Open AccessExpression of latent membrane proteins in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes in vitro
Author(s) -
Yuchen Tang,
Chi-Wen Luo,
Ailan Cheng,
Suli Lu,
Jie Xu,
Ting Fu,
Runliang Gan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.727
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1791-3004
pISSN - 1791-2997
DOI - 10.3892/mmr.2014.2313
Subject(s) - lymphoblast , biology , epstein–barr virus , oncogene , in vitro , downregulation and upregulation , transformation (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , lymphocyte , virus , gene , blot , virology , cell culture , cell cycle , immunology , genetics
Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induces activation and proliferation of B lymphocytes. Detection of latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 is used to identify the proliferative ability of B cells. However, changes in the expression levels of the three LMPs during EBV-induced B lymphocyte transformation, have not yet been reported. In the present study, the expression levels of LMP-1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B were compared between EBV-transformed B lymphocytes and paired normal lymphocytes. Seven lymphoblast cell lines were established by EBV infection of normal human lymphocytes in vitro. The expression levels of LMP genes and LMP-1 protein were determined using quantitative (q)PCR and western blotting in lymphoblasts and normal lymphocytes, respectively. The expression of LMP1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B genes was significantly upregulated in EBV-induced lymphoblasts compared with the normal lymphocytes. The LMP-1 protein level was also significantly increased in EBV-transformed B lymphocytes. Expression of LMP1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B genes was significantly upregulated in EBV-induced lymphoblasts, suggesting LMP genes are important in the transformation of human lymphocytes.