Hormonal Modulation of Epstein-Barr Virus Replication

Among the various factors thought to be associated with the reactivation of latent herpesviruses is psychological stress. An increase in levels of 'stress hormones' such as glucocorticoids occurs in individuals who are stressed and previous studies have shown that glucocorticoid hormones can reactivate latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in vitro. In this study, we confirm that the EBV genome in latently infected lymphoblastoid cells can be reactivated with two glucocorticoid hormones, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone. In addition to hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, we also found that other hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (corticotropin-releasing factor and adrenocorticotropin hormone but not epinephrine and norepinephrine) as well as somatostatin can enhance the lytic replication of the HR-1 strain of EBV in superinfected cells. These results suggest that multiple endocrine interactions may be involved in stress-induced reactivation/replication of latent EBV.