Expression of Egr-1 correlates with the transformed phenotype and the type of viral latency in EBV genome positive lymphoid cell lines

• Published in: Oncogene Vol. 13; no. 10; p. 2105
• Main Authors: Calogero, A, Cuomo, L, D'Onofrio, M, de Grazia, U, Spinsanti, P, Mercola, D, Faggioni, A, Frati, L, Adamson, E D, Ragona, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 21-11-1996
• Subjects: B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - virology; Cell Division; Cell Line, Transformed; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Early Growth Response Protein 1; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Herpesviridae Infections - metabolism; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Human - physiology; Humans; Immediate-Early Proteins; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphoma, B-Cell - genetics; Lymphoma, B-Cell - metabolism; Phenotype; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Virus Latency
• ISSN: 0950-9232

In this paper we have investigated the role of Egr-1 in B cell growth regulation by examining the gene expression in a panel of B cell lines, including both EBV genome negative and EBV carrying cell lines. Egr-1 expression correlates with the cellular phenotype and the specific pattern of viral latency established within the individual cell lines. Thus, constitutive activation of Egr-1 gene is invariably associated with unrestricted expression of viral latent genes in all group III EBV genome carrying cell lines. In contrast, Egr-1 expression is abrogated in group I Burkitt tumor cells, irrespective of the EBV genome carrying status. Activated viral gene expression associated with phenotypic conversion of group I cell lines in to group II or III restores the Egr-1 gene expression. Several forms of EGR-1 protein are found within the different groups of cell lines, and the binding activity to DNA consensus sequences was investigated. Finally, time course analysis of Egr-1 expression during the early steps of EBV infection in vitro demonstrated that Egr-1 is upregulated within minutes from the initial interaction with the B lymphocyte.