Mutations in the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (BNLF-1) gene in spontaneous lymphoblastoid cell lines: effect on in vitro transformation associated parameters and tumorigenicity in SCID and nude mice (original) (raw)

The transforming domain alone of the latent membrane protein of Epstein-Barr virus is toxic to cells when expressed at high levels

Journal of Virology, 1989

A previously unrecognized activity has been associated with the product of the BNLF-1 gene of Epstein-Barr virus. This gene encodes the latent membrane protein of Epstein-Barr virus. When the gene was expressed at high levels, it was toxic to all cell lines tested, which included six human B-lymphoid lines as well as BALB/3T3, 143/EBNA-1, and HEp-2 cells. The BNLF-1 gene was previously shown to induce anchorage-independent and tumorigenic growth in Rat-1 and BALB/3T3 cells. We demonstrate here that only those mutations in the BNLF-1 gene that score positively in the anchorage-independent growth assay were cytotoxic when expressed at high levels. It is therefore possible that the same activities of the latent membrane protein that are necessary to induce anchorage-independent growth of some rodent cell lines also confer toxicity to many cell lines when expressed at high levels.

Cellular expression profiles of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines

Biomedical Reports, 2020

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can infect human B cells and is associated with various types of B cell lymphomas. Studies on the global alterations of the cellular pathways mediated by EBV-induced B cell transformation are limited. In the present study, microarray analysis was performed following generation of two EBV-infected B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL), in which normal B cells obtained from two healthy Thai individuals and transcriptomic profiles were compared with their respective normal B cells. The two EBV-transformed BLCL datasets exhibited a high degree of similarity between their RNA expression profiles, whereas the two normal B-cell datasets did not exhibit the same degree of similarity in their RNA expression profiles. Differential gene expression analysis was performed, and the results showed that EBV infection was able to dysregulate several cellular pathways in the human B-cell genes involved in cancer and cell activation, such as the MAPK, WNT and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, which were upregulated in the BLCL and were associated with increased cellular proliferation and immortalization of EBV-infected B cells. Expression of proteins located in the plasma membrane, which initiate a biological response to ligand binding, were also notably upregulated. Expression of genes involved in cell cycle control, the p53 signaling pathway and cellular senescence were downregulated. In conclusion, genes that were markedly upregulated by EBV included those involved in the acquisition of a tumorigenic phenotype of BLCL, which was positively correlated with several hallmarks of cancer.

Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein does not inhibit differentiation and induces tumorigenicity of human epithelial cells

Oncogene, 1997

Latent membrane protein (LMP) is a latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein expressed in the EBV associated malignancy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Properties ascribed to this protein include inhibition of epithelial cell dierentiation and deregulation of epithelial cellular gene expression, and are believed to contribute to the development of NPC. Studies to evaluate the oncogenic potential of LMP in epithelial cells have not been conclusive. We carried out studies to determine the tumorigenic activity of LMP in two human epithelial cell lines, SCC12F and HaCaT; while SCC12F LMP transfectants were non-tumorigenic in severe combined immunode®cient mice, HaCaT LMP transfectants were strongly oncogenic. The tumours produced were well dierentiated, keratinising squamous cell carcinomas suggesting that LMP does not inhibit epithelial cell dierentiation which con¯icts with a previous report by Dawson et al. (1990). To resolve this discrepancy we examined the ability of HaCaT and SCC12F LMP transfectants to dierentiate in a suspension culture assay. Both lines were able to dierentiate to a similar extent as parental lines and control transfectants. Our results indicate that LMP is strongly oncogenic in human epithelial cells but that inhibition of dierentiation is not necessarily a mechanism by which LMP contributes to the pathogenesis of NPC.

Epstein-Barr virus – molecular basis for malignant transformation

Scripta Scientifica Medica, 2016

Epstein-Barr (EBV) is a widespread virus which can be detected in more than 90% of world population. Primary EBV infection during adolescence and adulthood results in infectious mononucleosis, while in children it is usually asymptomatic. EBV is responsible for different malignant forms of B-cell or epithelial cancers, such as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, hairy leukoplakia and HIV-associated lymphomas. Evidence exists that an infection with EBV is also linked with a higher risk of hepatocellular and gastric cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases. EВV shows two alternative life cycles-latent and lytic. After the primary infection, the virus remains in the B lymphocytes in latency, while the lytic infection takes place predominantly in the epithelial cells and can last for months with constant virus release in saliva and nasopharyngeal secretion. Unlike other herpes viruses, the development of oncological diseases is linked with the latent cycle, as a result of the immune response failure to control latently infected cells. With the present work we try to concisely review the current knowledge about mechanisms of EBV pathogenesis in humans and to summarize recent findings in the field.

Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Malignancies: Roles of Viral Oncoproteins in Carcinogenesis

Frontiers in Oncology, 2018

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first herpesvirus identified to be associated with human cancers known to infect the majority of the world population. EBV-associated malignancies are associated with a latent form of infection, and several of the EBVencoded latent proteins are known to mediate cellular transformation. These include six nuclear antigens and three latent membrane proteins (LMPs). In lymphoid and epithelial tumors, viral latent gene expressions have distinct pattern. In both primary and metastatic tumors, the constant expression of latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) at the RNA level suggests that this protein is the key player in the EBV-associated tumorigenesis. While LMP2A contributing to the malignant transformation possibly by cooperating with the aberrant host genome. This can be done in part by dysregulating signaling pathways at multiple points, notably in the cell cycle and apoptotic pathways. Recent studies also have confirmed that LMP1 and LMP2 contribute to carcinoma progression and that this may reflect the combined effects of these proteins on activation of multiple signaling pathways. This review article aims to investigate the aforementioned EBV-encoded proteins that reveal established roles in tumor formation, with a greater emphasis on the oncogenic LMPs (LMP1 and LMP2A) and their roles in dysregulating signaling pathways. It also aims to provide a quick look on the six members of the EBV nuclear antigens and their roles in dysregulating apoptosis.

Latent membrane protein of Epstein-Barr virus induces cellular phenotypes independently of expression of Bcl-2

Journal of Virology, 1993

The stable expression of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein (LMP) in certain EBV-negative Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines correlates with an increased expression of the oncogene Bcl-2 (S. Henderson, M. Rowe, C. Gregory, D. Croom-Carter, F. Wang, R. Longnecker, E. Kieff, and A. Rickinson, Cell 65:1107-1115, 1991). This finding is consistent with a model in which Bcl-2 contributes to the immortalization of B cells mediated by EBV. We therefore asked whether the expression of Bcl-2 protein correlates with the induction of three cellular phenotypes induced by or associated with LMP. The expression of Bcl-2 in primary B cells infected with the B95-8 strain of EBV varied between 1 and 1.8 times that in uninfected cells when 50% of the cells were infected, expressed LMP, and incorporated 20-fold more [3H]thymidine than did uninfected cells. This finding indicates that induced proliferation of these primary cells is not sufficient to induce Bcl-2. We found that BALB/c 3T...

The copy number of Epstein-Barr virus latent genome correlates with the oncogenicity by the activation level of LMP1 and NF-κB

Oncotarget, 2015

A tumor model that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infection facilitated the tumorigenicity was previously established using the Maxi-EBV system. In the present approach, EBV-lost cell clones demonstrated significantly decreased tumorigenesis. On the other hand, the LMP1 gene in Maxi-EBV genome was replaced by that of nasopharyngeal carcinoma origin. The resultant cell line, 293-1/NL showed much lower malignancy than the original 293-EBV. The result was opposite to our expectation. The change of 293 sublineage cells for EBV harboring also got similar result. To seek the underlying reason, the copy number of EBV genome in all the cell lines was detected. The result indicated that 293-EBV contained about 4.5-fold higher EBV copies than 293-1/NL did. Parallel EBV genomes led to relatively stable copies in different 293 sublineages, suggesting the viral genome structure is a factor for the sustainability of EBV's copy number. Moreover, the LMP1 transcription in high copy-containing ...

Sequence Analysis of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Latent Membrane Protein-1 Gene and Promoter Region: Identification of Four Variants Among Wild-Type EBV Isolates

Blood, 1997

Sequence variations in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene have been described in a Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma-derived isolate (CAO), and in viral isolates from various EBV-associated tumors. It has been suggested that these genetic changes, which include loss of a Xho I restriction site (position 169425) and a C-terminal 30-base pair (bp) deletion (position 168287-168256), define EBV genotypes associated with increased tumorigenicity or with disease among particular geographic populations. To determine the frequency of LMP-1 variations in European wild-type virus isolates, we sequenced the LMP1 promoter and gene in EBV from lymphoblastoid cell lines from healthy carriers and patients without EBV-associated disease. Sequence changes were often present, and defined at least four main groups of viral isolates, which we designate Groups A through D. The widespread prevalence of LMP-1 sequence variations, particularly the Xho I polymorphism ...

Epstein-Barr virus transformation: involvement of latent membrane protein 1-mediated activation of NF-κB

Oncogene, 1999

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transforms resting primary human B lymphocytes into inde®nitely proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines in vitro and is associated with several human malignancies in vivo. Recombinant EBV genetic analyses combined with in vitro B lymphocyte transformation assays demonstrate that latent infection membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is essential for EBVmediated lymphocyte transformation. LMP1 has no intrinsic enzymatic activity but instead aggregates cellular proteins of the tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling pathway to activate transcription factor NF-kB. Mutants rendering LMP1 defective in these protein interactions are impaired in their abilities to activate NF-kB in reporter gene assays. Concordantly, EBV recombinants with LMP1 mutations that are compromised for NF-kB activation are impaired for growth transformation. Thus, EBV-mediated growth transformation is genetically and biochemically linked to LMP1mediated activation of NF-kB.