Abstract

We aimed to investigate the expression and significance of Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 in human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. 22 cases of human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas samples were collected. The control group consisted of 7 cases of non-human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 6 cases of human immunodeficiency virus-reactive hyperplasia and 6 cases of non-human immunodeficiency virus. The expression of Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and analyzed in combination with clinicopathology characteristics. The total positive rate of Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 was 77.3 % in human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and 71.4 % in non-human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Most related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas cells showed nuclear staining pattern and the nuclear positive rate was 82.4 % in human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and 60 % in non-human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. There was no significant difference between human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and non-human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. The expression of Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 was significant between human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and benign lesion. Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 expression in non-germinal center B cell human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas was significantly higher than that in germinal center B cell human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. However, Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 expression had no correlation with sex, age, location of tumor and clinical stage (p>0.05). Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 was mainly located in nuclear and overexpressed in human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and non-human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, suggesting that Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 overexpression was involved in tumourogenesis of related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 expression was correlated with immunophenotype of related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. As the prognosis was different in different immunophenotype subgroups, Epstein-Barr virus-latent membrane protein 1 may be the potential marker of prognosis for human immunodeficiency virus-related diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.