Open AccessThe role of promoter methylation in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNA expression in EBV-infected B cell lines
Author(s) -
Do Nyun Kim,
Young-Bo Song,
Suk Kyeong Lee
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
experimental and molecular medicine/experimental and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.703
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 2092-6413
pISSN - 1226-3613
DOI - 10.3858/emm.2011.43.7.044
Subject(s) - microrna , epstein–barr virus , biology , methylation , transactivation , promoter , epigenetics , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , dna methylation , virus , cancer research , gene expression , virology , gene , genetics
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNAs (miRNAs) are expressed in EBV-associated tumors and cell lines, but the regulation mechanism of their expression is unclear yet. We investigated whether the expression of EBV miRNAs is epigenetically regulated in EBV-infected B cell lines. The expression of BART miRNAs was inversely related with the methylation level of the BART promoter at both steady-state and following 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment of the cells. The expression of BHRF1 miRNAs also became detectable with the demethylation of Cp/Wp in latency I EBV-infected cell lines. Furthermore, in vitro methylation of the BART and Cp promoters reduced the promoter-driven transactivation. In contrast, tricostatin A had little effect on the expression of EBV miRNA expression as well as on the BART and Cp/Wp promoters. Our results suggest that promoter methylation, but not histone acetylation, plays a role in regulation of the EBV miRNA expression in EBV-infected B cell lines.