The Latent Membrane Protein 1 of Epstein-Barr Virus Establishes an Antiviral State via Induction of Interferon-stimulated Genes (original) (raw)

Latency Type-Dependent Modulation of Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Latent Membrane Protein 1 Expression by Type I Interferons in B Cells

Journal of Virology, 2012

We report that type I interferons (IFNs) upregulate latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) expression by direct activation of the ED-L1 promoter in several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-carrying Burkitt's lymphoma lines. In EBV-infected primary B cells, IFN-␣ transiently upregulates LMP-1 mRNA, but not protein levels, followed by downregulation of both, suggesting a novel antiproliferative mechanism of type I IFNs. Furthermore, our results may explain the expression of LMP-1 in memory B cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. E pstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gammaherpesvirus associated with a wide variety of neoplasms, including Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), nasopharyngeal carcinoma, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, and Hodgkin's disease. Only a subset of viral genes is transcribed from latent episomal EBV genomes in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and in EBV-associated neoplasms. Besides EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs) and BamHI-A transcripts, in type I latency only EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) is expressed, while in type III latency all six EBNAs and three EBVencoded latent membrane proteins (LMPs) are expressed. In type II latency, which is observed in Hodgkin T cell and NK cell lymphomas, in the lymphoid tissues of healthy virus carriers and infectious mononucleosis patients one or all of the LMPs are expressed in addition to the type I latency gene products (39). LMP-1 plays a central role in EBV biology, since it acts in part as a constitutively active CD40 receptor analog and is essential for B cell proliferation and transformation by EBV (24). In type III latency, EBNA-2 is the major transactivator of the LMP promoters, while in type II latency, depending on the cellular context, different cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-10, -13, -15, and -21) are responsible for the activation of LMP-1 transcription .

Autoactivation of the Epstein-Barr Virus Oncogenic Protein LMP1 during Type II Latency through Opposite Roles of the NF- B and JNK Signaling Pathways

Journal of Virology, 2006

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human malignancies where it expresses limited subsets of latent proteins. Of the latent proteins, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a potent transforming protein that constitutively induces multiple cell signaling pathways and contributes to EBV-associated oncogenesis. Regulation of LMP1 expression has been extensively described during the type III latency of EBV. Nevertheless, in the majority of EBV-associated tumors, the virus is commonly found to display a type II latency program in which it is still unknown which viral or cellular protein is really involved in maintaining LMP1 expression. Here, we demonstrate that LMP1 activates its own promoter pLMP1 through the JNK signaling pathway emerging from the TES2 domain. Our results also reveal that this activation is tightly controlled by LMP1, since pLMP1 is inhibited by LMP1-activated NF-B signaling pathway. By using our physiological models of EBV-infected cells displaying type II latency as well as lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing a type III latency, we also demonstrate that this balanced autoregulation of LMP1 is shared by both latency programs. Finally, we show that this autoactivation is the most important mechanism to maintain LMP1 expression during the type II latency program of EBV.

Cytokine mediated induction of the major Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-encoded transforming protein, LMP-1

Immunology Letters, 2006

In the in vitro infected B-cells six EBV-encoded nuclear antigens (EBNA-1-6) and three latent membrane proteins (LMP-1, -2A, -2B) are expressed (type III latency). In addition, other restricted forms of latency occur in the EBV-carrying malignancies. In Burkitt lymphoma (BL) only EBNA-1 is expressed (type I), while in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), T-, and NK-lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma EBNA-1 and LMPs are expressed (type II). B-cells with these three expression patterns have been detected in healthy virus carriers.

Inhibition of Latent Membrane Protein 1 Impairs the Growth and Tumorigenesis of Latency II Epstein-Barr Virus-Transformed T Cells

Journal of Virology, 2012

Infection with EBV is associated with several human malignancies in which the virus expresses a set of latent proteins, among which is latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). LMP1 is able to transform numerous cell types and is considered the main oncogenic protein of EBV. The mechanism of action is based on mimicry of activated members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, through the ability of LMP1 to bind similar adapters and to activate signaling pathways. We previously generated two unique models: a monocytic cell line and a lymphocytic (NC5) cell line immortalized by EBV that expresses the type II latency program. Here we generated LMP1 dominant negative forms (DNs), based on fusion between green fluorescent protein (GFP) and transformation effector site 1 (TES1) or TES2 of LMP1. Then we generated cell lines conditionally expressing these DNs. These DNs inhibit NF-B and Akt pathways, resulting in the impairment of survival processes and increased apoptosis in these cell lines. This proapoptotic effect is due to reduced interaction of LMP1 with specific adapters and the recruitment of these adapters to DNs, which enable the generation of an apoptotic complex involving TRADD, FADD, and caspase 8. Similar results were obtained with cell lines displaying a latency III program in which LMP1-DNs decrease cell viability. Finally, we prove that synthetic peptides display similar inhibitory effects in EBV-infected cells. DNs derived from LMP1 could be used to develop therapeutic approaches for malignant diseases associated with EBV.

Autoactivation of the Epstein-Barr Virus Oncogenic Protein LMP1 during Type II Latency through Opposite Roles of the NF-κB and JNK Signaling Pathways

Journal of Virology, 2006

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human malignancies where it expresses limited subsets of latent proteins. Of the latent proteins, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a potent transforming protein that constitutively induces multiple cell signaling pathways and contributes to EBV-associated oncogenesis. Regulation of LMP1 expression has been extensively described during the type III latency of EBV. Nevertheless, in the majority of EBV-associated tumors, the virus is commonly found to display a type II latency program in which it is still unknown which viral or cellular protein is really involved in maintaining LMP1 expression. Here, we demonstrate that LMP1 activates its own promoter pLMP1 through the JNK signaling pathway emerging from the TES2 domain. Our results also reveal that this activation is tightly controlled by LMP1, since pLMP1 is inhibited by LMP1-activated NF-κB signaling pathway. By using our physiological models of EBV-infected cells displaying typ...

Epstein-Barr Virus EBNA-3C Is Targeted to and Regulates Expression from the Bidirectional LMP-1/2B Promoter

Journal of Virology, 2006

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA-3C) is essential for EBV-mediated immortalization of human B lymphocytes and regulates both the cell cycle and transcription. Transient reporter gene assays have implicated a pivotal role for EBNA-3C in the regulation of transcription of the majority of latency-associated genes expressed during the EBV growth program, including the viral oncoprotein LMP-1. To examine the regulation of latency gene expression by EBNA-3C, we generated an EBV-positive cell line that inducibly expresses EBNA-3C. This cell line allowed us to examine expression from the endogenous latency gene promoters in the context of an actual latent infection and the presence of other EBNA proteins, in particular EBNA-2, which is presumed to coregulate transcription with EBNA-3C. EBNA-3C induced the expression of both LMP-1 and LMP-2B mRNAs from the bidirectional LMP-1/LMP-2B promoter. In contrast, no effect was seen on expression from the common EBNA promoter Cp, whi...

The Epstein-Barr virus nuclear protein 1 promoter active in type I latency is autoregulated

Journal of Virology, 1992

The only member of the Epstein-Barr virus family of nuclear proteins (EBNAs) expressed during type I and type II latent infections is EBNA-1. This is in contrast to type III latency, during which all six nuclear proteins are expressed from a common transcription unit. The exclusive expression of EBNA-1 during type I and II latency is mediated through a recently identified promoter, Fp. The objective of this study was to characterize Fp in the Burkitt lymphoma cell background, where it is known to be differentially utilized. Using a short-term transfection assay and reporter gene plasmids containing Fp linked to the human growth hormone, we examined Fp activity in type I and type III latently infected and virus-negative Burkitt lymphoma cells. The data suggested that Fp is predominantly regulated through two distinct elements located between +24 and +270 relative to the transcription start site. One element positively mediates Fp activity, probably at the level of transcription, and ...

trans-Repression of Protein Expression Dependent on the Epstein-Barr Virus Promoter Wp during Latency

Journal of Virology, 2011

An ordered silencing of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency gene transcription is critical for establishment of persistent infection within B lymphocytes, yet the mechanisms responsible and the role that the virus itself may play are unclear. Here we describe two B-cell superinfection models with which to address these problems. In the first, Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells that maintain latency I, when superinfected, initially supported transcription from the common EBNA promoters Wp and Cp (latency III) but ultimately transitioned to latency I (Cp/Wp silent), an essential requirement for establishment of EBV latency in vivo . We used this model to test whether the early lytic-cycle gene BHLF1 , implicated in silencing of the Cp/Wp locus, is required to establish latency I. Upon superinfection with EBV deleted for the BHLF1 locus, however, we have demonstrated that BHLF1 is not essential for this aspect of EBV latency. In the second model, BL cells that maintain Wp-restricted latency, a v...

Cellular factors associated with latency and spontaneous Epstein–Barr virus reactivation in B-lymphoblastoid cell lines

Virology, 2010

EBV-immortalized B-lymphoblastoid cell lines are used as models for cellular transformation and as antigenpresenting cells in immunological assays. LCLs vary in surface markers and other phenotypic properties, but it is not known how this heterogeneity relates to the EBV life cycle. To explore correlations, we examined 62 LCLs for cellular and viral phenotypes. LCLs generated from pediatric and adult donors could similarly be categorized as either low in EBV copy number or fluctuating within a high range. High-copy status accompanied higher lytic viral gene expression and lower latent gene expression. Inhibiting lytic EBV replication did not affect cellular phenotype or lytic switch protein expression, indicating that an LCL's lytic permissivity was a stable property. Among the cellular genes overexpressed in permissive LCLs were unfolded protein response genes and plasma cell markers. Among genes overexpressed in non-permissive LCLs were transcription factors involved in maintaining B cell lineage, in particular EBF1. This study suggests previously undetected mechanisms by which cellular pathways influence the lytic reactivation of EBV.