title: Expression of bcl-2 in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines: induction by latent Epstein-Barr virus genes.
abstract: The bcl-2 oncogene blocks programmed cell death (apoptosis). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can immortalize B lymphocytes into continuously growing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) by the coordinate expression of at least 9 latent genes (EBV nuclear antigen [EBNA] 1-6, latent membrane protein [LMP], and terminal proteins [TP] 1 and 2). We analyzed transcription and expression of bcl-2 and latent EBV genes in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines with a germinal center phenotype (group I) as well as activated BL cell lines (group III) and LCLs. We found high expression of bcl-2 as well as the full spectrum of latent EBV genes in LCLs and activated group III BL cell lines. Group I BL cells expressed little or no bcl-2, EBNA-2, and LMP. Superinfection with nondefective EBV or an EBNA-2-defective virus as well as transfection with EBNA-2- or LMP-carrying vectors into the EBV-negative cell lines RAMOS, DG75, U698, or BJAB induced upregulation of bcl-2 expression. The strongest effect on bcl-2 was obtained by transfection with LMP, or infection with the nondefective virus. No change of bcl-2 expression was observed with EBNA-1. Our data indicate that the immortalization capacity of EBV and the growth advantage of EBV-positive compared with EBV-negative BL cells in vitro may predominantly be mediated via induction of bcl-2 and the main effectors are EBNA-2 and LMP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medizinische Klinik, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fritzen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ternes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bross
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mertelsmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dölken
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D009857:Oncogenes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA