Expression profiling of host genes altered after chemical-induced recurrent Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Seroepidemiological studies imply a correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Phorbol esters, butyrates and N-nitroso compounds are known chemical carcinogens in foodstuffs and cigarettes that have been implicated as risk factors contributing to the development of NPC. We have demonstrated previously that low dose N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG, 0.1 microg/ml) had a synergistic effect with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and sodium butyrate (SB) in enhancing EBV reactivation (Chem Biol Interact 188: 623-634). Since residents of areas with a high risk of NPC are reported to contact with these carcinogens (TPA, SB or nitrosamines) frequently, we sought to determine the consequence of repeated exposure of EBV-harboring nasopharyngeal cells to these carcinogens in a long-term, low dose, repeated manner. An NPC cell line latently infected with EBV, NA, was periodically treated with TPA/SB combined with MNNG for recurrent EBV reactivation. After 10 times of chemically-induced recurrent reactivation of EBV, the expression profile analysis indicates that many carcinogenesis-related genes were altered in recurrent reactivated NA cells when compared to the parental NA cells.

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Fang CY, Huang SY, Wu CC, Hsu HY, Chou SP, Tsai CH, Chang Y, Takada K, Chen JY