Involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in human salivary gland tumors

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10095
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Meikai University
• Principal Investigator: KIKUCHI Kentaro 明海大学, 歯学部, 教授 (30349998)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) / EBNA-2 / LMP-1 / EBER / 唾液腺腫瘍 / CD21 / EphA2

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and cancer of lymphoid and epithelial tissues such as Burkitt’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, and oral cancer has been reported. However, it has remained uncertain whether EBV plays a role in tumorigenesis of salivary gland tissue. In the present study we detected the EBV genome and latent EBV gene expression in salivary gland tumors to clarify whether EBV is involved in tumorigenesis of the salivary gland. We examined 188 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples. EBV genome and the level of expression of latent infection genes were higher in malignant tumors than in benign tumors of the salivary gland. These results suggest the involvement of EBV latent infection genes and their increased expression in the pathogenesis of salivary gland tumors.

Free Research Field

病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究より、EBVが唾液腺腫瘍形成の1要因となる可能性が示唆されたことから、化学療法や放射線療法がほぼ無効である唾液腺悪性腫瘍の新たな治療法の開発に貢献でき意義あるものと考えられる。また、成人の90％以上に潜伏感染しているEBVの再活性化を阻止できれば、EBV感染唾液腺上皮細胞の癌化を抑制でき、これらEBVの再活性化因子(歯周病菌由来因子や免疫力低下など)を標的とした予防や新薬の開発にも繋がり社会的意義がある。