Epstein–Barr virus, the germinal centre and the development of Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Main Authors: Mohamed, G., Vrzalikova, K., Cader, F.Z., Vockerodt, M., Nagy, E., Flodr, P., Yap, L.F., Diepstra, A., Kluin, P.M., Rosati, S., Murray, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society for General Microbiology 2014
• Subjects: RK Dentistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/11367/1/Epstein%E2%80%93Barr_virus%2C_the_germinal_centre_and_the_development_of_Hodgkin%E2%80%99s_lymphoma.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/11367/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24893782

The relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the germinal centre (GC) of the asymptomatic host remains an enigma. The occasional appearance of EBV-positive germinal centres in some patients, particularly those with a history of immunosuppression, suggests that EBV numbers in the GC are subject to immune control. The relationship, if any, between lymphoid hyperplasia with EBV-positive germinal centres and subsequent or concurrent lymphomagenesis remains to be clarified. As far as the development of EBV-associated Hodgkin's lymphoma is concerned, the suppression of virus replication, mediated by LMP1 on the one hand, and the loss of B-cell receptor signalling on the other, appears to be an important pathogenic mechanism. A further important emerging concept is that alterations in the microenvironment of the EBV-infected B-cell may be important for lymphomagenesis.