Morphological transformation of human keratinocytes expressing the LMP gene of Epstein-Barr virus

Article Abstract:

The Epstein-Barr virus, a herpesvirus, is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A protein of the Epstein-Barr virus, known as the latent membrane protein (LMP), is present in 65 percent of the cases of NPC tumors examined. However, the role of the virus in the development of the cancer is not known. Thus far, a system has not been available to study NPC cells outside of the body, in tissue culture. A cell line has been developed from keratinocytes, a cell from the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), which synthesizes keratin, a fibrous, sulfur-containing protein. Foreign genes can be introduced into these cells and the genes can express the protein molecules for which they code. When the LMP gene was added to the keratinocyte cell line, the cells became cancerous-like. The cells changed from a flat and polygonal shape to a spindle-shape and formed multiple layers on top of one another. The expression of keratin was reduced, which indicates that the cells were unable to differentiate (mature). Therefore, a tissue-culture system was devised where the effects of various genes which cause abnormal, cancerous growth of human epithelium cells could be studied. This study shows that the LMP gene of the Epstein-Barr virus can cause transformation of cells to acquire cancer-like characteristics and provides evidence for the role of the Epstein-Barr virus and the LMP protein in NPC. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Epithelial cells, Tissue culture, Oncogenic viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, Nose cancer, Epstein-Barr virus diseases

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Adhesion of epidermal Langerhans cells to keratinocytes mediated by E-cadherin

Article Abstract:

Cadherins may have important functions in the interactions of Langerhans cells (LC) and epithelia. LC have been shown to adhere to keratinocytes (KC) via the expression of E-cadherin. LC which have been exposed to antigens migrate from skin to lymph nodes and exhibit a phenotypic and functional similarity to cultured LC. Cultured LC have been shown to express a lower level of E-cadherin and have a lower affinity for KC than other LC. Thus, cadherins seem to have a role in LC trafficking which should be explored further.

Immune response, Langerhans cells

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The tale of the great cuckoo egg

Article Abstract:

In the 1950s viruses that could induce tumours in mammals were isolated after years of failed attempts. The oncogene concept that tumour viruses carry cancer genes was based on the slow acting or chronic RNA tumour virus, which it was later found, is the only tumour-virus family not carrying transforming genes. It is the directly acting or acute RNA tumour viruses and DNA tumour viruses that carry transforming oncogenes.

Observations, Viral research, Virus research, Tumors

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