Evidence of Epstein‐Barr virus heterogeneous gene expression in adult lung transplant recipients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Issue 8 (25th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaffiri, Lorenzo; Frankel, Courtney; Bush, Erika J.; Neely, Megan L.; Pavlisko, Elizabeth N.; Mokrova, Irina L.; Luftig, Micah A.; Palmer, Scott M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 93:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 5040
• Page End: 5047
• Publication Date: 2021-03-25
• Subjects: EBV latency program -- Epstein‐Barr virus -- lung transplant -- PTLD -- PTLD survival; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract: Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐driven posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious complication following lung transplant. The extent to which the presence of EBV in PTLD tissue is associated with survival is uncertain. Moreover, whether the heterogeneity in expression of EBV latency programs is related to the timing of PTLD onset remains unexplored. We retrospectively performed a comprehensive histological evaluation of EBV markers at the tissue level in 34 adult lung transplant recipients with early‐ and late‐onset PTLD. Early‐onset PTLD, occurring within the first 12 months posttransplant, had higher odds to express EBV markers. The presence of EBV in PTLD was not associated with a difference in survival relative to EBV‐negative tumors. However, we found evidence of heterogeneous expression of EBV latency programs, including type III, IIb, IIa, and 0/I. Our study suggests that the heterogeneous expression of EBV latency programs may represent a mechanism for immune evasion in patients with PLTD after lung transplants. The recognition of multiple EBV latency programs can be used in personalized medicine in patients who are nonresponsive to traditional types of chemotherapy and can be potentially evaluated in other types of solid organ transplants.