AEGiS-13IAC: EBV pathogenesis in AIDS associated Oral Hairy Leukoplakia.

13th International AIDS Conference


Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

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EBV pathogenesis in AIDS associated Oral Hairy Leukoplakia.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:39 (abstract no.. LbPeA7028)

Webster-Cyriaque J, Raab-Traub N
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599. Fax: 919-966-3015, E-mail: jennifer@med.unc.edu.

BACKGROUND: Opportunistic DNA viruses are frequently the etiologic agents of AIDS associated oral lesions. Of known AIDS associated oral lesions only the immuno-deficiency-associated hairy leukoplakia (HLP) lesion is capable of abundant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) virus production and is the only pathologic manifestation of permissive EBV infection. In this study, EBV gene expression was analyzed and the contribution of these genes to HLP's unique histologic phenotype was investigated.

METHODS: Viral and cellular gene expression and identification of activated signal transducers were analyzed in HLP by RT-PCR, immunoblot, and/or by immunocytochemistry. Viral and cellular protein-protein interactions were identified by confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation. Results Co-expression of lytic and transforming viral proteins was detected simultaneously within individual HLP keratinocytes. LMP1 is uniformly expressed in the affected tissue, and is associated and colocalizes with TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) signaling molecules. Downstream events induced by activated TRAF signaling were detected in HLP including activation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), MAPK, and c-jun terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) and upregulated expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), CD40, A20, and TRAFs.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies a novel state of EBV infection with concurrent expression of replicative and transforming proteins. These proteins contribute to HLP development and induce many of the histologic features of HLP such as acanthosis and hyperproliferation.

Keywords: AEGIS, Leukoplakia, Hairy, Herpesvirus 4, Human, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, Viral Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Viral, NF-kappa B, Gene Expression, Proteins, Greece, genetics, AIDSKWDaegis,leukoplakia,hairy,herpesvirus4,human,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,epstein-barrvirusinfections,viralproteins,geneexpressionregulation,viral,nf-kappab,geneexpression,proteins,greece,genetics,aids
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LbPeA7028

Copyright © 2000 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.