Effect of short-chain fatty acids on Epstein-Barr virus early and viral capsid antigen induction in P3HR-1 cells.

The effects of short-chain fatty acids were assayed for their capacity to induce Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from the EBV genome-carrying human lymphoblastoid P3HR-1 cells. Not only the n-butyric acid, the activity of which is now well established, but also the n-valeric acid was found to induce EBV-associated early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) at an appreciable level. Similarly, i-valeric acid showed a considerably lower, but significant, level of this activity, while the i-butyric acid was inactive. All other fatty acids with either a chain shorter than butyric or longer than valeric showed only a marginal effect or none at all. Thus, the decisive factor for EBV-inducing capacity of the fatty acids concerns adequate length and configuration of the basic structure of the molecules.