Chromatin remodeling factor lymphoid-specific helicase links with Epstein-Barr virus associated the follicular germinal center B cell lymphomas

Background: We assessed the frequency of epigenetic lesions, including lymphoid-specific helicase (LSH), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and E2F1, and the possible correlations among molecular findings, phenotype, clinical features, and outcome. Methods: We investigated 181 paraffin-embedded B-cell lymphoma samples using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results: The levels of Ki67, LSH, 5-hmC, and E2F1 were all increased in germinal center B-cell lymphomas when compared with those in normal lymph nodes, and LSH was highly expressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) and Burkitt lymphomas (BLs) that were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, indicating that LSH is linked to EBV infection in DLBCL and BL. Interestingly, LSH was mainly localized in the germinal centers of lymph nodes whereas 5-hmC staining localized to areas surrounding the germinal centers. Conclusions: These findings indicate a critical role for LSH as a biomarker and therapeutic target in follicular germinal center B-cell lymphoma.