Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in HIV-infected Patients

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many lymphoproliferations arising in diverse settings, including HIV-infection. The precise roles of EBV may differ between these settings. For example, both the frequencies of EBV-association and the specific c-MYC translocations differ between sporadic and African Burkitt's lymphoma. Similarly, the frequencies of EBV-association in HIV-infected patients differs between anatomical sites, types of NHL, and geographic locations. HIV-related NHL have genetic alterations similar to NHL arising in the general population, and have less in common with the lymphoproliferations which arise in the setting of transplantation. However, the patterns of latent EBV transcription in systemic HIV-related NHL is unique among NHL, suggesting that EBV may contribute differently to their pathogenesis.