The detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in lung tissue from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a clinical syndrome in which the pre cipitating factors are unclear. An association between Epstein-Barr Virus ( EBV) and IPF had previously been suggested using serology and immunohistoch emistry. This study sought confirmation of the presence of EBV DNA in the l ung tissue of patients with IPF. Lung tissue obtained surgically from 27 pa tients with IPF and 28 control subjects was investigated for the presence o f EBV by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Immunohistochemistry used antibodies specific for EBV lytic cycle antigens (gp340/220 and VCA). Nested PCR analysis used oligonucleotide primers spec ific for EBV and was sensitive to one copy of EBV DNA. Twelve of the 27 pat ients with IPF (44%) and three of the 28 control subjects (10%) were EBV po sitive by immunohistochemistry (p = 0.005). Thirteen of the patients with I PF (48%) and four of the control subjects (14%) were EBV positive by PCR (p = 0.007). Eleven of: the patients with IPF (41%) and none of the control s ubjects were EBV positive by both immunohistochemistry and PCR (p = < 0.001 ), These data further suggest an association between EBV and IPF. In additi on it defines a novel method for detecting EBV in lung tissue. EBV may be i nvolved in the pathogenesis of the disease; however, further studies are re quired to establish a causal relationship.