Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
2001
Journal
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2001;184:1499–1507
Abstract
Productive Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) replication characterizes hairy leukoplakia, an oral epithelial lesion typically occurring in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Serial tongue biopsy specimens were obtained from HIV‐infected subjects before, during, and after valacyclovir treatment. EBV replication was detected by Southern hybridization to linear terminal EBV genome fragments, reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification of EBV replicative gene transcripts, immunohistochemical detection of EBV replicative protein, and in situ hybridization to EBV DNA. EBV replication was detected in both hairy leukoplakia and normal tongue tissues. Valacyclovir treatment completely abrogated EBV replication in vivo, resulting in resolution of hairy leukoplakia when it was present. EBV replication returned in normal tongue epithelial cells after valacyclovir treatment. These data suggest that normal oral epithelium supports persistent EBV infection in individuals infected with HIV and that productive EBV replication is necessary but not sufficient for the pathogenesis of oral hairy leukoplakia.
Recommended Citation
Walling, Dennis M.; Flaitz, Catherine M.; Nichols, C. Mark; Hudnall, S. David; and Adler-Storthz, Karen, "Persistent Productive Epstein‐Barr Virus Replication in Normal Epithelial Cells In Vivo" (2001). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 11.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthdb_docs/11