Advancing therapeutic strategies for Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies through lytic reactivation

Haiqi Tan; Yibing Gong; Yi Liu; Jingyi Long; Qingshuang Luo; Oluwasijibomi Damola Faleti; Xiaoming Lyu

doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114916

Advancing therapeutic strategies for Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies through lytic reactivation

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Aug:164:114916. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114916. Epub 2023 May 23.

Authors

Haiqi Tan¹, Yibing Gong¹, Yi Liu¹, Jingyi Long¹, Qingshuang Luo¹, Oluwasijibomi Damola Faleti², Xiaoming Lyu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China; The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China; The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 999000, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
³ Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China; The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China. Electronic address: xiaomlyu@smu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37229802
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114916

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread human herpes virus associated with lymphomas and epithelial cell cancers. It establishes two separate infection phases, latent and lytic, in the host. Upon infection of a new host cell, the virus activates several pathways, to induce the expression of lytic EBV antigens and the production of infectious virus particles. Although the carcinogenic role of latent EBV infection has been established, recent research suggests that lytic reactivation also plays a significant role in carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of EBV reactivation and recent findings about the role of viral lytic antigens in tumor formation. In addition, we discuss the treatment of EBV-associated tumors with lytic activators and the targets that may be therapeutically effective in the future.

Keywords: Carcinogenesis; EBV; Lytic reactivation; Therapies.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Epithelial Cells / metabolism
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / complications
Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology
Humans
Lymphoma* / pathology