Epstein-Barr Virus antigen-expressing cells (EBV+ cells)

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antigen-expressing cells are host cells, primarily B-lymphocytes and epithelial cells, that harbor the EBV genome and express viral proteins such as Latent Membrane Proteins (LMP1, LMP2) and EBV Nuclear Antigens (EBNA) (Young et al., 2016, Nature Reviews Cancer). These cells are the primary drivers of EBV-associated malignancies, including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and various lymphomas, particularly in immunocompromised patients where T-cell surveillance is impaired (StatPearls, 2023). In these conditions, the viral antigens presented on the cell surface serve as specific targets for therapeutic intervention. Adoptive cell therapies, such as the allogeneic T-cell therapy tabelecleucel, are designed to recognize these EBV-specific peptides in the context of HLA molecules, leading to the targeted destruction of the infected cells (Prock et al., 2024, The Lancet Oncology). Other therapeutic approaches include the use of "shock and kill" strategies that induce the viral lytic cycle, making the cells susceptible to antiviral drugs or immune-mediated clearance (Hui and Chiang, 2010, Cancer Research). Monitoring EBV DNA viral load in the plasma is a standard clinical biomarker used to assess the burden of these target cells and the efficacy of treatment (EMA, 2022).

Other names

EBV-infected cellsEBV-positive cellsEBV-transformed cellsEBV-expressing cells

Targeted elimination of cells expressing viral antigens through cytotoxic T-lymphocyte mediated lysis or induction of the viral lytic cycle followed by antiviral treatment.