The role of EBV-encoded miRNA in EBV-associated gastric cancer

Ting Liu; Xiaoying Zhou; Zhe Zhang; Yutao Qin; Rensheng Wang; Yanning Qin; Yuqi Huang; Yingxi Mo; Tingting Huang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1204030

The role of EBV-encoded miRNA in EBV-associated gastric cancer

Front Oncol. 2023 Jun 14:13:1204030. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1204030. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ting Liu¹, Xiaoying Zhou², Zhe Zhang^{2

3}, Yutao Qin¹, Rensheng Wang^{1

2}, Yanning Qin⁴, Yuqi Huang⁴, Yingxi Mo⁵, Tingting Huang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
² Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Incidence-Tumor Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
⁴ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
⁵ Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (human herpesvirus 4, EBV) is a linear double-stranded DNA virus that infects over 90% of the population worldwide. However, our understanding of EBV's contribution to tumorigenesis of EBV-associated GC (EBVaGC) remains incomplete. Recent advancements in EBVaGC research have highlighted that EBV-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) play prominent roles in critical cellular processes such as migration, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell proliferation, immune response, and autophagy. Notably, the largest group of EBV-encoded miRNAs, known as BamHI-A rightward transcripts (BARTs), exhibit bidirectional effects in EBVaGC. For instance, they present both anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic functions and enhance chemosensitivity while also conferring resistance to 5-fluorouracil. Despite these findings, the comprehensive mechanisms through which miRNAs contribute to EBVaGC are yet to be fully elucidated. In this work, we summarize the current evidence of the roles of miRNA in EBVaGC, particularly with the application of multi-omic techniques. Additionally, we discuss the application of miRNA in EBVaGC in retrospective analyses and provide novel perspectives on the use of miRNA in EBVaGC in translational medicine.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; MicroRNAs; carcinogenesis; clinical application; gastric cancer.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20322, to Z. Zhang), the National Natural Science Youth Foundation of China (82202939, to T. Huang), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022MD723765, to T. Huang).