Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) asymptomatically infects over 95% of the global population, and poses a great threat to human health. This review summarizes the complex mechanisms underlying EBV latency programs and their roles in both viral persistence and disease development. We comprehensively analyze the four distinct latency programs (0, I, II, and III) and their associated gene expression patterns, with particular emphasis on the key viral proteins, the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen EBNA1, EBNA2, EBNA3A/B/C, LMP1, and LMP2A/B. The review explores how these latency programs contribute to various EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune conditions, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and multiple sclerosis. We detail the multilayered regulation of EBV latency, encompassing epigenetic modifications, chromatin organization, and long-range genomic interactions. Recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of EBV latency maintenance and the virus's interaction with host cellular machinery provide new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for EBV-associated diseases.
Overview
- The review focuses on the complex mechanisms underlying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency programs and their roles in viral persistence and disease development.
- The study comprehensively analyzes the four distinct latency programs (0, I, II, and III) and their associated gene expression patterns, with emphasis on key viral proteins.
- The primary objective is to explore how latency programs contribute to EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune conditions, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and multiple sclerosis.
Comparative Analysis & Findings
- The review highlights the four distinct latency programs (0, I, II, and III) and their associated gene expression patterns, with key viral proteins being EBNA1, EBNA2, EBNA3A/B/C, LMP1, and LMP2A/B.
- The study explores how these latency programs contribute to various EBV-associated malignancies and autoimmune conditions, providing insight into their complex mechanisms.
- Recent advances in understanding EBV latency maintenance and virus-host interaction provide new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for EBV-associated diseases.
Implications and Future Directions
- The study's findings have significant implications for the development of therapeutic strategies against EBV-related diseases, aiming to target the virus's latency programs and associated gene expression patterns.
- Future research directions may involve exploring novel therapeutic targets, such as epigenetic modifications, chromatin organization, and long-range genomic interactions, to maintain EBV latency.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of EBV latency maintenance and virus-host interaction can inform the design of effective treatments and prevention strategies for EBV-associated diseases.