Latent Membrane Protein (latent + membrane_protein)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Latent Membrane Protein 1 Induces Interleukin-8 through the Nuclear Factor-,B Signaling Pathway in EBV-Infected Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Line

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 5 2004
Qingchun Ren MD
Abstract Background/Objectives: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly invasive and metastatic malignant tumor and is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection that exhibits type II latency. Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Our previous studies have indicated that interleukin (IL)-8 was over-expressed in many NPC tissues and was found to be significantly correlated with angiogenesis by immunohistochemistry. Study Design: In vitro design. Methods: The influence of the EBV genome for IL-8 gene expression was studied using the EBV,genome-positive and -negative epithelial/NPC hybrid cell line NPC-KT. The EBV-positive and -negative clones were selected by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Results: EBV-positive clones expressed abundant IL-8 mRNA compared with EBV-negative clones. This result indicated that over-expression of IL-8 depended on the presence of EBV genomes in NPC-KT cells. Two encoded genes, latent membrane protein (LMP)1 and EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs), expressed in NPC were transfected in EBV-negative NPC-KT cells. LMP1 transactivated the IL-8 promoter, whereas EBERs did not. Moreover, the nuclear factor (NF)- ,B binding site in the IL-8 promoter was essential for the response to LMP1, and the activator protein (AP)-1 binding site played only a partial role. Conclusions: LMP1 induces IL-8 mainly through the activation of NF-,B and partly through AP-1 in NPC model cell lines, NPC-KT, and this suggests that LMP1 plays an important role in the angiogenesis of NPC. [source]


Structural variability of the carboxy-terminus of Epstein,Barr virus encoded latent membrane protein 1 gene in Hodgkin's lymphomas

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 11 2007
Deisy M. Guiretti
Abstract Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in the pathogenesis of several lymphoid and epithelial neoplasms. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is the major viral oncogene and it is controversial whether tumor LMP1 variants reflect their geographical predominance or are associated with enhanced oncogenic properties. This study aimed to analyze LMP1 molecular variability of 62 EBV+ Hodgkin's lymphomas and 22 non-neoplastic controls from Brazil and Argentina. EBV association was characterized by EBER-ISH, LMP1 immunohistochemistry and PCR assays for EBNA2 and 3C (typing), LMP1 30 bp deletion (del30) and number of 33 bp tandem repeats. LMP1 C-terminal sequencing was performed in 42 cases. EBV1 was the predominant strain in both geographical Hodgkin's lymphoma groups (average 82%). A higher frequency of del30 variant was observed in lymphomas (41/63) than in non-neoplastic controls (6/22) (OR 4.97, CI 95% 1.53,16.79; P,=,0.005, ,2 test). A large number (5,7) of 33 bp repeat units was characteristic of del30 LMP1 variants (P,<,0.0001, Fisher's exact test). Sequence analysis showed a similar mutation spectrum to that described worldwide but none of the current classification schemes could be applied completely. A distinct structural pattern was observed in del30 variants, characterized by a large number of 33 bp repeat units and the presence of a 15 bp insertion encoding the JAK3 Box-1a motif (3/15 wt vs. 16/20 del30; P,=,0.001, ,2 test). The results suggest a pathogenic role for LMP1 del30 variants in Hodgkin's lymphoma from South America and point to particular virus-host molecular mechanisms, such as genomic instability in LMP1 carboxy-terminus, leading to enhanced production and selection of these deletion variants. J. Med. Virol. 79:1722,1730, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Latent membrane protein 1 encoded by Epstein,Barr virus induces telomerase activity via p16INK4A/Rb/E2F1 and JNK signaling pathways,

