Genetics of Epstein-Barr virus infection

Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus is a member of the human herpesvirus family. EBV is the etiologic agent of acute infectious mononucleosis and is closely associated with the genesis of Burkitt's lymphoma and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV is also implicated in a variety of other diseases, such as X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and NK-cell granular lymphoproliferative disorder. Recently, lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the stomach, gastric carcinoma, pyothorax-associated lymphoma, and smooth muscle tumors were also recognized as EBV-associated diseases. It is therefore important to review the genetics and immunological response of EBV infection. In this review we summarize the genetics of EBV, immunological responses and clinical findings of EBV-associated diseases, which would help us to understand the pathophysiology of EBV-associated disease and develop specific treatments.