Lack of an immune receptor might prevent cancers associated with Epstein–Barr virus

A molecule called IL-27 is involved in several immune responses. Congenital alterations in the gene encoding a subunit of the IL-27 receptor result in susceptibility to severe infections with the Epstein–Barr virus. However, IL-27 is also required for the proliferation of virus-infected B cells that become cancerous, so deficiency in the receptor might have a protective role against cancers associated with Epstein–Barr virus.