Suppression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein-1 by RNA interference inhibits the metastatic potential of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Feb 27;315(1):212-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.045.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic tumor characterized by close association with EBV. Of the EBV-encoded products, latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) is thought to be the only oncoprotein playing an essential role in cell transformation as well as tumor metastasis. In this study, we tested the effect of suppressing LMP-1 by RNA interference (RNAi) on the proliferative and metastatic potentials of an EBV-positive NPC cell line, C666. We showed that stably suppressing LMP-1 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmid significantly altered cell motility, substratum adhesion, and transmembrane invasion ability. However, it has little effect on the rate of cell growth and cell cycle control. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of RNAi in suppressing LMP-1, supporting an important role of LMP-1 in NPC metastasis, and suggested a potential application of RNAi-mediated therapeutic strategy for EBV-related NPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / virology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / genetics
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA Interference / physiology*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • RNA