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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Establishment of Epstein-Barr Virus Growth-transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines
Published on: November 8, 2011
NF-kappa B inhibition causes spontaneous apoptosis in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cells
E D Cahir-McFarland1, D M Davidson, S L Schauer
1The Channing Laboratory and Department of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
Abstract:
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transforms B lymphocytes into lymphoblastoid cell lines usurping the Notch and tumor necrosis factor receptor pathways to effect transcription including NF-kappaB activation. To determine whether NF-kappaB activity is essential in the growth and survival of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines, a nondegradable IkappaBalpha mutant was expressed under tetracycline regulation. Despite continued Bcl-2 and Bcl-x/L expression, NF-kappaB inhibition induced apoptosis as evidenced by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and hypodiploid DNA content. Both caspase 3 and 8 activation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in apoptotic cells. However, caspase inhibition failed to block apoptosis. These experiments indicate that NF-kappaB inhibitors may be useful in the therapy of EBV-induced cellular proliferation.
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