Sequences of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-3B gene in a Japanese population with or without EBV-positive lymphoid malignancies.

Abstract

Latent infection antigens of EBV, including EBV nuclear antigens (EBNAs) and latent membrane proteins, are expressed in latently infected and immortalized B cells but work as target antigens for host cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in an HLA class I-restricted manner. Among these latent antigens, the immunodominant CTL epitopes in EBNA3B (EBNA3B 399-408 and EBNA3B 416-424) are well characterized. Mutations and strain differences in these sequences, compared to the prototype A sequence, reduce CTL responses to latently infected B cells. These EBNA3B CTL epitopes in the normal Japanese population and in 2 lymphoid neoplasias, pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) and nasal natural killer-cell lymphoma, were directly sequenced by PCR. Most EBV in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from healthy Japanese donors exhibited the prototype A sequence, with mutations in approximately 20% (3/16). The sequence of EBNA3B CTL epitopes in lymphoma tissue was obtained in 6 PAL cases, and 5 exhibited mutations or strain differences compared to the prototype A sequence. Furthermore, the EBNA3B sequence in PAL tissue was different from that in PBLs of the same patient or 1 of the sequences found in PBLs. However, the EBNA3B gene in nasal lymphoma tissues exhibited predominantly the prototype A sequence. Because PAL cells expressed EBNA3B mRNA, detected by RT-PCR, but nasal lymphoma cells did not, mutations and strain differences of the sequences of EBNA3B CTL epitopes were specific findings in EBNA3B-positive lymphomas.

• Authors: H Kanno, S Nakatsuka, K Iuchi, K Aozasa
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 88 Issue 4 Pg. 626-32 (Nov 15 2000) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11058881 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral
• Epitopes
• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
• lymphocryptovirus nuclear antigen 3B

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antigens, Viral (genetics)
• Asian People (genetics)
• Burkitt Lymphoma
• Epitopes (immunology)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens (genetics)
• Female
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics)
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class I (immunology)
• Humans
• Japan
• Lymphoma (immunology, virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology, virology)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured