Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with increased apoptosis in untreated and phorbol ester-treated human Burkitt's lymphoma (AW-Ramos) cells.
Several papers have recorded that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can protect B-cells from apoptosis. In the present paper, we record an increase in apoptosis in an EBV-infected human Burkitt's lymphoma cell line (AW-Ramos), compared with its virus free counterpart (Ramos). The viral-infected cells died more rapidly by apoptosis during normal growth in culture: at 72h, Ramos cells had 8% apoptosis and AW-Ramos had 27% apoptosis. The EBV-infected cells were particularly sensitive to treatment with phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu, 0.05 microgram/ml): at 72h, Ramos cells had 12% apoptosis and AW-Ramos had 42% apoptosis. DNA gel electrophoresis supported the morphological findings. Our results serve as a caveat against generalizations that may be made about prevention of apoptosis by EBV infection.
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
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D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009336:Necrosis; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate