title: Characterization of Epstein-Barr virus infection in a human signet ring cell gastric carcinoma cell line, HSC-39.
abstract: In order to study the mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in gastric carcinoma cells, we characterized the EBV infection in signet ring cell line HSC-39, derived from a human gastric carcinoma. HSC-39 cells were highly susceptible to cell-free EBV infection by Akata and P3HR-1 EBV strains. EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) and EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) were detected in the infected cells. Akata and P3HR-1 EBV-infected cell clones were isolated by a limiting dilution technique. The Akata and P3HR-1 EBV-infected clones differed from each other in morphology and growth patterns. Akata EBV-infected clones had lower growth rates than did P3HR-1 EBV-infected clones in both liquid and soft agar mediums. Both the infected HSC-39 cells and the clones expressed EBNA1 and EBER, but did not express EBNA2, latent membrane protein (LMP) 1 and LMP2A. The Q promoter (p), but not the Cp/Wp for EBNA transcription, was active in the infected HSC-39 cells and all clones. No lytic infection was observed in either infected parental cells or any clones. Uninfected HSC-39 cells did not express a principal EBV receptor CD21; however, Akata but not P3HR-1 EBV-infected clones expressed low levels of CD21 mRNA. These results demonstrate that the cellular phenotypes of HSC-39 cells are altered by EBV infection in strain-specific manner. We propose the HSC-39 cell line as a model target for the study of the mechanism and significance of EBV infection in gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biosignaling, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Masanao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sairenji
mesh_terms: D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014410:Tumor Stem Cell Assay; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: C402641:EBNA-2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1