Expression of latent membrane proteins in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes in vitro

• DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.2313
• Publication Date: 2014-06-10T10:06:46Z
• Authors: YUNLIAN TANG; CHUNYAN LUO; AILAN CHENG; SULI LU; JINHUA XU; TING FU; RUNLIANG GAN
• Keywords: Viral Matrix Proteins; B-Lymphocytes; Herpesvirus 4, Human; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Humans; Cell Line, Transformed; Up-Regulation; 3. Good health

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.