Epstein-Barr virus LMP2A increases IL-10 production in mitogen-stimulated primary B-cells and B-cell lymphomas

J Gen Virol. 2013 May;94(Pt 5):1127-1133. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.049221-0. Epub 2013 Jan 9.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latently infected B-cells are the precursors of EBV-associated malignancies. EBV-infection induces the production of pro-survival and anti-inflammatory cytokines that may be important in the transition between latency and malignancy. One EBV protein, LMP2A, can be detected in both latently infected resting B-cells and in EBV-associated malignancies. Therefore, we tested the ability of LMP2A to influence cytokine production using both LMP2A-Tg primary B-cells and LMP2A-expressing B-cell lines. Our data demonstrate that LMP2A does not globally alter B-cell-produced cytokine levels, but specifically targets IL-10. Additional studies using ELISA and real-time-RT-PCR confirm that LMP2A utilizes PI3-kinase to increase IL-10 levels. Finally, the data demonstrate that LMP2A-expressing B-cell lines are more dependent on IL-10 for survival in comparison to LMP2A-negative B-cell lines. These data identify a novel function of LMP2A in the alteration of a cytokine that is important for both tumour survival and anti-tumour responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / metabolism
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / immunology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / virology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitogens / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Latency

Substances

  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Mitogens
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Interleukin-10
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase