Regulation of IAPs gene family by interleukin-1 alpha and Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which counteract apoptosis by potently inhibiting caspase activation, are promising targets of new anti-tumor therapy. However, their roles in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated carcinoma, are not fully understood. Herein, we investigated the expression and regulation of IAPs in NPC.


RESULTS
Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, we found that among the IAPs family only the transcription of survivin, HIAP-1, and HIAP-2 was consistently up-regulated in NPC and metastatic NPC tissues. Immunohistochemical staining showed that their proteins were more predominantly expressed in tumor cells nests. Noteworthy, these IAPs were upregulated by interleukin-1 alpha stimulation or EBV infection, and subsequently resulted in triggering rapid proliferation of NPC verified by strong Ki-67 staining.


CONCLUSIONS
Survivin, HIAP-1, and HIAP-2 were distinctly upregulated in NPC, suggesting they may play significant roles in NPC tumorigenesis and serve as tumor markers with prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Chua
Huey-Huey
HH
Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Number 1, Jen-Ai Road, Section 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan. chtsai@ntu.edu.tw
Yeh
Te-Huei
TH
Wang
Ying-Piao
YP
Sheen
Tzung-Shiahn
TS
Shew
Jin-Yuh
JY
Huang
Yu-Tzu
YT
Tsai
Ching-Hwa
CH
D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000235:genetics; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000077022:Survivin
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; D020169:Caspases