title: Detection of anti-Epstein-Barr-virus transactivator (ZEBRA) antibodies in sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous Herpes virus which causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with such different neoplasms as Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV latently infects its target cells; nevertheless, evidence of viral replication in NPC tumours has been uncovered. Among the EBV transactivators, the ZEBRA protein plays a crucial role in switching the virus from a latent to a productive mode. ZEBRA protein was produced using a eukaryotic expression vector: the open reading frame containing the BZFLI cDNA has previously been inserted down-stream from the adenovirus major late promoter leading to expression of a 38-kDa nuclear protein. We performed serological studies by employing ZEBRA protein expressed in human cells for immunofluorescence and Western-blot assays. We were able to detect IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies (IgG/ZEBRA) in 87% of NPC patients. These antibodies were absent in control sera; IgG/ZEBRA antibodies can be proposed as a useful marker for diagnosis of NPC tumors.
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, CNRS, URA1301, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joab
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwaab
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de-Thé
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clausse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perricaudet
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012016:Reference Values; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins