Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the development of a variety of highly metastatic carcinomas, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is essential for B-cell transformation. In this study, we used two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to study the mechanism behind tumor invasion and metastasis. Eight proteins, including Vimentin and Ezrin, were identified from the alteration of expressed proteins in HEK-293 cells responding to LMP1 gene transfection. Vimentin is a major protein of the mesenchymal intermediate filament, which maintains the cytoskeleton conformation. Ezrin is also an essential protein that links the cell membrane to the actin cytoskeleton. The up-regulation of Vimentin and Ezrin in the LMP1 gene-transfected cells suggests that EBV LMP1 is involved in the progression and metastasis of NPC.