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Lin Ding
Abstract Elevated telomerase activity is observed in about 90% of human cancers. This activity correlates strictly with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Previously, it was shown that the Epstein,Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) induced telomerase activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. In this study, it was indicated that LMP1 inhibited p16INK4A expression, promoted phosphorylation of p105 Rb and upregulated E2F1 expression as well as transactivation, and overexpression of E2F1 alone was sufficient to upregulate telomerase activity. The JNK kinase cascade could also promote telomerase activity modulated by LMP1, that inhibition of JNK by JIP and TAM 67 dominant negative mutant abrogated telomerase activity. The data show that p16INK4A/Rb/E2F1 and JNK signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of telomerase activity via LMP1. The present study provides new perspectives on carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma that may be exploited for novel therapeutic strategies. J. Med. Virol. 79: 1153,1163, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cooperative interactions among p53, bcl-2 and Epstein,Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2004
Lai-Fa Sheu
Interactions among p53, bcl-2 and Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells were evaluated by gene cotransfections. The data showed that bcl-2 expression was not only able to prevent the growth suppression induced by wild-type p53 but was also paradoxically able to inhibit the growth enhancement induced by mutant p53. Latent membrane protein 1 was shown to be capable of overcoming the growth inhibition induced by wild-type p53 and the synergistic cooperation with bcl-2 to enhance cellular growth. Latent membrane protein 1 could also cooperate with mutant p53 to provide a growth advantage for NPC cells. Most NPC revealed detectable overexpression of p53, and the majority of those were a wild type possibly responding to EBV infection. The coexpression of bcl-2 and LMP1 was thought to inhibit the growth suppression induced by wild-type p53 in NPC. But there was no associated expression between LMP1 and bcl-2 because we demonstrated that transfected LMP1 failed to induce bcl-2 expression in NPC cells in contrast to the findings in B cells. It is theorized that the cooperative expression of bcl-2 and LMP1 exists in the majority of NPC, while a minority of NPC have cooperative expression of LMP1 and mutant p53. Each cooperative interaction could play an important role in the development and progression of NPC. [source]


Activation of the JAK/STAT Pathway in Epstein Barr Virus+ -Associated Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease: Role of Interferon-,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2009
M. Vaysberg
Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is associated with B-cell lymphomas in posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the major oncogenic protein of EBV, promotes tumorigenesis through activation of NF-,B, Erk, p38, JNK and Akt. The Jak/STAT signal transduction pathway is also constitutively active in PTLD-associated EBV+ B-cell lymphomas. Here we determine the mechanism of Jak/STAT activation in EBV+ B-cell lymphomas and the role of LMP1 in this process. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed no direct interaction of LMP1 and JAK3, but known associations between JAK3 and common gamma chain, and between LMP1 and TRAF3, were readily detected in EBV+ B cell lines from patients with PTLD. An inducible LMP1 molecule expressed in EBV, BL41 Burkitt's cells demonstrated STAT activation only after prolonged LMP1 signaling. While LMP1 induced IFN-, production in BL41 cells, IFN-, receptor blockade and IFN-, neutralization prior to LMP1 activation markedly decreased STAT1 activation and expression of LMP1-driven IFN-, inducible genes. Understanding the mechanisms by which EBV induces cellular signal transduction pathways may facilitate development of new treatments for PTLD. [source]


Molecular characterization of epstein-barr virus and oncoprotein expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Korea

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 7 2004
Yoon Kyung Jeon MD
Abstract Background. We evaluated the characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Korea, including its clinical, pathologic, and molecular features, especially emphasizing on the EBV strains involved, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) expression, and the alterations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and E-cadherin expression. Methods. The presence of EBV was evaluated by EBER in situ hybridization, and the expression of LMP1, MMP9, and E-cadherin by immunohistochemistry. The characterization of EBV type and LMP1 variant was performed by PCR. Results. EBER was detected in 55 of 57 cases (96%) of nonkeratinizing carcinoma (NKC) and undifferentiated carcinoma, but in only four of nine cases (44%) of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). EBER positivity was much higher in the group with nodal metastases (p = .003). The predominant strain of EBV infection was type A (81%) and a 30-bp deletion LMP1 variant (77%). All EBER-positive SCCs were infected with EBV type A. LMP1 expression was detected in 36 of 59 (61%) patients with latent EBV infection and MMP9 in 41 of these 59 (69%). LMP1 positivity was much higher among the patients aged 50 years and younger. MMP9 expression was associated with LMP1 expression (p = .008), and nodal and distant metastasis (p = .019, p = .045). Loss of E-cadherin expression was correlated with MMP9 and nodal metastasis. The survival rate was much lower in patients with a higher TNM classification, stage, and a histology of SCC. EBER positivity was associated with a better prognosis in the Kaplan-Meier test, but had no prognostic value by Cox regression analysis. Loss of E-cadherin expression and nodal metastasis were also correlated with local recurrence and distant metastasis. Conclusion. EBV type and LMP1 variant had no significant influence on the clinicopathologic properties of tumor. However, there was a tendency toward a better survival in the EBV type B group. Histology and clinical staging were the two most important prognostic factors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 573,583, 2004 [source]


