Cocaine potentiates the switch between latency and replication of Epstein-Barr virus in Raji cells

This paper shows that cocaine amplifies Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivati on in Raji cells, Its effect on early viral protein synthesis was maximal w hen it was added with 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) plus n-bu tyrate, but nil when added alone. The enhancing effect of cocaine on early replicative stages of latent EBV was associated with an increase of Ca2+ mo bilization induced by the drug and with an induction of cellular protein ph osphorylation in chemicals and cocaine-treated Raji cells. Cocaine also act ed synergistically with TPA and n-butyrate to induce Z Epstein-Barr replica tion activator (ZEBRA), a nuclear phosphoprotein responsible for the activa tion of early viral gene expression. These findings provide the first evide nce that cocaine may represent an important cofactor in the reactivation of early stages of latent EBV infection. (C) 1999 Academic Press.