The induction of IFN-beta peaked as early as 6 h after transfection, suggesting that EBERs readily interacted with RIG-I after being expressed from the transgene (Figure 3B).
Previous studies demonstrated that EBERs (EBER1 and EBER2) play significant roles in various EBV-infected cancer cells. EBERs induce the expression of interleukin(IL)-10 in BL cells, insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1 in gastric carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, IL-9 in T cells that act as an autocrine growth factor. It was also reported that EBERs play critical roles in the B cell growth transformation including IL-6 induction by EBER2.Recently, it was demonstrated that EBERs bind RIG-I and activate its downstream signaling, which induces expression of type-I interferon (IFN)s.