DETECTION OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION IN THE EPITHELIAL-CELLS ANDLYMPHOCYTES OF NONNEOPLASTIC TONSILS BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND IN-SITU PCR

Non-neoplastic tonsils were analyzed for detection of Epstein-Barr vir us (EBV)-positive cells by in situ hybridization and in situ PCR. EBV- encoded small nuclear RNA 1(EBER1)-positive cells were found in 28.2% of the tonsils and were evenly localized in the extrafollicular area a nd within germinal centers. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1)-positive cells were also dispersed in the extrafollicular and germinal center. Using in situ DNA-DNA hybridization, the EBV-positive signals were obs erved in the upper epithelial cell layers of the tonsils. In addition, in situ PCR detected EBV DNA-positive cells in the lower epithelial c ell layers and lymphoid cells.