title: Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus infection by lactoferrin.
abstract: Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays an important role in native immune defense against infections, including human herpetic viruses, such as cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. However, its anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, a γ-herpesvirus) function has not been reported in the literature. EBV is widespread in all human populations and is believed to be linked to tumorigenesis, such as lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We previously reported that LF expressed a significantly lower level in NPC tissues and was a likely tumor suppressor. Since EBV infection is a major carcinogen of NPC development, we investigated the effect of LF on EBV infection and found that LF could protect human primary B lymphocytes and nasopharyngeal epithelial cells from EBV infection, but had no effect on EBV genome DNA replication. LF prevented EBV infection of primary B cells mediated by its direct binding to the EBV receptor (CD21) on the B-cell surface. Tissue array immunohistochemistry revealed that LF expression was significantly downregulated in NPC specimens, in which high EBV viral capsid antigen-IgA levels were observed. These data suggest that LF may inhibit EBV infection and that its downregulation could contribute to NPC development.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Wenling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiurong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Songqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guiyuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002277:Carcinoma; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007781:Lactoferrin