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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

Establishment of Epstein-Barr Virus Growth-transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines
Published on: November 8, 2011
Effect of transforming growth factor-beta1 on the cell growth and Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in EBV-infected
M Fukuda1, K Ikuta, K Yanagihara
1Department of Biosignaling, School of Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan.
Abstract:
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays important roles in regulating cell growth and differentiation in many biological systems. In this study, we found that gastric tissue-derived Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected epithelial cell lines GT38 and GT39 had resistance to TGF-beta1-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis compared to a TGF-beta1-susceptible gastric carcinoma cell line HSC-39. However, TGF-beta1 partially induced EBV reactivation in GT38 and GT39 cells, as shown by the induction of EBV immediate-early BZLF1 RNA and its protein product ZEBRA and early antigen-D. The expressions of TGF-beta receptor I and II were detected in GT38 and GT39 cells by Northern and Western blot analyses. Both cell lines spontaneously produced the TGF-beta1, which was sufficient for inhibiting cell growth of HSC-39 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that TGF-beta1 may be a key factor for EBV reactivation and selective growth of EBV-infected epithelial cells in vivo.
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