Niedobitek G, Young L S
Department of Pathology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
Lancet. 1994 Feb 5;343(8893):333-5. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)91167-3.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the aetiology of many human lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. Although EBV is B lymphotropic in vitro, it has been hypothesised that oropharyngeal epithelium is important in primary EBV infection, replication, and persistence in vivo, and that infection of B lymphocytes is secondary. This hypothesis has been challenged by several recent studies. On the basis of current evidence, we propose that primary EBV infection and virus persistence are mediated through B lymphocytes, and that latent infection of epithelial cells is accidental and irrelevant to virus persistence, although important in the development of certain carcinomas. To what extent T cells are involved in EBV persistence remains uncertain. Clarification of the possible part played by EBV in the development of virus-associated tumours requires a better understanding of the mode of EBV persistence and the identification of the stage in the carcinogenic process at which EBV infection occurs.
爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒（EBV）与许多人类淋巴和上皮恶性肿瘤的病因有关。尽管EBV在体外对B淋巴细胞具有嗜性，但据推测，口咽上皮在EBV的原发性感染、复制及体内持续性感染中起重要作用，而B淋巴细胞感染是继发性的。这一假说受到了最近几项研究的质疑。基于目前的证据，我们提出EBV的原发性感染和病毒持续性感染是通过B淋巴细胞介导的，上皮细胞的潜伏感染是偶然的，与病毒持续性感染无关，尽管在某些癌症的发生中很重要。T细胞在多大程度上参与EBV的持续性感染仍不确定。要阐明EBV在病毒相关肿瘤发生中可能起的作用，需要更好地了解EBV的持续性感染模式，并确定致癌过程中EBV感染发生的阶段。
