title: Epstein-Barr virus-activating principle in human semen.
abstract: During the screening of natural and physiological products for their Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-activating potency, we found that a considerable number of human semen specimens obtained from infertility clinics (30 cases) possess a marked capacity to induce EBV early antigen (EA) in non-producer Raji cell system when assayed in combination with n-butyrate. The EBV EA-inducing activity of the semen samples was comparable to that of the most efficient EBV EA inducers, the plant diterpene esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Since many, if not all, of such active agents show overlapping with the tumor promoters in their biological reactions, these findings may provide a new insight for assessing the role of semen in the etiology of certain types of human genital malignancies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate