Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) modulates Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in absence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric cancer

TGF-β1 expression was significantly associated with GC. TGF-β1 was higher both at expression and translational levels in lytic EBV infection without H. pylori suggests that H. pylori infection might play important role in preventing EBV reactivation through attenuated TGF-β1 expression. This might be a “wise host defense against EBV reactivation”.