birds, most commonly leading to asymptomatic infections, but can also cause chronic conjunctivitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, and pericarditis [ 14 , 94 ].…”

“…Chlamydia was isolated from conjunctival swabs and from blood samples taken from patients with lymphoma [ 14 , 97 ]. Chlamydia is intracellular bacteria that infect humans through contact with infected birds, most commonly leading to asymptomatic infections, but can also cause chronic conjunctivitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, and pericarditis [ 14 , 94 ]. The properties of Chlamydia that allow it to establish persistent infections are related to their complex developmental cycle and their occurrence in three forms: elementary body (EB), which is its metabolically inactive infectious form, metabolically active intracellular growth stage form called the reticulate body (RB) and intermediate body (IB).…”

“…The complex relationship between these three components occurs when the cells of the immune system are at risk of malignant transformation, particularly in the case of lymphomas [ 13 ]. The association of chronic Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection with MALT lymphoma, Borrelia burgdorferi with cutaneous MALT lymphoma and Chlamydophila psittaci with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is well documented [ 9 , 14 ]. Recent studies indicate that the list of infectious agents should be revised to include others that may also be relevant in B-cell lymphogenesis such as Coxiella burnetti , Campylobacter jejuni , Achromobacter xylosoxidans , and Escherichia coli [ 14 ].…”

“…The association of chronic Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection with MALT lymphoma, Borrelia burgdorferi with cutaneous MALT lymphoma and Chlamydophila psittaci with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is well documented [ 9 , 14 ]. Recent studies indicate that the list of infectious agents should be revised to include others that may also be relevant in B-cell lymphogenesis such as Coxiella burnetti , Campylobacter jejuni , Achromobacter xylosoxidans , and Escherichia coli [ 14 ]. Lymphogenesis is a complex process that can be influenced by many factors, not only tumor-dependent but also host-dependent, environmental, and epigenetic factors.…”