Alterations in cancer-causing lipids induced by Epstein- Barr virus in lymphoma

Oncogenic viruses are implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of different types of cancer. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the development of several types of lymphoma which include Hodgkin´s lymphoma. When attempting to define the contribution of this oncogenic virus to the development of lymphoma, we have identified important cellular events induced by infection which not only provide a better understanding of the mechanism of cancer development in general, but which also suggest that alternative therapies that target these pathways could reverse the malignant character of these tumours. Of particular interest is the observation that EBV induces hitherto unrecognised effects on cellular physiology, which include the activation of lipid signalling. This presentation will reveal how EBV modifies the generation of the small bioactive lipids, sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophos-phatidic acid, how they contribute to lymphoma development, and how they might be targeted therapeutically. It will also consider how the regulation of these lipids may be controlled by cellular and viral microRNAs.