[Anti-apoptotic function of the Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 and BHRF1 proteins].
Two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gene products, latent infection membrane protein 1 (LMP1), expressed mainly in latent infection, and BHRF1, expressed in lytic infection, have the ability to promote cell survival. LMP1 protects human B cells from apoptosis by upregulating expression of Bcl-2 and A20. We have demonstrated that LMP1 transfectants of Jurkat T cells are resistant to apoptosis induced by serum depletion without affecting the Bcl-2/Bax system. Overexpression of LMP1 in epithelial cells inhibits apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha, but not by anti-Fas antibodies. These results indicate that the anti-apoptotic mechanism of LMP1 differs among different cell types. BHRF1 can prevent apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha and anti-Fas antibodies in epithelial cells. The implication of the anti-apoptotic function of LMP1 and BHRF1 is reviewed in relation to EBV infection.
Kawanishi
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins