PRIMARY CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM MALIGNANT NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS FROM HIV-INFECTED AND NONINFECTED PATIENTS - EXPRESSION OF CELLULAR-SURFACEPROTEINS AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRAL MARKERS

The increased incidence of primary central nervous system malignant no n-Hodgkin's lymphomas (PCNSL) in HIV- and non-HIV-infected patients an d the demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in these tumours may i ndicate relationships between PCNSL and EBV. Consequently expression o f EBV-induced antigens and cellular markers were studied in 11 HN-infe cted and seven non-infected patients by in situ hybridization (ISH) an d immunocytochemistry in monoclonal B cell PCNSL. In HIV-infected pati ents EBV genome was present in 9/11 cases, LMP in 11/11 cases and EBNA 2 in 10/11 cases. The expression of adhesion and activation molecules was low or absent. In HIV non-infected patients, EBV genome was presen t in 5/7 cases, with IMP in 4/7 cases. EBNA2 was never detected. All t hese lymphomas expressed LFAlbeta. Whatever the population, no lytic c ycle EBV markers were detected. Compared with other types of EBV lymph omas, our results suggest a different EBV latency state in primary E c ell lymphomas of the CNS from HIV-infected or non-infected patients.