LMP1 signaling and activation of NF-kappaB in LMP1 transgenic mice

Transgenic mice expressing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) under the control of an immunoglobulin heavy-chain promoter and enhancer develop lymphoma at a threefold higher incidence than LMP1-negative mice. In vitro, LMP1 activates numerous signaling pathways including p38, c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and NF-kappaB through interactions with tumor necrosis receptor-associated factors (TRAFs). These pathways are frequently activated in EBV-associated malignancies, although their activation cannot be definitively linked to LMP1 expression in vivo. In this study, interactions between LMP1 and TRAFs and the activation of PI3K/Akt, JNK, p38, and NF-kappaB were examined in LMP1 transgenic mice. LMP1 co-immunoprecipitated with TRAFs 1, 2, and 3. Akt, JNK, and p38 were activated in LMP1-positive and -negative splenocytes as well as LMP1-positive and -negative lymphomas. Multiple forms of NF-kappaB were activated in healthy splenocytes from LMP1 transgenic mice, in contrast to healthy splenocytes from LMP1-negative mice. However, in both LMP1-positive and -negative lymphomas, only the oncogenic NF-kappaB c-Rel, was specifically activated. Similarly to EBV-associated malignancies, p53 protein was detected at high levels in the transgenic lymphomas, although mutations were not detected in the p53 gene. These data indicate that NF-kappaB is activated in LMP1-positive healthy splenocytes; however, NF-kappaB c-Rel is specifically activated in both the transgenic lymphomas and in the rare lymphomas that develop in negative mice. The LMP1-mediated activation of NF-kappaB may contribute to the specific activation of c-Rel and lead to the increased development of lymphoma in the LMP1 transgenic mice.