EBV BMRF-2 facilitates cell-to-cell spread of virus within polarized oral epithelial cells.

We previously reported that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BMRF-2 protein plays an important role in EBV infection of polarized oral epithelial cells by interacting with beta1 and alphav family integrins. Here we show that infection of polarized oral epithelial cells with B27-BMRF-2(low) recombinant virus, expressing a low level of BMRF-2, resulted in significantly smaller plaques compared with infection by parental B95-8 virus. BMRF-2 localized in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and basolateral sorting vesicles and was transported to the basolateral membranes of polarized epithelial cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus BMRF-2 protein facilitates virus attachment to oral epithelial cells.

We previously reported that BMRF-2, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein, binds to beta1 family integrins and is important for EBV infection of polarized oral epithelial cells. To further study the functions of BMRF-2, we constructed a recombinant EBV that lacks BMRF-2 expression by homologous recombination in B95-8 cells. We found that lack of BMRF-2 resulted in about 50% reduction of EBV attachment to oral epithelial cells, but not to B lymphocytes, suggesting that BMRF-2 is critical for EBV infection in oral epithelial cells, but not in B lymphocytes.

Oxidation of methionine 63 and 83 regulates the effect of S100A9 on the migration of neutrophils in vitro.

The calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9 and their heterocomplex calprotectin are abundant cytosolic constituents in human neutrophils, constitutively expressed by mucosal epithelium and in association with inflammation by epidermal keratinocytes. S100A8 and S100A9 are pleiotropic proteins, which partake in the regulation of leukocyte migration. This study was designed to investigate the effect of S100A9 on neutrophil migration and to explore the mechanisms that regulate this effect.

S100A8 triggers oxidation-sensitive repulsion of neutrophils.

The inflammatory response to tissue injury is a multi-faceted process. During this process, neutrophils migrate in the extravascular spaces, directed to the site of injury by chemical gradients generated by chemotactic molecules. S100A8, a protein associated with a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, is heavily over-expressed in association with inflammation.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of human papillomavirus16-transformed foreskin keratinocyte cell line 16-MT.

Anogenital cancers are closely associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV-infected individuals, particularly those with high-grade dysplasias, are at increased risk for cervical and anal cancers. Although genomic instability has been documented in HPV-infected keratinocytes, the full spectrum of genetic changes in HPV-associated lesions has not been fully defined. To address this, we examined an HPV16-transformed foreskin keratinocyte cell line, 16-MT, by GTG-banding, spectral karyotyping (SKY), and array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH); these analyses revealed multiple numerical, complex, and cryptic chromosome rearrangements.

Inhibition of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 phosphorylation by the S100 MRP-8/14 protein complex.

The human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 is a major viral oncoprotein that is phosphorylated by casein kinase II (CKII). Two S100 family calcium-binding proteins, macrophage inhibitory-related factor protein 8 (MRP-8) and MRP-14, form a protein complex, MRP-8/14, that inactivates CKII. The MRP-8/14 protein complex may inhibit CKII-mediated E7 phosphorylation and therefore may alter its interaction with cellular ligands and reduce E7 oncogenic activity.

Epstein-Barr virus infection of polarized tongue and nasopharyngeal epithelial cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) initially enters the body through the oropharyngeal mucosa and subsequently infects B lymphocytes through their CD21 (CR2) complement receptor. Mechanisms of EBV entry into and release from epithelial cells are poorly understood. To study EBV infection in mucosal oropharyngeal epithelial cells, we established human polarized tongue and pharyngeal epithelial cells in culture.

Evidence for trafficking of Epstein-Barr virus strains between hairy leukoplakia and peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Hairy leukoplakia (HL), an epithelial lesion found on the side of the tongue in immunocompromised individuals, is characterized by high-level replication of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple EBV strains. The source of these strains and their relationship to peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) strains has not previously been characterized. Using matched pairs of HL scrapings and PBL from 16 HIV-positive men, variation in EBV strain identity was characterized by detection of a 30 nucleotide deletion of the EBV latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 gene, variation in the LMP-1 repeat region and typing for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-2.

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus BMRF-2 and BDLF-3 genes in hairy leukoplakia.

The high level of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication found in hairy leukoplakia (HL) provides a unique opportunity to study EBV expression in the oral epithelium. Screening of a cDNA library from an HL biopsy revealed expression of two genes not previously described in vivo: BMRF-2 and BDLF-3. Sequence analysis of the cDNAs demonstrated several nucleotide changes from the B95-8 sequence.

Sequence variation of latent membrane protein-1 of Epstein-Barr virus strains associated with hairy leukoplakia.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 is expressed in hairy leukoplakia (HL), but data on LMP-1 sequence variation of HL isolates are limited. Variation in the LMP-1 repeat region and presence of a 30-nt deletion were studied using DNA scrapings from 28 HL lesions. cDNAs from 3 different HL isolates were sequenced, 2 from lymphocyte cell lines (LCLs) generated using HL biopsy material.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer.

Forty anal paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 24 subjects were studied for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33, herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus DNA by using the polymerase chain reaction. These tissues ranged from histologically normal to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. HPV DNA was detected in the invasive anal cancer tissues of 11 of 13 subjects.

HLA-DR expression by adrenocortical cells of the zona reticularis: structural and allotypic characterization.

We previously reported that human adrenocortical cells in the zona reticularis of normal glands express antigenic determinants recognized by HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). In the present study, it is shown that these adrenocortical HLA-DR determinants are present on glycoproteins having similar structural characteristics, regarding subunit composition and molecular weight, to those of HLA-DR molecules present on immunocomponent cells. Furthermore, adrenocortical HLA-DR molecules include serologically-defined genetically-appropriate allotypic specificities, detectable by immunostainings with both HLA-DR human alloantisera and MoAbs against polymorphic HLA-DR determinants.