Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens 3C and 3A maintain lymphoblastoid cell growth by repressing p16INK4A and p14ARF expression.

ABSTRACT: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) and EBNA3A are each essential for EBV conversion of primary human B lymphocytes into continuously proliferating lymphoblast cell lines (LCLs) and for maintaining LCL growth. We now find that EBNA3C and EBNA3A's essential roles are to repress p16(INK4A) and p14(ARF). In the absence of EBNA3C or EBNA3A, p16(INK4A) and p14(ARF) expression increased and cell growth ceased. EBNA3C inactivation did not alter p16(INK4A) promoter CpG methylation, but reduced already low H3K27me3, relative to resting B cells, and increased H3K4me3 and H3-acetylation, linking EBNA3C inactivation to histone modifications associated with increased transcription. Importantly, knockdown of p16(INK4A) or p14(ARF) partially rescued LCLs from EBNA3C or EBNA3A inactivatio

SUBMITTER: Maruo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3033265 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature