EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma

Burkitt lymphoma is endemic in the Equatorial Belt of Africa, its molecular hallmark is an activated, MYC gene mostly due to a chromosomal translocation. Especially in its endemic clinical variant, Burkitt lymphoma is associated with the oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and holoendemic malaria ac...

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Main Authors: Susanna Mannucci, Anna Luzzi, Alessandro Carugi, Alessandro Gozzetti, Stefano Lazzi, Valeria Malagnino, Monique Simmonds, Maria Grazia Cusi, Lorenzo Leoncini, Cornelia A. van den Bosch, Giulia De Falco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Advances in Hematology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/149780
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author Susanna Mannucci
Anna Luzzi
Alessandro Carugi
Alessandro Gozzetti
Stefano Lazzi
Valeria Malagnino
Monique Simmonds
Maria Grazia Cusi
Lorenzo Leoncini
Cornelia A. van den Bosch
Giulia De Falco
author_facet Susanna Mannucci
Anna Luzzi
Alessandro Carugi
Alessandro Gozzetti
Stefano Lazzi
Valeria Malagnino
Monique Simmonds
Maria Grazia Cusi
Lorenzo Leoncini
Cornelia A. van den Bosch
Giulia De Falco
author_sort Susanna Mannucci
collection DOAJ
description Burkitt lymphoma is endemic in the Equatorial Belt of Africa, its molecular hallmark is an activated, MYC gene mostly due to a chromosomal translocation. Especially in its endemic clinical variant, Burkitt lymphoma is associated with the oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and holoendemic malaria acts as an amplifier. Environmental factors may also cooperate in Burkitt lymphomagenesis in the endemic regions, such as plants used as traditional herbal remedies. Euphorbia tirucalli, a plant known to possess EBV-activating substances, has a similar geographical distribution to endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma and is used as a hedge, herbal remedy and toy in the Lymphoma BeltI. In this study we aimed at determining if exposure to Euphorbia tirucalli could contribute to lymphomagenesis, and at which extent. Lymphoblastoid and cord blood-derived cell lines were treated with plant extracts, and the expression of EBV-coded proteins was checked, to assess EBV reactivation. The occurrence of chromosomal translocations was then investigated by FISH. Our preliminary results suggest that E. tirucalli is able to reactivate EBV and determine chromosomal alterations, which leads to c-MYC altered expression. The existence of genomic alterations might determine the accumulation of further genetic alteration, which could eventually lead to a transformed phenotype.
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spelling doaj-art-a1b78fc1e1d545859c5e576cdc9eb9af2025-08-20T03:38:35ZengWileyAdvances in Hematology1687-91041687-91122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/149780149780EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt LymphomaSusanna Mannucci0Anna Luzzi1Alessandro Carugi2Alessandro Gozzetti3Stefano Lazzi4Valeria Malagnino5Monique Simmonds6Maria Grazia Cusi7Lorenzo Leoncini8Cornelia A. van den Bosch9Giulia De Falco10Department Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Oncology, Hematology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPilgrims' Hospice, Margate, Kent CT94AD, UKDepartment Biotechnology, Section of Microbiology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyPilgrims' Hospice, Margate, Kent CT94AD, UKDepartment Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyBurkitt lymphoma is endemic in the Equatorial Belt of Africa, its molecular hallmark is an activated, MYC gene mostly due to a chromosomal translocation. Especially in its endemic clinical variant, Burkitt lymphoma is associated with the oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and holoendemic malaria acts as an amplifier. Environmental factors may also cooperate in Burkitt lymphomagenesis in the endemic regions, such as plants used as traditional herbal remedies. Euphorbia tirucalli, a plant known to possess EBV-activating substances, has a similar geographical distribution to endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma and is used as a hedge, herbal remedy and toy in the Lymphoma BeltI. In this study we aimed at determining if exposure to Euphorbia tirucalli could contribute to lymphomagenesis, and at which extent. Lymphoblastoid and cord blood-derived cell lines were treated with plant extracts, and the expression of EBV-coded proteins was checked, to assess EBV reactivation. The occurrence of chromosomal translocations was then investigated by FISH. Our preliminary results suggest that E. tirucalli is able to reactivate EBV and determine chromosomal alterations, which leads to c-MYC altered expression. The existence of genomic alterations might determine the accumulation of further genetic alteration, which could eventually lead to a transformed phenotype.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/149780
spellingShingle Susanna Mannucci
Anna Luzzi
Alessandro Carugi
Alessandro Gozzetti
Stefano Lazzi
Valeria Malagnino
Monique Simmonds
Maria Grazia Cusi
Lorenzo Leoncini
Cornelia A. van den Bosch
Giulia De Falco
EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
Advances in Hematology
title EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
title_full EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
title_fullStr EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
title_full_unstemmed EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
title_short EBV Reactivation and Chromosomal Polysomies: Euphorbia tirucalli as a Possible Cofactor in Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma
title_sort ebv reactivation and chromosomal polysomies euphorbia tirucalli as a possible cofactor in endemic burkitt lymphoma
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/149780
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