Aspirin induces lytic cytotoxicity in Epstein-Barr virus-positive cells.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in tumor cells is generally restricted to the latent forms of viral infection. Switching the latent form of viral infection into the lytic form may induce tumor cell death. High levels of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB can inhibit EBV lytic replication, and aspirin has the ability to inhibit NF-kappaB activity. The aims of the current study were to determine the effects of aspirin on inducing EBV lytic infection, and thus to reveal the possibility of targeting EBV-positive cancer cells by aspirin. Our results showed that aspirin depleted NF-kappaB (p65) in the nucleus and reactivated EBV into lytic replication. Cells exhibited decreased viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner when incubated with aspirin. When ganciclovir was used in combination with aspirin to treat EBV-positive B95.8 cells and Raji cells, the cytotoxic effect of aspirin was amplified. We demonstrated that aspirin reduced the viability of EBV-positive B lymphocytes due to its ability to induce EBV lytic replication.
Liu
Su-Fang
SF
Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China.
Wang
Hai
H
Li
Zi-Jian
ZJ
Deng
Xi-Yun
XY
Xiang
Hui
H
Tao
Yong-Guang
YG
Li
Wei
W
Tang
Min
M
Cao
Ya
Y
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002144:Callithrix; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000187:drug effects*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D015774:Ganciclovir; D001241:Aspirin