Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] gene expression in HIV-associated oral hairy leukoplakia

Epstein-Bar virus [EBV] is the etiologic agent of oral hairy leukoplakia (HLP), a condition unique to patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A study of the terminal restriction enzyme fragments of EBV showed that HLP is a permissive epithelial cell infection, without a predominant detectable population of EBV episomal DNA. Northern blotting and in situ hybridization revealed expression of early, immediate-early and late RNA messages of EBV replication. In contrast, 2 small Pol III transcripts, EBER 1 and 2, expressed to high levels in latent infections were not detected. We conclude that HLP is predominantly a lytic lesion and suggest that the EBERs may be important in maintaining latency and can be considered useful markers for latent EBV infection. (author). 5 refs, 4 figs