[Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1 oncogene variants in cell lines of different origin].

It is well known that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread infection in the human population. Typically, infection occurs in early childhood without serious consequences for infected people. At the same time, a secondary infection with an additional EBV strain occurs quite often.

Epstein-barr virus latent membrane protein 1 polymorphism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and other oral cavity tumors in Russia.

The genetic structure of EBV LMP1 alleles isolated from tumor, blood, and throat washing samples of 22 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 17 patients with other non-EBV-related tumors of the oral cavity, and 19 blood donors have been studied in representatives of Central Russia and the Republics of Northern Caucasus, regions which are non-endemic for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The analysis of the LMP1 alleles collected revealed that they practically matched previously described LMP1 variants; however, some characteristic features were also detected. In particular, the G212S substitution in LMP1 isolates investigated was not observed at all.

The LMP1 gene isolated from Russian nasopharyngeal carcinoma has no 30-bp deletion.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is tightly linked to the induction of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumour endemic in certain areas of southeast Asia. The LMP1 gene encoded by EBV is a classical oncogene due to its ability to transform rodent fibroblasts. LMP1 is absolutely essential for transformation of B cells by the virus and is one of the few EBV genes found to be expressed in NPC.