Expression of RANTES and MCP-1 in epithelial cells is regulated via LMP1 and CD40

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2007
Maike Buettner
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by a prominent nonneoplastic lymphoid stroma. The functional role of these inflammatory cells and the mechanism of their recruitment are not fully understood. In B-cells, the EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) can induce the expression of chemokines in an NF-,B dependent manner. We now show that LMP1 can induce the expression of RANTES and MCP-1 in an epithelial cell line, and that this effect is partially reversible by an inhibitor of NF-,B. Since tumor cells of virtually all NPCs show CD40 expression while many cases are LMP1-negative at the protein level, we also investigated the effect of CD40 signaling and demonstrate that CD40 stimulation can transiently induce RANTES and MCP-1 expression in LMP1-negative epithelial cells. In in situ hybridization only rare tumor cells showed expression of these chemokines unrelated to LMP1 expression, a pattern consistent with transient induction through CD40 signaling. Since RANTES and MCP-1 were also detected in the neoplastic cells of oral squamous cell carcinomas lacking a lymphoid stroma it remains uncertain to what extent these CC chemokines contribute to the attraction of inflammatory cells into the NPC microenvironment. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


TRAF interactions with raft-like buoyant complexes, better than TRAF rates of degradation, differentiate signaling by CD40 and EBV latent membrane protein 1

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2005
Hector Ardila-Osorio
Abstract The CD40 receptor and the Epstein-Barr virus oncoprotein LMP1 are both members of the TNF-receptor family and share several signaling mediators, including TRAF2 and TRAF3. Depending on the cell lineage and stage of maturation, LMP1 and CD40 can have synergistic, antagonist or unrelated effects. Previous publications have suggested that both TRAF2 and TRAF3 move into lipid rafts upon LMP1 expression or CD40 activation, whereas their proteolysis is only enhanced by CD40. However CD40-induced proteolysis of TRAF2 has only been reported in murine cells, and there are conflicting data regarding translocation of TRAF2 into lipid rafts. We therefore investigated TRAF2 and TRAF3 modifications induced by CD40 and LMP1 signaling in a panel of human cell lines of lymphoid and epithelial origins. Upon CD40 stimulation, a marked redistribution of TRAF2 into the buoyant raft fraction was observed in all cell lines and was often associated with a similar redistribution of TRAF3. In contrast, only TRAF3 was redistributed into the raft fraction upon LMP1 expression. Moreover parallel changes in subcellular distribution of TRAF2 and TRAF3 were recorded by electron microscopy. A significant decrease in TRAF2 and TRAF3 concentrations triggered by CD40 ligation was observed in only 1 cell line and there was no evidence that this decrease was required for the negative feed-back on JNK activation. TRAF2 redistribution into raft-like complexes thus appears as the most significant event distinctive of CD40 and LMP1 signaling. On the other hand, the parallel influence of CD40 and LMP1 on TRAF3 redistribution is consistent with functional similarities between the CD40-TRAF3 and LMP1-TRAF3 axes. [source]


Identification and prevalence of CD8+ T-cell responses directed against Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 and latent membrane protein 2

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2002
Pauline Meij
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human malignancies that each show different viral gene expression profiles. In malignancies such as Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma only Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and varying levels of latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP1 and -2) are expressed. Since endogenously expressed EBNA1 is protected from CTL recognition, LMP1 and LMP2 are the most likely target antigens for anti-tumor immunotherapy. Therefore, we sought to identify in a systematic way CD8+ T-cell responses directed against eptitopes derived from LMP1 and LMP2. Using IFN,-ELISPOT assays of interferon-, release, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors were screened with peptide panels (15 mer overlapping by 10) spanning the LMP1 and LMP2 sequences of the prototype EBV strain B95.8. When positive responses were found, CD4+ or CD8+ T cells were depleted from donor PBMC to determine the origin of the responder population. We detected CD8+ T-cell responses to LMP1 in 9/50(18%) donors and to LMP2 in 15/28 (54%) donors. In addition to the already described epitopes, 3 new LMP1- and 5 new LMP2-derived CD8+ epitopes were identified. In most donors LMP1- and LMP2-specific CD8+ precursor frequencies were low compared with precursors against immunodominant EBV epitopes from latent (EBNA3A, -3B and -3C) and lytic cycle antigens. These results demonstrate that CD8+ memory T cell responses to LMP1 and especially to LMP2 do exist in Caucasians, albeit at low levels and could potentially be exploited for therapeutic use. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Etiopathogenic role of HLA-B27 alleles in ankylosing spondylitis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 3 2005
Nurullah AKKOC
Abstract HLA-B27 is the major genetic susceptibility factor for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, its precise role in the pathogenesis of AS still remains unclear, even though its gene has been cloned and sequenced, and its crystallographic structure has been defined. Arthritogenic peptide and molecular mimicry hypotheses propose mechanisms related to an antigen-presenting function of HLA-B27 to be responsible for disease development. However, peculiar aspects of its immunobiology, such as its misfolding and heavy chain dimerization raise the possibility of involvement of pathogenic mechanisms unrelated to its physiological function. Moreover, HLA-B27 is not a single allele, but a family of 31 different alleles, named HLA-B*2701 to HLA-B*2727. Studies worldwide indicate that the relatively common alleles (subtypes) HLA-B*2705, B*2704, and B*2702 are strongly associated with AS, whereas HLA-B*2706 which is prevalent in South-east Asia and HLA-B*2709 which is prevalent on the Italian island of Sardinia, seem to lack such an association. The distinction between the disease-associated subtypes and those that are not associated, may provide clues to the actual role of HLA-B27 in disease pathogenesis. B*2706 differs from B*2704 by only two residues, and B*2709 differs from B*2705 by only one residue. Moreover, both B*2706 and B*2709 bind an endogenous peptide (derived from vasoactive intestinal peptide type 1 receptor) and also an exogenous peptide (latent membrane protein 2 of Epstein-Barr virus) but in two drastically diverse conformations. These recent X-ray diffraction studies of individual peptides in the context of different HLA-B27 alleles broaden our perception of the possible pathogenetic role of this molecule in the development of AS and related spondyloarthopathies. In summary, the pathogenetic role of HLA-B27 in AS seem to be quite heterogenous, and cannot be explained by a single mechanism, and new ideas have been raised based on the aberrant immunobiologic features of HLA-B27. [source]


Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Skin: A Case Report

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
T. Mitsuhashi
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin is a rare tumor with a microscopic resemblance to lymphoepitheliomatous carcinoma of the nasopharynx. We present a 93-year-old man with papules on the left auricle to the cheek that were gradually enlarged. By the time of a biopsy, it grew to a 5.0 × 3.0 × 2.8 cm dark red mass, and necrotic debris was attached to the surface. Histologically, a relatively well-demarcated, dermal-hypodermic multiple lobules were composed of irregular islands of atypical epithelial cells. The uniform tumor cells had moderate amounts of lightly eosinophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with one or two prominent nucleoli. A dense lymphocytic infiltrate was present within the neoplastic islands, obscuring the epithelial component. The neoplastic cells were unconnected to the overlying epidermis. Neither squamous nor glandular differentiation was present. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin, and negative for latent membrane protein 1. No Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) was detected by in situ hybridization. The negativity for Epstein-Barr virus may be a help in the differential diagnosis from metastatic undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is uniformly positive for EBER. [source]


Regulatory T cell activity in primary and persistent Epstein,Barr virus infection

