Abstract
6604 Background: There are no recognized etiologic factors for most Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which has an incidence and death rate that has doubled since 1970. Simian virus (SV) 40 infects human cells and has been shown to confer potent cell transforming properties. Recent studies have made an association of SV40 DNA with NHL. However, data is lacking on expression of viral genes. To answer this question, we analyzed NHL for the presence of SV40 large T antigen (T-ag) DNA and protein. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed NHL tumors and examined for SV40 DNA sequences by PCR amplication of the N-terminus of T-ag using oligomers PYVfor and PYVrev. Tumor DNA was first tested for quality by amplification of the β-actin gene and only those samples that supported amplification were used for further analysis. To assess for SV40 protein expression, NHL tumor sections were stained using antibody (Pab108) targeting T-ag. Results: 70 NHL tumors were PCR amplified for the SV40 T-ag. 36 of 70 NHL tumors were found to generate a product for SV40 DNA. Control negative DNA samples gave consistently negative results and DNA from formalin-fixed tumors induced by COS1 cells produced consistent positive results in this analysis. 7 of 7 NHL PCR products were sequenced and all 7 were identified as being SV40 DNA similar to wild type SV40 strain 776. Laboratory stations dedicated for DNA isolation, storage, and PCR mixing were monitored and did not have SV40 DNA, indicating that tumor DNA was the only source of SV40 DNA. 28 of 57 NHL tumors showed cellular localization of anti-T-ag antibody, mostly cytoplasmic staining and 20 NHL tumors were positive for SV40 DNA by PCR. Tumor sections of COS1 cell-induced tumors showed over 10% of cells were positive for T-ag with a nuclear distribution. 20. Conclusions: This report finds SV40 DNA sequences and T-ag epitopes in NHL. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Published Version
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