Quercetin interrupts the positive feedback loop between STAT3 and IL-6, promotes autophagy, and reduces ROS, preventing EBV-driven B cell immortalization
The oncogenic gammaherpesvirus Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) immortalizes in vitro B lymphocytes into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), a model that gives the opportunity to explore the molecular mechanisms driving viral tumorigenesis. In this study, we addressed the potential of quercetin, a widely distributed flavonoid displaying antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, in preventing EBV-driven B cell immortalization.