Lack of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Chinese myasthenia gravis patients

Acta Neurol Scand. 2013 Nov;128(5):345-50. doi: 10.1111/ane.12124. Epub 2013 May 14.

Abstract

Objective: There are three recent contradictory reports on the incidence of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis, with all studies carried out in Caucasian patients. The current study evaluated whether Epstein-Barr virus infection had a role in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis in a cohort of 30 Chinese patients.

Materials and methods: Serial paraffin sections of thymic hyperplasia obtained from myasthenia gravis patients were analyzed for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA -1 and Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Epstein-Barr virus(+) cervical lymph nodes from lymphoma patients and Epstein-Barr virus(-) thymus specimens obtained during cardiac surgery served as the positive and negative control groups, respectively.

Results: All the 30 myasthenia gravis specimens were negative for both Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA -1 and Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 tests. However, we obtained well-characterized membrane and cytoplasmic immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization staining for both Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA -1, respectively, in the positive control samples.

Conclusions: Our results therefore do not support a role of thymic Epstein-Barr virus infection in myasthenia gravis pathogenesis and calls for an integration of methodological and interpretation issues in detecting Epstein-Barr virus incidence in myasthenia gravis patients.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; myasthenia gravis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / metabolism
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / metabolism
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Thymus Gland / pathology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide