Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality around the world. The pathogenesis of GC is attributed to lifestyle, family history, genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, as well as infectious agents such as Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV). EBV, a ubiquitous huma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatemeh Estaji, Saeed Zibaee, Maryam Torabi, Sharareh Moghim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Discover Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-024-01619-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850064927342985216
author Fatemeh Estaji
Saeed Zibaee
Maryam Torabi
Sharareh Moghim
author_facet Fatemeh Estaji
Saeed Zibaee
Maryam Torabi
Sharareh Moghim
author_sort Fatemeh Estaji
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality around the world. The pathogenesis of GC is attributed to lifestyle, family history, genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, as well as infectious agents such as Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV). EBV, a ubiquitous human gamma herpes virus, with latent asymptomatic infection in more than 95% of the world’s population, is able to infect through the oral epithelium. EBV is described as the first virus found in human neoplastic, when it was detected in Burkitt lymphoma tumor biopsy. Nowadays this virus is considered to be involved in various human malignancies such as GC. Despite comprehensive efforts and immense studies, the main underlying mechanism is not well described as there are crucial contradictions regarding the presence of this virus and the prognosis of the disease. Immunological alterations, genetic mutations, and epigenetic modifications are among the most important criteria presented in EBV- associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC), leading to its consideration as a separate subtype with unique clinical, histological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics. The current study aimed to review the association between EBV and GC with an emphasis on the role of epigenetic modifications in the suppression or progression of carcinogenesis. To put all findings in a nutshell, several genes and chromatin mutations, promoter hypermethylation and subsequent silencing of related genes, and histone modifications and aberrant micro RNAs (miRNAs) expression were considered as the major altered mechanisms in the pathogenesis of EBVaGC, most of which able to be suggested as therapeutic targets. However, the current knowledge appeared to be imperfect, hence further studies are encouraged.
format Article
id doaj-art-bd5227f4871742d2a87a620c52853593
institution DOAJ
issn 2730-6011
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Oncology
spelling doaj-art-bd5227f4871742d2a87a620c528535932025-08-20T02:49:09ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112024-11-011511910.1007/s12672-024-01619-4Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanismsFatemeh Estaji0Saeed Zibaee1Maryam Torabi2Sharareh Moghim3Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion MedicineDepartment of Research and Development of Biological Products, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension OrganizationDepartment of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Laboratory of Khorasan Razavi Veterinary Head OfficeDepartment of Bacteriology & Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality around the world. The pathogenesis of GC is attributed to lifestyle, family history, genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, as well as infectious agents such as Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV). EBV, a ubiquitous human gamma herpes virus, with latent asymptomatic infection in more than 95% of the world’s population, is able to infect through the oral epithelium. EBV is described as the first virus found in human neoplastic, when it was detected in Burkitt lymphoma tumor biopsy. Nowadays this virus is considered to be involved in various human malignancies such as GC. Despite comprehensive efforts and immense studies, the main underlying mechanism is not well described as there are crucial contradictions regarding the presence of this virus and the prognosis of the disease. Immunological alterations, genetic mutations, and epigenetic modifications are among the most important criteria presented in EBV- associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC), leading to its consideration as a separate subtype with unique clinical, histological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics. The current study aimed to review the association between EBV and GC with an emphasis on the role of epigenetic modifications in the suppression or progression of carcinogenesis. To put all findings in a nutshell, several genes and chromatin mutations, promoter hypermethylation and subsequent silencing of related genes, and histone modifications and aberrant micro RNAs (miRNAs) expression were considered as the major altered mechanisms in the pathogenesis of EBVaGC, most of which able to be suggested as therapeutic targets. However, the current knowledge appeared to be imperfect, hence further studies are encouraged.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-024-01619-4Epstein–Barr VirusEpigeneticHypermethylationmiRNAHistoneEBV associated gastric cancer
spellingShingle Fatemeh Estaji
Saeed Zibaee
Maryam Torabi
Sharareh Moghim
Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
Discover Oncology
Epstein–Barr Virus
Epigenetic
Hypermethylation
miRNA
Histone
EBV associated gastric cancer
title Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
title_full Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
title_fullStr Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
title_short Epstein–Barr Virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
title_sort epstein barr virus and gastric carcinoma pathogenesis with emphasis on underlying epigenetic mechanisms
topic Epstein–Barr Virus
Epigenetic
Hypermethylation
miRNA
Histone
EBV associated gastric cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-024-01619-4
work_keys_str_mv AT fatemehestaji epsteinbarrvirusandgastriccarcinomapathogenesiswithemphasisonunderlyingepigeneticmechanisms
AT saeedzibaee epsteinbarrvirusandgastriccarcinomapathogenesiswithemphasisonunderlyingepigeneticmechanisms
AT maryamtorabi epsteinbarrvirusandgastriccarcinomapathogenesiswithemphasisonunderlyingepigeneticmechanisms
AT shararehmoghim epsteinbarrvirusandgastriccarcinomapathogenesiswithemphasisonunderlyingepigeneticmechanisms