Final case reporting from the ugandan prospective study of the relationship between ebv and burktit's lymphoma

Abstract

A prospective epidemiological study was carried out in the West Nile District of Uganda from 1972 to 1979 in order to investigate the aetiological role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). By 1976, fourteen BL cases had been detected among the 42,000 children originally bled in the study area. Testing of sera from BL candidates and neighbourhood controls showed that children who develop BL later have EBV/VCA titres several dilutions higher than their age- and sex-matched neighbours. This appearance of a strong EBV activity long before BL development was taken as evidence of a causal role of EBV in BL. In order to add to the unique material of pre-bled BL cases, BL detection was continued up to March 1979 when field work became impossible in Uganda. Two additional pre-bled BL cases were found during this extension of the study. The serological and virological evaluation of these additional cases showed that the EBV/VCA titres, but not the EA and EBNA titres, were about two dilutions higher in the BL candidates than in the controls. Hybridization assays showed that both lymphomas contained EBV/DNA in the tumour cells. These additional results thus confirm the findings in the first 14 cases and strengthen the epidemiological evidence for a causal role of the EBV in endemic BL.

Paediatric orofacial tumours: New oral health concern in paediatric patients

“…The reasons for this finding may not be unconnected with the poor control of infections by Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and plasmodium falciparum (malaria parasite), which are the two infections strongly associated with the pathogenesis of Burkitt's lymphoma. 19,20 However, it was reported that funding to control malaria in sub-Saharan Africa has increased between 1999 and 2004. 21 Apart from controlling repeated attacks of malaria, the molecular genetics of Burkitt's lymphoma need to be revisited.…”

Holoendemic Malaria Exposure Is Associated with Altered Epstein-Barr Virus-Specific CD8 + T-Cell Differentiation

“…This possibility is supported by seroprofiling studies, which demonstrate that elevated antibody titers to viral capsid antigen (VCA) and the Z Epstein-Barr replication activator (ZEBRA) protein are associated with holoendemic malaria exposure (49). An elevation in these antibody titers signifies viral reactivation (50), and higher VCA antibody titers were observed prior to the development of eBL in a study of Ugandan children (51,52). In addition, malaria infection in concert with EBV reactivation may modulate elements of the innate immune system that influence T-cell maturation and differentiation (53,54).…”

(-)-Epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate inhibition of Epstein‑Barr virus spontaneous lytic infection involves downregulation of latent membrane protein 1

“…EBV lytic infection in vivo has been identified by elevated antibody titers against EBV lytic antigens and by increased viral DNA load in the serum/plasma, and these observations correspond with advanced cancer stages, poor prognosis or tumor recurrence following therapy (9,10). Additionally, serological studies have indicated that EBV lytic infection may occur months or years prior to a clinical diagnosis of NPC, HD or Burkitt's lymphoma, which suggests EBV lytic infection may be a risk factor for cancer development (11)(12)(13).…”