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 5 2009
P.J. Wingate
Abstract Regulatory T cells (Treg) provide a balance to immune T cell activation thereby protecting the body from pathogen-induced immunopathology. Several persistent viruses induce Treg that subvert protective immune mechanisms and promote viral persistence. Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) generally infects children subclinically and persists thereafter, but primary infection in early adulthood may cause immunopathological damage manifest as infectious mononucleosis. In this study the role of Treg was investigated in acute infectious mononucleosis and healthy EBV seropositive donors. The proportion of CD4+CD25high T cells in blood from infectious mononucleosis patients was significantly lower than in seropositive donors (P,=,0.05). Using the FOXP3 marker for Treg the same frequency and extra-follicular distribution of Treg was noted in infectious mononucleosis and control tonsils. Regulatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-,, were significantly raised in infectious mononucleosis compared to seropositive donor plasma (P,=,0.0001, P,=,0.0004 respectively) although levels of IL-10 peaked earlier in infectious mononucleosis than TGF-,. Previous studies identified EBV latent membrane protein (LMP)-1-induced Treg activity [Marshall et al. (2003): J Immunol 170:6183,6189; Marshall et al. (2007): Brit J Haematol 139:81,89], and in this study a significant reduction in interferon-, production was found from infectious mononucleosis but not seropositive donor lymphocytes after stimulation with a recall antigen when LMP-1 peptide PRG was added (P,=,0.03). It is possible that Treg are important in controlling primary EBV infection to a subclinical level in most cases and that infectious mononucleosis represents a failure of this protective mechanism. J. Med. Virol. 81:870,877, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Structural variability of the carboxy-terminus of Epstein,Barr virus encoded latent membrane protein 1 gene in Hodgkin's lymphomas

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 11 2007
Deisy M. Guiretti
Abstract Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in the pathogenesis of several lymphoid and epithelial neoplasms. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is the major viral oncogene and it is controversial whether tumor LMP1 variants reflect their geographical predominance or are associated with enhanced oncogenic properties. This study aimed to analyze LMP1 molecular variability of 62 EBV+ Hodgkin's lymphomas and 22 non-neoplastic controls from Brazil and Argentina. EBV association was characterized by EBER-ISH, LMP1 immunohistochemistry and PCR assays for EBNA2 and 3C (typing), LMP1 30 bp deletion (del30) and number of 33 bp tandem repeats. LMP1 C-terminal sequencing was performed in 42 cases. EBV1 was the predominant strain in both geographical Hodgkin's lymphoma groups (average 82%). A higher frequency of del30 variant was observed in lymphomas (41/63) than in non-neoplastic controls (6/22) (OR 4.97, CI 95% 1.53,16.79; P,=,0.005, ,2 test). A large number (5,7) of 33 bp repeat units was characteristic of del30 LMP1 variants (P,<,0.0001, Fisher's exact test). Sequence analysis showed a similar mutation spectrum to that described worldwide but none of the current classification schemes could be applied completely. A distinct structural pattern was observed in del30 variants, characterized by a large number of 33 bp repeat units and the presence of a 15 bp insertion encoding the JAK3 Box-1a motif (3/15 wt vs. 16/20 del30; P,=,0.001, ,2 test). The results suggest a pathogenic role for LMP1 del30 variants in Hodgkin's lymphoma from South America and point to particular virus-host molecular mechanisms, such as genomic instability in LMP1 carboxy-terminus, leading to enhanced production and selection of these deletion variants. J. Med. Virol. 79:1722,1730, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Latent membrane protein 1 encoded by Epstein,Barr virus induces telomerase activity via p16INK4A/Rb/E2F1 and JNK signaling pathways,

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 8 2007
Lin Ding
Abstract Elevated telomerase activity is observed in about 90% of human cancers. This activity correlates strictly with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Previously, it was shown that the Epstein,Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) induced telomerase activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. In this study, it was indicated that LMP1 inhibited p16INK4A expression, promoted phosphorylation of p105 Rb and upregulated E2F1 expression as well as transactivation, and overexpression of E2F1 alone was sufficient to upregulate telomerase activity. The JNK kinase cascade could also promote telomerase activity modulated by LMP1, that inhibition of JNK by JIP and TAM 67 dominant negative mutant abrogated telomerase activity. The data show that p16INK4A/Rb/E2F1 and JNK signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of telomerase activity via LMP1. The present study provides new perspectives on carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma that may be exploited for novel therapeutic strategies. J. Med. Virol. 79: 1153,1163, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Blockade of AP-1 activity by dominant-negative TAM67 can abrogate the oncogenic phenotype in latent membrane protein 1-positive human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

MOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS, Issue 11 2007
Xin Jin
Abstract Although activating protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors play an important role in mediating metastasis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the biological and physiological functions of AP-1, in relation to the oncogenic phenotype of NPC, are not fully understood. Our previous study showed that the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) mediated a primary dimer form of c- jun and jun B. In this study, we used a NPC cell line that express a specific inhibitor of AP-1, a dominant-negative c- jun mutant (TAM67), to investigate the role of AP-1 in regulating the NPC oncogenic phenotype. First, we observed that TAM67 inhibited cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Next, with Western blotting, we discovered that TAM67 impaired the cyclin D1/cdk4 complex but had little effect on the cyclin E/cdk2 complex, concomitantly with inhibiting Rb phosphorylation. RT-PCR and luciferase assay results demonstrated that the levels of cyclin D1 mRNA and the promoter activity in TAM67 transfectants were reduced as compared with control cells. Thereby, we show that blockade of AP-1 transcriptional activity has a negative impact on cyclin D1 transcription. We obtained the first evidence that TAM67 prevented NPC growth both in vitro and in vivo. AP-1 appears to be a novel target for treating or preventing LMP1-positive NPC effectively. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cooperative interactions among p53, bcl-2 and Epstein,Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2004
Lai-Fa Sheu
Interactions among p53, bcl-2 and Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells were evaluated by gene cotransfections. The data showed that bcl-2 expression was not only able to prevent the growth suppression induced by wild-type p53 but was also paradoxically able to inhibit the growth enhancement induced by mutant p53. Latent membrane protein 1 was shown to be capable of overcoming the growth inhibition induced by wild-type p53 and the synergistic cooperation with bcl-2 to enhance cellular growth. Latent membrane protein 1 could also cooperate with mutant p53 to provide a growth advantage for NPC cells. Most NPC revealed detectable overexpression of p53, and the majority of those were a wild type possibly responding to EBV infection. The coexpression of bcl-2 and LMP1 was thought to inhibit the growth suppression induced by wild-type p53 in NPC. But there was no associated expression between LMP1 and bcl-2 because we demonstrated that transfected LMP1 failed to induce bcl-2 expression in NPC cells in contrast to the findings in B cells. It is theorized that the cooperative expression of bcl-2 and LMP1 exists in the majority of NPC, while a minority of NPC have cooperative expression of LMP1 and mutant p53. Each cooperative interaction could play an important role in the development and progression of NPC. [source]


Comparative analysis of NK/T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma in Korea: Clinicopathological correlations and analysis of EBV strain type and 30-bp deletion variant LMP1

PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2003
Ji Eun Kim
Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are prevalent in the Asian population and exhibit a high association with the Epstein,Barr virus (EBV). Moreover, differentiation of these two groups is often difficult and problematic. We investigated 35 cases of NKTL (22 nasal cases and 13 extranasal cases) and 30 cases of PTCL in terms of their clinical features, immunohistology, EBV positivity, EBV strain-type polymorphism and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) deletion variant distribution. Eighteen cases (82%) of nasal NKTL and seven (54%) of extranasal NKTL showed EBV positivity by EBV in situ hybridization. Fifteen cases (50%) of PTCL revealed EBV positivity. EBV strain type A was predominant in NKTL (18:5), and EBV strain types A and B were distributed evenly in PTCL (6:6). EBV-positive patients had significantly shorter survival than EBV-negative patients (P < 0.05), and EBV positivity correlated with advanced clinical stage (P < 0.05). Patients harboring type A EBV showed slightly poorer prognoses than those having type B, though it was not obviously statistically different (P = 0.07). The LMP1 deletion variant was prevalent in both NKTL (three wild-type LMP1, 15 deletion variants) and PTCL (three wild-type LMP1, eight deletion variants, two coexistent forms) patients, but did not have prognostic impact. Our results indicate that EBV acts as a negative prognostic factor in NKTL and PTCL, and that the intrinsic properties of a specific viral strain might influence the clinical behavior of these diseases. [source]


