Coupled transcription of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 and LMP-2B genes in nasopharyngeal carcinomas.
The presence of transcripts of the Epstein-Barr virus genes for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1 and EBNA-2 and for latent membrane protein (LMP)-1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B was investigated in 24 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsies of Chinese origin and two NPC-derived solid tumour lines, CAO and C15, of Chinese and north African origin respectively, propagated by serial transplantation in nude mice. Transcripts were detected by PCR amplification of cDNA. EBNA-1 transcripts were present in all biopsies tested and originated exclusively from the FQ promoter while the C and W promoters were inactive. Using nested primers, LMP-1 and LMP-2B RNAs were found to be co-ordinately expressed in 22 of the 24 biopsies, while the two remaining tumours were negative for both. LMP-2A transcription was detected in 17 of the 22 LMP-1-positive biopsies. In summary, the following patterns of viral gene expression were observed in the tumour biopsies: (i) LMP-1-LMP-2B and LMP-2A positive (17 biopsies); (ii) LMP-1-LMP-2B positive but LMP-2A negative (five biopsies); (iii) no viral gene other than EBNA-1 expressed (two biopsies).
Chen
F
F
Microbiology and Tumour Biology Centre, MTC, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hu
L F
LF
Ernberg
I
I
Klein
G
G
Winberg
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins