Herpesvirus Involvement in Lymphoma/Leukaemia and Related Disease

Clark, Duncan A (1993) Herpesvirus Involvement in Lymphoma/Leukaemia and Related Disease. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) was first isolated from the peripheral blood of six individuals with lymphoproliferative or immunosuppressive disorders. Further studies identified HHV-6 DNA sequences in tumour biopsy samples from persons with lymphoma. Thus, initial findings suggested a link between HHV-6 and lymphoproliferative disease. This study was designed to examine further the association of HHV-6 with lymphomas and leukaemias by seroepidemiological investigations. Higher antibody titres to HHV-6 were identified in acute myeloid leukaemia, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease (HD). Epidemiological evidence has lead to the proposition that HD, particularly in young adults, may have a viral aetiology and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has consistently been associated with this malignancy. Further analysis of both HHV-6 and EBV serology was carried out and the results suggested that the associations of both viruses with HD were relatively independent of each other. Thus, HD may be the result of an abnormal response to virus infection including EBV and HHV-6. To date there is little molecular evidence linking HHV-6 to HD, although recent studies have clearly demonstrated the presence of EBV within the tumour cells of the disease. In 1990, a human herpesvirus, distinct from those previously recognised, was isolated and named human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7). The seroepidemiology of this virus in children and adults is presented in this dissertation. Infection with HHV-7 is widespread and infection occurs usually early in life. A likely vehicle for transmission is saliva. Herpesviruses have not only been associated with malignancy, but also chronic disease such as autoimmune conditions. EBV involvement has been proposed in the autoimmune disease, Sjogren's syndrome (SS). More recently HHV-6 has been linked to this condition. Viruses present within the epithelium of the salivary gland may play a role in the inflammation of such glands which is characteristically found in SS. This project studied possible viral involvement in SS by utilising the in vitro tissue culture of epithelial cells derived from salivary gland biopsies. The model proved useful as a means to study cytokine- mediated mechanisms of autoimmunity in particular the role of interferon-? and in the identification of putative retroviral antigens in salivary tissue.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: David E Onions
• Keywords: Veterinary science, Virology
• Date of Award: 1993
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1993-75785
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 18:12
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 18:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75785