Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 induces expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor through effects on Bcl-3 and STAT3.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) activates multiple signaling pathways. Two regions, C-terminal-activating region 1 (CTAR1) and CTAR2, have been identified within the cytoplasmic carboxy terminal domain that activates NF-kappaB. CTAR2 activates the canonical NF-kappaB pathway, which includes p50/p65 complexes. CTAR1 can activate both the canonical and noncanonical pathways to produce multiple distinct NF-kappaB dimers, including p52/p50, p52/p65, and p50/p50. CTAR1 also uniquely upregulates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in epithelial cells. Increased p50-Bcl-3 complexes have been detected by chromatin precipitation on the NF-kappaB consensus motifs within the egfr promoter in CTAR1-expressing epithelial cells and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. In this study, the mechanism responsible for the increase in Bcl-3 has been further investigated. The data indicate that LMP1-CTAR1 induces Bcl-3 mRNA and increases the nuclear translocation of both Bcl-3 and p50. LMP1-CTAR1 constitutively activates STAT3, and this activation was not due to the induction of interleukin 6 (IL-6). In LMP1-CTAR1-expressing cells, increased levels of activated STAT3 were detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation on STAT-binding sites located within both the promoter and the second intron of Bcl-3. A STAT3 inhibitor significantly reduced the activation of STAT3, as well as the CTAR1-mediated upregulation of Bcl-3 and EGFR. These data suggest that LMP1 activates distinct forms of NF-kappaB through multiple pathways. In addition to activating the canonical and noncanonical pathways, LMP1-CTAR1 constitutively activates STAT3 and increases Bcl-3. The increased nuclear Bcl-3 and p50 homodimer complexes positively regulate EGFR expression. These results indicate that LMP1 likely regulates distinct cellular genes by activating specific NF-kappaB pathways.
Kung
Che-Pei
CP
Department of Microbiology-Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
Raab-Traub
Nancy
N
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D002460:Cell Line; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors