title: A therapeutic approach to nasopharyngeal carcinomas by DNAzymes targeting EBV LMP-1 gene.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) has been known to have oncogenic properties during latent infection in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Genetic manipulation of LMP1 expression may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of NPC. DNAzymes are synthetic, single-stranded DNA catalysts that can be engineered to bind and cleave the target mRNA of a disease-causing gene. By targeting the LMP1 mRNA, we successfully obtained a phosphorothioate-modified ''10-23'' DNAzyme namely DZ1, through screening a series of DNAzymes. DZ1 could significantly down-regulate the expression of LMP1 in NPC cells, inhibit cell proliferation, metastasis, promote apoptosis and enhance radiosensitivity of NPC through interfering signal pathways which are abnormally activated by LMP1, including NF-κB, AP-1 and STAT3 signal pathways. Together, interfering LMP1 signaling pathway could be a promising strategy to target the malignant phenotypes of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. yanglifang99@hotmail
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhongxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiaoqian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Lun-Quan
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins