Assessment of Co-Infection of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA and Epstein Barr-Virus (ZEBRA-Genes) in Tissues of Ovarian Tumors

Abstract

Infection by Epstein Barr-Virus (EBV) begins with a short replication phase. The virus remains in a latent phase, only entering the lytic phase in response to a cascade of transcriptional signals. These signals are triggered by the ZEBRA protein (BZFL1) along with Rta (BRLF1). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is responsible for a lifelong persistent infection which ranged from 50% to 90% in adult population, and is related to either socioeconomic status or geographic location. HCMV infection might lead to buildup tumor cells via the protection of certain tumor cells from apoptosis and modulating angiogenesis. The study was designed to determine ZEBRA-EBV gene and DNA-HCMV infections in tissues from ovarian tumors. An 150 ovarian  tissues were examined for ZEBRA-EBV gene with DNA-HCMV. Those samples belonged to (45) patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer ; (45) from benign ovarian tumors and (20) patients with borderline ovarian tumors as well as (20) apparently normal ovarian tissues. The detection of ZEBRA-EBV gene and DNA-HCMV were done by chromogenic In situ hybridization (CISH). The positive results of ZEBRA - EBV -CISH detection in malignant ovarian tumors, where 64.4% (29 out of 45 tissues) showed positive signals. While ,in the benign ovarian tumors group were 37.8 % (17 out of 45 tissues) ,followed by borderline ovarian tumors & the apparently healthy ovarian control tissues were 30% (6 out of 20 cases) and 7.5% (3 out of 40 cases), respectively. The present study shows the positive results of HCMV-CISH detection in malignant ovarian tumors, where 55.6% (25 out of 45 cases) showed positive signals, while, 44.4% negative signals which represented 20 out of 45 cases in this group. While, in the benign ovarian tumor group was 35.6% (16 out of 45 cases). Negative signals which in benign group represented 29 out of 45 cases constituted 64.4% .Whereas ,the positive results in borderline ovarian tumor group were 40% (8 out of 20 tissues), followed by the apparently healthy ovarian control tissues was 12.5% (5 out of 40 tissues). We concluded from this study, ZEBRA -EBV genes as well as HCMV-DNA positive signals in malignant, borderline and benign tumors tissues ,they suggest an important role for these viruses in the development of ovarian tumors in Iraqi patients.