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

Abstract

An epithelial tumor cell line was recently established from a biopsy specimen of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and designated HONE-I. Uncloned (parental) HONE-I and HONE-I clone (C)-40 cells were found to contain latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the latent EBV genome in HONE-I 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-I 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-I C-40 cells with IUdR. The HONE-I 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.

Multiple pathways for Epstein‐Barr virus episome loss from nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…In the late 1980s, the Glaser laboratory (in collaboration with Dr. Kaitai Yao) prepared explant cultures from primary NPC biopsies. Detailed characterization of 2 such NPC cell lines derived from 2 separate biopsies (HNE‐1 and HONE‐1) were published 11–13. A second NPC cell line (C666‐1) containing a stable NPC genome has now been published 35…”

“…Our laboratory, in collaboration with Dr. Kaitai Yao and his group at the Hunan Medical University (Hunan, People's Republic of China) were able to establish an NPC‐derived cell line that contained the EBV genome in a stable manner with the cell genome 11. This cell line, HONE‐1 clone 40, was characterized in previous reports 11–13. As far as we know, this was the first NPC cell line to contain a stable EBV genome for over 40 passages.…”

Norepinephrine Up-regulates the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Tumor Cells

“…HONE-1 cells (clone 40) were established in this laboratory and are epithelial tumor cell lines derived from a biopsy specimen of an undifferentiated NPC. The initial characterization of HONE-1 cells has previously been described (23)(24)(25). HONE-1 clone 13 and HONE-1 clone 39 cells are clones that were also derived from the parental HONE-1 cells and differ in EBV DNA status.…”

“…[23][24][25]. In this study, we use these cells to examine the ability of norepi to up-regulate the expression of three factors that have roles in the progression of NPC tumors (i.e., MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF).…”

Epstein-Barr virus and gastric carcinoma

“…Apart from the P3HR-1 cell line, EA inducing virus has been reported in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma-KT cell line 57 and a nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line. 58 The former is a nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line obtained by fusing primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells with an epithelial cell line derived from a human adenoid tissue. EA inducing virus might therefore be more prevalent in epithelial tissues.…”