Expression of the epstein-barr virus genome in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial tumor cell line

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An epithelial tumor cell line was recently established from a biopsy specimen of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and designated HONE‐1. Uncloned (parental) HONE‐1 and HONE‐1 clone (C)‐40 cells were found to contain latent Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the latent EBV genome in HONE‐1 C‐40 cells has been examined. It was possible to detect a small percentage of cells spontaneously synthesizing EBV early antigen (EA) and virus capsid antigen (VCA) by immunofluorescence (IF). In addition, the EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA‐I and EBNA‐2), as well as the EBV latent membrane protein (LMP) were detected in the HONE‐1 cells. Attempts were made to induce the latent EBV genome in these cells with iododeoxyuridine (IUdR). We observed a significant increase in the number of EA/VCA‐positive cells, an increase in EBV DNA, the synthesis of virus particles, and the rescue of infectious virus after treatment of HONE‐1 C‐40 cells with IUdR. The HONE‐1 C‐40 cells should facilitate studies of the expression and regulation of the EBV genome in NPC epithelial tumor cells, which have not previously been available.