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Aims: Leukemia is one of the most common childhood malignancies. The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a tumorigenic virus of the herpes family and causes a primary infection in young children. This study aimed to evaluate the increase in NFKB expression following the EBV virus and its contribution to the half-life of EBV-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.
Methods & Materials: In this case-control study, we examined blood samples of 60 patients referred to Tabriz Children’s Hospital for 6 months, Tabriz City, Iran, in 2019. RNA extraction was performed from the collected samples, and the quantity and quality of the extracted RNA were controlled by a NanoDrop device and gel electrophoresis. cDNA synthesis was performed from RNA extracted from the sample. NFKB gene expression was assessed using real-time PCR. The obtained data were analyzed using a t-test.
Findings: The results showed that the EBV virus decreased the expression of the NFKB gene in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The expression of the NFKB gene in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The NFKB gene can be used as a precursor for diagnosing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, further studies are required on EBV infection and acute lymphoblastic disease.