Detection of Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen-2 mRNA by in situ hybridization

A mRNA in situ hybridization method was developed to detect mRNA of Epstein -Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA2). Strong in situ hybridizat ion signals were detected in EBNA2-transfected cells with the antisense pro be but not with the sense probe of this mRNA. Hybridization signals were al so found in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients w ith invasive uterine cervical cancer and with cervical intraepithelial neop lasia. The sensitivity of mRNA in situ hybridization was higher than that o f Northern blotting, and almost the same as that of immunofluorescence stai ning using monoclonal anti-EBNA2 antibody. It is concluded that this method is useful for sensitive and convenient detection of EBNA2. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.