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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
An Efficient and Simple Method to Establish NK and T Cell Lines from Patients with Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Published on: March 30, 2018
Treatment of Epstein-Barr Virus infection in immunocompromised patients
Martyna Pociupany1, Robert Snoeck1, Daan Dierickx2
1Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), is a ubiquitous γ-Herpesvirus that infects over 95% of the human population and can establish a life-long infection without causing any clinical symptoms in healthy individuals by residing in memory B-cells. Primary infection occurs in childhood and is mostly asymptomatic, however in some young adults it can result in infectious mononucleosis (IM). In immunocompromised individuals however, EBV infection has been associated with many different malignancies. Since EBV can infect both epithelial and B-cells and very rarely NK cells and T-cells, it is associated with both epithelial cancers like nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and gastric carcinoma (GC), with lymphomas including Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) or Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) and rarely with NK/T-cell lymphomas. Currently there are no approved antivirals active in PTLD nor in any other malignancy. Moreover, lytic phase disease almost never requires antiviral treatment. Although many novel therapies against EBV have been described, the management and/or prevention of EBV primary infections or reactivations remains difficult. In this review, we discuss EBV infection, therapies targeting EBV in both lytic and latent state with novel therapeutics developed that show anti-EBV activity as well as EBV-associated malignancies both, epithelial and lymphoproliferative malignancies and emerging therapies targeting the EBV-infected cells.
Insights
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects most people, causing lifelong B-cell infections. This review covers EBV-associated cancers and novel therapies targeting EBV in its lytic and latent states.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a common human herpesvirus causing lifelong B-cell infections.
- Primary EBV infection is often asymptomatic but can lead to infectious mononucleosis in young adults.
- EBV is linked to various cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, lymphomas, and NK/T-cell lymphomas, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection, its associated malignancies, and emerging therapeutic strategies.
- To discuss novel therapies targeting both the lytic and latent phases of EBV.
- To explore treatments for EBV-associated epithelial and lymphoproliferative cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of EBV infection, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations.
- Analysis of current and novel therapeutic approaches for EBV and EBV-associated diseases.
- Synthesis of information on EBV-related epithelial and lymphoproliferative malignancies.
Main Results:
- EBV establishes lifelong infections, primarily in B-cells, with varied clinical outcomes.
- No approved antivirals are currently available for EBV-associated malignancies like PTLD.
- Novel therapeutics demonstrate anti-EBV activity in both lytic and latent states, offering potential treatment avenues.
Conclusions:
- Management and prevention of EBV infections and reactivations remain challenging.
- Emerging therapies show promise for treating EBV-associated cancers by targeting infected cells.
- Further research is needed to develop effective treatments for EBV-related malignancies.
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