Amir Hossein Alipour - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranGene Therapy Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamideh Najafi - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Ziafati Kafi - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Mohammad Ali Hashemi - Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Jamal Sarvari - Department of Bacteriology Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Arash Ghalyanchi Langeroudi - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Background and Aim: Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ranks as one of the most substantial risk factors associated with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). At the core of this intricate relationship lies the EBV nuclear antigen-۱ (EBNA۱) protein, a central figure with remarkable ability to regulate the expression of both cellular and viral genes. This research delves into the impact of EBNA۱ on the expression patterns of four cellular genes - MDMX, MDM۲, MYC, and BIRC۵ in U۸۷MG cell line. Materials and Methods: We divided U۸۷MG cells into two distinct groups. The first group involved cells that were transfected with a plasmid containing EBNA۱ gene, while the second group consisted of cells that were transfected with a control plasmid. To evaluate the transcriptional activity of MDMX, MDM۲, MYC, and BIRC۵ genes in both sets of cells, we employed real-time PCR technique. Any observed differences were considered statistically significant if the associated p-values were less than ۰.۰۵. Results: Our findings demonstrated a substantial three-fold increase in the expression of the MDMX gene when U۸۷MG cells were transfected with EBNA۱ plasmid (p=۰.۰۲). Although the cells transfected with EBNA۱ plasmid displayed great elevations in the expression levels of MDM۲, MYC, and BIRC۵ genes, these alterations were not statistical significance. Conclusion: The outcomes of this investigation have unveiled that EBNA۱ has the ability to trigger the expression of four crucial cellular genes, which wield substantial influence in the genesis of GBM within glioblastoma astrocytoma cells. This underscores the potential impact of EBNA۱ on the evolution of GBM, particularly in individuals harboring EBV.

Glioblastoma, Epstein–Barr virus, EBNA۱, MDMX, MDM۲, MYC