Department Pathogens & Inflammation-EPILAB EA4266, University of Franche-Comté UFC, 25000 Besançon, France.
Department of Virology, CHU Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France.
Cells. 2024 Mar 19;13(6):541. doi: 10.3390/cells13060541.
Approximately 15-20% of global cancer cases are attributed to virus infections. Oncoviruses employ various molecular strategies to enhance replication and persistence. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), acting as an initiator or promoter, enables immune evasion, supporting tumor growth. HCMV activates pro-oncogenic pathways within infected cells and direct cellular transformation. Thus, HCMV demonstrates characteristics reminiscent of oncoviruses. Cumulative evidence emphasizes the crucial roles of EZH2 and Myc in oncogenesis and stemness. EZH2 and Myc, pivotal regulators of cellular processes, gain significance in the context of oncoviruses and HCMV infections. This axis becomes a central focus for comprehending the mechanisms driving virus-induced oncogenesis. Elevated EZH2 expression is evident in various cancers, making it a prospective target for cancer therapy. On the other hand, Myc, deregulated in over 50% of human cancers, serves as a potent transcription factor governing cellular processes and contributing to tumorigenesis; Myc activates EZH2 expression and induces global gene expression. The Myc/EZH2 axis plays a critical role in promoting tumor growth in oncoviruses. Considering that HCMV has been shown to manipulate the Myc/EZH2 axis, there is emerging evidence suggesting that HCMV could be regarded as a potential oncovirus due to its ability to exploit this critical pathway implicated in tumorigenesis.
约 15-20%的全球癌症病例归因于病毒感染。致癌病毒采用各种分子策略来增强复制和持久性。人巨细胞病毒 (HCMV) 作为启动子或促进子，能够逃避免疫，支持肿瘤生长。HCMV 激活感染细胞中的原癌途径并直接诱导细胞转化。因此，HCMV 表现出与致癌病毒相似的特征。累积的证据强调了 EZH2 和 Myc 在致癌和干性中的关键作用。EZH2 和 Myc 是细胞过程的关键调节剂，在致癌病毒和 HCMV 感染的背景下具有重要意义。该轴成为理解驱动病毒诱导致癌机制的核心焦点。EZH2 的表达升高可见于各种癌症中，使其成为癌症治疗的有前途的靶点。另一方面，Myc 在超过 50%的人类癌症中失调，作为一种强大的转录因子，调节细胞过程并促进肿瘤发生；Myc 激活 EZH2 的表达并诱导全局基因表达。Myc/EZH2 轴在致癌病毒促进肿瘤生长中起关键作用。鉴于 HCMV 已被证明能够操纵 Myc/EZH2 轴，有新的证据表明 HCMV 可能被视为一种潜在的致癌病毒，因为它能够利用与肿瘤发生相关的这一关键途径。
