PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 42524018

The role of Epstein-Barr virus in NK/T cell lymphoproliferative disorders: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.

Ming Fan·Haiming Kou·Liang V Tang
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widely prevalent lymphotropic γ-herpesvirus, with approximately 95% of the population showing evidence of infection at some point during their lifetime. While most infections are asymptomatic or follow a self-limiting clinical course, in certain populations, EBV can lead to a range of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs), particularly subtypes originating from T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, which are often characterized by highly aggressive disease progression. This review aims to systematically discuss the molecular basis of EBV infection, covering its viral biological properties, regulation of the latent and lytic cycles, key viral protein functions (e.g., LMP1, LMP2A, EBNA1), miRNA regulatory mechanisms, and the activation of various host signaling pathways (such as NF-κB, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT) that contribute to the maintenance of latent infection, cell transformation, and immune evasion. Additionally, the review focuses on the pathogenic contributions of these mechanisms in EBV-related T/NK cell lymphoproliferative diseases. Research highlights include the in-depth analysis of virus-host genome interaction mechanisms, the identification of novel molecular biomarkers, and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, EBV-specific T cell therapy). Through this comprehensive review, it is hoped that personalized medicine and artificial intelligence-assisted multimodal decision-making will be applied to the precise prevention and treatment of EBV-related diseases.

Explore related subjects

HumansHerpesvirus 4, HumanEpstein-Barr Virus InfectionsLymphoproliferative DisordersKiller Cells, NaturalAnimalsNatural Killer T-CellsSignal TransductionImmune EvasionHost-Pathogen InteractionsEpstein-Barr virus (EBV)T/NK cellsimmune evasionlatent infectionsignaling pathwaysJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Ming Fan, Haiming Kou, Liang V Tang. 2026-07-14. The role of Epstein-Barr virus in NK/T cell lymphoproliferative disorders: molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1826581

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2027

Global Genomic Surveillance.

Global genomic surveillance has emerged as a foundational pillar of public health in the twenty-first century, enabling real-time tracking of pathogen evolution and informing outbreak response. This chapter examines the strategic architecture of global genomic surveillance, focusing on its application to arboviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It explores the integration of genomic data with epidemiological, clinical, and environmental information within a One Health framework, while addressing critical challenges in governance, equity, and interoperability. The discussion covers the entire genomic surveillance workflow, from sample collection and sequencing to bioinformatic analysis and phylogenetic inference, and highlights the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in predictive surveillance. By analyzing global initiatives, operational barriers, and emerging technologies, this chapter underscores the necessity of sustainable, equitable, and interoperable genomic systems to proactively address current and future infectious disease threats.

Humans↗
PubMed2027

Systematic Dissection of Key Driver Perturbation Signatures in Single Cells via ECCITE-seq.

CRISPR screens, such as expanded CRISPR-compatible cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (ECCITE-seq), enable the simultaneous measurement of transcriptomes, gRNA identity, and cell-surface protein expression at single-cell resolution to systematically interrogate gene function. This platform provides a powerful and scalable experimental approach for validating disease-associated regulators identified by large-scale association studies and other computational methods, including network-based analyses of multi-omics data. Here, as an example application, we describe an ECCITE-seq framework to characterize the transcriptomic consequences of perturbing multiple neuronal key driver genes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons. More broadly, by integrating customized pooled gRNA libraries with different CRISPR effectors across multiple cell types, this approach allows for the assessment of the regulatory impact of candidate genes implicated in development and disease processes.

Humans↗
PubMed2027

Identification of Genome-Wide Chromatin Structural Aberration in Cancer by Hi-C Analysis.

Aberrant three-dimensional genome organization is a hallmark of cancer, often driving oncogene activation through mechanisms such as enhancer hijacking. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) maps these interactions on a genome-wide scale. Unlike earlier dilution-based methods, in situ Hi-C performs proximity ligation within intact nuclei, minimizing random ligation noise and enabling fine-scale structure detection. This chapter describes an optimized in situ Hi-C protocol tailored for cancer cell lines using MboI digestion and biotin-mediated pull-down to generate high-complexity libraries. We further outline a computational workflow that extends beyond standard topological mapping of compartments and topologically associating domains to identify cancer-specific aberrations. Specifically, we focus on detecting chromosomal rearrangements (structural variants) and characterizing the distinct circular topology of extrachromosomal DNA. This integrated experimental and analytical framework provides the necessary tools to dissect the spatial dysregulation underlying tumor evolution.

Humans↗