Expression of Interleukin-8 Receptor A Predicts Poor Outcome in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2005
Toshiyuki Horikawa MD
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: The authors recently demonstrated that interleukin-8 (IL-8) is induced by Epstein-Barr virus encoding latent membrane protein 1 and that IL-8 is overexpressed in tumor cells and correlates significantly with angiogenesis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The present objective was to investigate the expressions and the roles of IL-8 receptors in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Study Design: Retrospective patient file review and immunohistochemical study of tissues of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: The authors examined the expressions of two high-affinity IL-8 receptors, IL-8 receptor A (IL8RA) and IL-8 receptor B (IL8RB), in 30 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: As expected, both IL-8 receptors were expressed on microvessels in tumor nests and surrounding stroma. Interestingly, they were also abundantly expressed on tumor cells. The expressions of IL8RA and IL8RB had no associations with gender, metastasis, or clinical stage. However, the expression of IL8RA in tumors significantly correlated with a shorter overall survival rate (P = .0045). Although the estimated 5-year overall survival rate for IL8RA-negative patients was 68.2%, that in IL8RA-positive patients was only 33.3%. Conclusion: The study results suggest that the expression of IL8RA in tumor cells becomes an important indicator of poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. [source]


Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Latent Membrane Protein 1 Induces Interleukin-8 through the Nuclear Factor-,B Signaling Pathway in EBV-Infected Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Line

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 5 2004
Qingchun Ren MD
Abstract Background/Objectives: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly invasive and metastatic malignant tumor and is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection that exhibits type II latency. Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Our previous studies have indicated that interleukin (IL)-8 was over-expressed in many NPC tissues and was found to be significantly correlated with angiogenesis by immunohistochemistry. Study Design: In vitro design. Methods: The influence of the EBV genome for IL-8 gene expression was studied using the EBV,genome-positive and -negative epithelial/NPC hybrid cell line NPC-KT. The EBV-positive and -negative clones were selected by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Results: EBV-positive clones expressed abundant IL-8 mRNA compared with EBV-negative clones. This result indicated that over-expression of IL-8 depended on the presence of EBV genomes in NPC-KT cells. Two encoded genes, latent membrane protein (LMP)1 and EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs), expressed in NPC were transfected in EBV-negative NPC-KT cells. LMP1 transactivated the IL-8 promoter, whereas EBERs did not. Moreover, the nuclear factor (NF)- ,B binding site in the IL-8 promoter was essential for the response to LMP1, and the activator protein (AP)-1 binding site played only a partial role. Conclusions: LMP1 induces IL-8 mainly through the activation of NF-,B and partly through AP-1 in NPC model cell lines, NPC-KT, and this suggests that LMP1 plays an important role in the angiogenesis of NPC. [source]


Identification and prevalence of CD8+ T-cell responses directed against Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 and latent membrane protein 2

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2002
Pauline Meij
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human malignancies that each show different viral gene expression profiles. In malignancies such as Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma only Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and varying levels of latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP1 and -2) are expressed. Since endogenously expressed EBNA1 is protected from CTL recognition, LMP1 and LMP2 are the most likely target antigens for anti-tumor immunotherapy. Therefore, we sought to identify in a systematic way CD8+ T-cell responses directed against eptitopes derived from LMP1 and LMP2. Using IFN,-ELISPOT assays of interferon-, release, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy donors were screened with peptide panels (15 mer overlapping by 10) spanning the LMP1 and LMP2 sequences of the prototype EBV strain B95.8. When positive responses were found, CD4+ or CD8+ T cells were depleted from donor PBMC to determine the origin of the responder population. We detected CD8+ T-cell responses to LMP1 in 9/50(18%) donors and to LMP2 in 15/28 (54%) donors. In addition to the already described epitopes, 3 new LMP1- and 5 new LMP2-derived CD8+ epitopes were identified. In most donors LMP1- and LMP2-specific CD8+ precursor frequencies were low compared with precursors against immunodominant EBV epitopes from latent (EBNA3A, -3B and -3C) and lytic cycle antigens. These results demonstrate that CD8+ memory T cell responses to LMP1 and especially to LMP2 do exist in Caucasians, albeit at low levels and could potentially be exploited for therapeutic use. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]