title: A simplified tumour model established via Epstein-Barr virus-encoded, nasopharyngeal carcinoma-derived oncogene latent membrane protein 1 in immunocompetent mice.
abstract: The expression and immune modulation of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded oncogene latent membrane protein 1 (N-LMP1) is essential in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In previous studies, cell transformation has been induced by the expression of EBV-encoded N-LMP1 in non-tumour BALB/c-3T3 cells and these cells have then been used to form tumours in T-cell-deficient nude mice. However, studies using this model have been limited by the lack of a competent immune system. To facilitate the study of immune components in N-LMP1-driven oncogenesis, we herein developed a simplified N-LMP1-derived tumour model in immunocompetent mice. Cell transformation was induced by the expression of N-LMP1 in BALB/c-3T3 cells, and these transformants were used to induce oncogenesis in BALB/c mice. In contrast to the 100% successful tumour-induction rate in nude mice treated with monodispersed transformed cells, the tumour incidence in BALB/c mice was only 5-36%. However, the transplantation of tumour fragments into BALB/c mice yielded a reproducible tumour-induction rate of >85%, which is acceptable for most of the research needs. This novel model of N-LMP1-directed oncogenesis in an immunocompetent environment may serve as an important platform for the future assessment of N-LMP1-targeted tumour therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, Republic of China. kpc@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Kai-Ping N
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041702:BALB 3T3 Cells; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014162:Transfection; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins