HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brink, A A T P Articles by van den Brule, A J C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brink, A A T P Articles by van den Brule, A J C

Activity of the EBNA1 promoter associated with lytic replication (Fp) in Epstein-Barr virus associated disorders

¹ Department of Pathology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
² Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China

Correspondence: Dr van den Brule vandenbrule{at}azvu.nl

Background/Aims—In Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive cell lines that are stably infected, three different promoters are known to direct the transcription of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1). These are located in the BamHI-C, BamHI-Q, and BamHI-F regions of the viral genome (Cp, Qp, and Fp, respectively). Fp is activated upon induction of the viral lytic cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of Fp in EBV associated diseases.

Methods—Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, a qualitative analysis of EBNA1 promoter usage in various EBV associated diseases was performed.

Results—Fp driven transcription was detected in the context of primary infection and/or lytic replication; at least a portion of the Fp driven transcripts encoded EBNA1. Qp driven EBNA1 transcripts were detected in most samples across the range of disorders tested. Cp driven EBNA1 transcripts were detected in the context of immune suppression and in samples containing EBV positive (non-neoplastic) lymphoid cells.

Conclusions—These results confirm the previously proposed "housekeeping" function of the Qp promoter.

Key Words: Epstein-Barr virus • Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 • BamHI-F region