c-myc activation renders proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed cells independent of EBV nuclear antigen 2 and latent membrane protein 1

摘要

Two genetic events contribute to the devel- opment of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (BL) infection of B lymphocytes with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the activa- tion of the protooncogene c-myc through chromosomal trans- location. The viral genes EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) are essential for trans- formation of primary human B cells by EBV in vitro; however, these genes are not expressed in BL cells in vivo.