scholarly journals Role of Viral miRNAs and Epigenetic Modifications in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinogenesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Giudice ◽  
Giovanni D’Arena ◽  
Anna Crispo ◽  
Mario Felice Tecce ◽  
Flavia Nocerino ◽  
...  

MicroRNAs are short (21–23 nucleotides), noncoding RNAs that typically silence posttranscriptional gene expression through interaction with target messenger RNAs. Currently, miRNAs have been identified in almost all studied multicellular eukaryotes in the plant and animal kingdoms. Additionally, recent studies reported that miRNAs can also be encoded by certain single-cell eukaryotes and by viruses. The vast majority of viral miRNAs are encoded by the herpesviruses family. These DNA viruses including Epstein-Barr virus encode their own miRNAs and/or manipulate the expression of cellular miRNAs to facilitate respective infection cycles. Modulation of the control pathways of miRNAs expression is often involved in the promotion of tumorigenesis through a specific cascade of transduction signals. Notably, latent infection with Epstein-Barr virus is considered liable of causing several types of malignancies, including the majority of gastric carcinoma cases detected worldwide. In this review, we describe the role of the Epstein-Barr virus in gastric carcinogenesis, summarizing the functions of the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded viral proteins and related epigenetic alterations as well as the roles of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded and virally modulated cellular miRNAs.

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1878
Author(s):  
Manikandan Palrasu ◽  
Elena Zaika ◽  
Wael El-Rifai ◽  
Jianwen Que ◽  
Alexander I. Zaika

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide. In contrast to many other tumor types, gastric carcinogenesis is tightly linked to infectious events. Infections with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are the two most investigated risk factors for GC. These pathogens infect more than half of the world’s population. Fortunately, only a small fraction of infected individuals develops GC, suggesting high complexity of tumorigenic processes in the human stomach. Recent studies suggest that the multifaceted interplay between microbial, environmental, and host genetic factors underlies gastric tumorigenesis. Many aspects of these interactions still remain unclear. In this review, we update on recent discoveries, focusing on the roles of various gastric pathogens and gastric microbiome in tumorigenesis.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 593
Author(s):  
Srikanth Umakanthan ◽  
Maryann M Bukelo

Global genomic studies have detected the role of genomic alterations in the pathogenesis of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors. EBV oncoproteins cause a vital shift of EBV from an infectious virus to an oncogenic form during the latent and lytic phase within the lymphoid B cells and epithelial cells. This epigenetic alteration modulates the virus and host genomes and inactivates and disrupts numerous tumor suppressors and signaling pathways. Genomic profiling has played the main role in identifying EBV cancer pathogenesis and its related targeted therapies. This article reviews the role of genetic changes in EBV-associated lymphomas and carcinomas. This includes the prolific molecular genesis, key diagnostic tools, and target-specific drugs that have been in recent clinical use.


Lupus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 096120332110103
Author(s):  
Anna Truszewska ◽  
Agnieszka Wirkowska ◽  
Kamila Gala ◽  
Piotr Truszewski ◽  
Łucja Krzemień-Ojak ◽  
...  

Background For long Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has been suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to verify the association between EBV, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and kidney disease in SLE. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 43 SLE patients and 50 healthy individuals. EBV load was measured via real-time PCR assay. Sizing and quantification of plasma cfDNA was performed on Bioanalyzer. We proposed that the uniformity of cfDNA fragmentation can be described using cfDNA fragmentation index. Results SLE patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD +) had higher EBV load compared to CKD(–) patients (P = 0.042). Patients with high cfDNA level had higher EBV load (P = 0.041) and higher cfDNA fragmentation index (P < 0.001) compared to patients with low cfDNA level. Among patients with high cfDNA level, EBV load was higher in CKD(+) group compared to CKD(–) group (P = 0.035). EBV load was positively correlated with the fragmentation index in all SLE patients (P = 0.028, R2 = 0.13), and the correlation was even more pronounced in CKD (+) patients (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.20). Conclusions We showed that EBV load was associated with non-uniform cfDNA fragmentation, higher cfDNA levels, and kidney disease in SLE patients. Although the causality of this relationship could not be determined with the current study, it brings rationale for further investigations on the role of EBV and cfDNA interplay in SLE pathogenesis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Nakanishi ◽  
Naohiro Wakisaka ◽  
Satoru Kondo ◽  
Kazuhira Endo ◽  
Hisashi Sugimoto ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.N. Holowaty ◽  
L. Frappier

USP7 (also called HAUSP) is a de-ubiquitinating enzyme recently identified as a key regulator of the p53–mdm2 pathway, which stabilizes both p53 and mdm2. We have discovered that the Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 protein of Epstein–Barr virus binds with high affinity to USP7 and disrupts the USP7–p53 interaction. The results have important implications for the role of Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 1 in the cellular immortalization that is typical of an Epstein–Barr virus latent infection.


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