title: Regulation of IAPs gene family by interleukin-1 alpha and Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Number 1, Jen-Ai Road, Section 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan. chtsai@ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Huey-Huey
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Te-Huei
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Ying-Piao
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tzung-Shiahn
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Jin-Yuh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shew
authors.forename: Yu-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ching-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; D020169:Caspases