The latent gene expression of Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To examine the latent membrane protein 1(LMP1)-DNA sequence in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) and detect mRNA expression of LMP1, EBNA1, EBNA2, and to explore the relationship between EBV infectious status, expression products and NPC carcinogenesis.METHODS: LMP1 DNA was detected in NPC by PCR. Direct sequence was applied to analyze the difference between NPC-LMP1-DNA and B95-8-LMP1-DNA. mRNA expressions of LMP1, EBNA1, EBNA2 in NPC were detected by nested RT-PCR.RESULTS: LMP1 DNA existed in all 47 NPC tissues. Several single nucleotide variations were found between NPC-LMP1-DNA and B95-8-LMP1-DNA. The notable variation was the lost of XhoⅠrestriction site in NPC. Direct sequence showed 30 bp deletion in NPC. The mRNA expressions of LMP1, EBNA1 and EBNA2 in NPC were 76.6%, 80.0% and 74.5% respectively by nested RT-PCR. The expression of EBNA1 in NPC was promoted by Q promoter while the expression of EBNA1 in B95-8 was promoted by C promoter.CONCLUSION: The way of EBV involved in NPC is complex. Latent genes such as LMP1, EBNA1 and EBNA2 as well as early lytic gene BARF1 may all play certain roles in NPC carcinogenesis.