Epigenetic Mechanisms of Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced B Lymphocyte Transformation
Professor Robert Baiocchi (Internal Medicine)
Allison Pepple (Biology)
The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is the same virus that causes mononucleosis. While healthy people can tolerate EBV infection, immune deficient individuals (e.g., AIDS patients or solid organ transplant recipients) are at risk for developing EBV-associated cancers. The most potent of oncogenic viruses, EBV can transform B cells into aggressive lymphomas. Preliminary work has shown that these B cells express abundant levels of PRMT5 (a protein arginine methyltransferase), which is involved with tumor suppressor gene silencing and promotion of malignant cellular transformation. Our current study examines this protein’s role in the onset of cancer.