Given the spectrum of key molecules that can be cleaved by LE and that LE and MMP-9 are involved in the invasive behavior of normal or transformed leukocytes, our results raise the hypothesis that LE plays a crucial role in the multistep processes of inflammation and lymphoma metastasis.
Here we report that expression of MMP9 is increased in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected type III latency lymphoma cell lines, but not in type I lines where latent viral gene expression is highly restricted.