V-val subtype of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 preferentially exists in biopsies of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been suggested to be involved in pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, EBV infection is ubiquitous, whereas NPC occurs with strong geographic and racial distribution. Whether a substrain of EBV contributes to this phenomenon remains uncertain. Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) is one of the most frequently detected EBV proteins in NPC tissues. Based on the polymorphism of amino acids at position 487, EBNA-1 is classified into five subtypes: P-ala, P-thr, V-val, V-leu and V-pro. To examine the relationship between subtypes of EBNA-1 and NPC, we determined the subtypes of EBNA-1 in biopsies of NPC, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), and throat washings (TWs) obtained in endemic and non-endemic areas of NPC within China. The results revealed that V-val was the only subtype detected in NPC tissue, whereas three subtypes of EBNA-1, V-val, P-ala, and P-thr, were detected in PBL and TWs irrespective of origin, and mixed infection of V-val and P-ala was also observed. In addition, the variations of V-val derived from biopsies of NPC were identical to those derived from PBL and TWs in the context of N-terminus and C-terminus of EBNA-1. These facts indicate that a substrain of EBV with V-val subtype of EBNA-1 infects NPC preferentially and a susceptibility to a particular EBV isolate in the nasopharynx may exist during development of NPC.

• Authors: Xiao-Shi Zhang, Hong-He Wang, Li-Fu Hu, Ang Li, Ru-Hua Zhang, Hai-Qiang Mai, Jian-Chuan Xia, Li-Zheng Chen, Yi-Xin Zeng
• Journal: Cancer letters (Cancer Lett) Vol. 211 Issue 1 Pg. 11-8 (Jul 28 2004) ISSN: 0304-3835 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15194212 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Chemical References

• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
• EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1

Topics

• Base Sequence
• Biopsy
• Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens (classification, genetics)
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (genetics, immunology)
• Lymphocytes (virology)
• Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
• Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms (virology)
• Pharynx
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Therapeutic Irrigation