EBNA2 interferes with the germinal center phenotype by downregulating BCL6 and TCL1 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells

J Virol. 2007 Mar;81(5):2274-82. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01822-06. Epub 2006 Dec 6.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma-derived cell lines infected in vitro with a recombinant EBV expressed type II/III latency. High expression of EBNA2 inversely correlated with expression of germinal center (GC)-associated genes, BCL6 and TCL1. The decreased expression of BCL6 appeared to be dose dependent, with almost complete abrogation in highly EBNA2-expressing clones. The role of EBNA2 in negative regulation of these genes was confirmed by transfection and in a hormone-inducible EBNA2 cell system. LMP1 transfection reduced expression of TCL1, but not of BCL6, in DLBCLs. The GC-associated gene repression was at the transcriptional level and CBF1 independent. A decrease in HLA-DR, surface immunoglobulin M, and class II transactivator expression and an increase in CCL3, a BCL6 repression target, was observed in EBNA2-expressing clones. Since BCL6 is indispensable for GC formation and somatic hypermutations (SHM), we suggest that the previously reported lack of SHM seen in EBNA2-expressing GC cells from infectious mononucleosis tonsils could be due to negative regulation of BCL6 by EBNA2. These findings suggest that EBNA2 interferes with the GC phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / genetics
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / virology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / genetics
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Viral
  • Germinal Center / metabolism
  • Germinal Center / virology
  • HLA-DR Antigens / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / virology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / virology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology
  • Models, Biological
  • Phenotype
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Transfection
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • BCL6 protein, human
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • TCL1A protein, human
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • secretory IgM