Two Epstein-Barr virus-associated DNA polymerase activities

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded dUTPase and chronic restraint induce impaired learning and memory and sickness responses

Most adult humans have been infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and carry the latent virus. The EBV genome codes for several proteins that form an early antigen complex important for viral replication; one of these proteins is deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase). The EBV-encoded dUTPase can induce sickness responses in mice. Because stress can increase latent virus reactivation, we hypothesized that chronic restraint would exacerbate sickness behaviors elicited by EBV-encoded dUTPase. Male Swiss-Webster mice were injected daily for 15 days with either saline or EBV-encoded dUTPase. Additionally, half of the mice from each condition were either restrained for 3h daily or left undisturbed. Restraint stress impaired learning and memory in the passive avoidance chamber; impaired learning and memory was due to EBV-encoded dUTPase injected into restrained mice. EBV-encoded dUTPase induced sickness responses and restraint stress interacts with EBV-encoded dUTPase to exacerbate the sickness response. These data support a role for EBV-encoded dUTPase and restraint stress in altering the pathophysiology of EBV independent of viral replication.

EBV-encoded dUTPase induces immune dysregulation: Implications for the pathophysiology of EBV-associated disease

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encodes for several enzymes that are involved in viral DNA replication. There is evidence that some viral proteins, by themselves, can induce immune dysregulation that may contribute to the pathophysiology of the virus infection. In this study, we focused on the EBV-encoded deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) and present the first evidence that the dUTPase is able to induce immune dysregulation in vitro as demonstrated by the inhibition of the replication of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the upregulation of several proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-10 produced by unstimulated PBMCs treated with purified EBV-encoded dUTPase. Depletion of CD14-positive cells (monocytes) eliminated the cytokine profile induced by EBV dUTPase treatment. The data support the hypothesis that at least one protein of the EBV early antigen complex can induce immune dysregulation and may be involved in the pathophysiology of EBV-associated disease.

Epstein-Barr virus-encoded dUTPase modulates immune function and induces sickness behavior in mice

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM). In addition, latent infections with EBV are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL). Antibodies to several EBV-encoded early antigens (EA) are often observed in patients with NPC and BL, however, the role of EBV-encoded proteins in the etiology of these and other EBV-associated diseases is not completely understood. The EA complex encodes for at least six different viral enzymes including deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase). dUTPase has recently been shown to modulate activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro (unpublished data). Therefore, these studies were designed to test whether dUTPase would modulate immune function in an in vivo model. Mice were injected with purified EBV dUTPase, and baseline immune function and sickness behaviors were measured. EBV dUTPase treatment inhibited replication of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes obtained from treated mice. These lymphocytes were also less able to synthesize interferon-gamma after re-stimulation. In addition, treatment with dUTPase induced sickness behaviors. For example, as compared to control animals, dUTPase-treated animals lost body mass, had elevated body temperature, and displayed diminished locomotor activity. These data suggest that individual viral proteins may play a role in the pathophysiology of EBV associated disease.

Serological Responses of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma to an N-Terminal Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Polymerase Protein Expressed in Prokaryotic Cells

A 1.7-kb cDNA clone, pGEM-cDP, was isolated from a cDNA library of IUdR-induced p3HR1 cells. It contains the upstream nucleotide sequence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA polymerase gene from 156,859 to 155,088, and was subcloned into expression vector pET3cp* by the polymerase chain reaction, giving the plasmid pDP1. Using a T7 RNA polymerase expression system, a 77-kD polypeptide was produced from pDP1 in Escherichia coli and specific hyperimmune serum was generated in mice. The truncated EBV DNA polymerase was shown to possess the authentic antigenicity by an indirect immunofluorescence assay and by immunoblotting using EBV-containing cells as antigens. Serum from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and healthy donors was examined for antibodies against the 77-kD polypeptide by Western blot analyses and ELISAs. About 70% NPC patients were positive, while less than 15% of healthy persons showed weak reactivities in ELISAs. Copyright 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel

Characterization of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase induced by human cytomegalovirus infection

Infection of human diploid embryonic lung (MRC5) cells by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), strain AD169, increased the activity of a key enzyme in the synthesis of polyamines: S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.50). The initial peak of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity occurred about 15 h postinfection. S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was purified using a highly specific affinity chromatography step from HCMV-infected and control uninfected MRC5 cells. No difference was found between the two enzymes in their stability to heat or effect of pH on activity. Both enzymes were activated only by putrescine. The appKm for S-adenosylmethionine for the virus-induced enzyme was 1.7 times higher than the appKm for the control enzyme. The most dramatic difference observed was in the effect of high salt concentration on enzyme activity. S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from HCMV-infected cells was unaffected by 0.8 M NaCl, whereas the enzyme from uninfected cells was inhibited by 50% at 0.45 M NaCl and was significantly inhibited at a concentration of 0.8 M NaCl. Thus, different forms of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase probably exist in infected and uninfected MRC5 cells.

Characterization of 3'-to 5'-exonuclease activity associated with Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA polymerase mediates viral DNA replication during the lytic phase of the EB virus life cycle. In order to characterize its enzymatic activities EBV DNA polymerase was purified more than 1200-fold from chemically induced B95-8 cells. One polypeptide with molecular weight of 110,000 corresponded to the predicted EBV DNA polymerase, whereas the other polypeptides did not. A 3'-to-5' exonuclease activity was copurified with the EBV DNA polymerase through the course of the purification. Unlike HSV DNA DNA polymerase, 5'-to-3' exonuclease activity was not associated with the EBV DNA polymerase on the final step chromatography of single-stranded DNA agarose column. The associated 3'-to-5' exonuclease activity was stimulated by ammonium sulfate like the polymerase activity. It exhibited DNA-dependent nucleotide turnover activity and preferentially excised a terminal mismatched nucleotide on hybridized polynucleotides compared to the correctly paired substrate, indicating that the 3'-to-5' exonuclease may play a role in proofreading in the polymerization process.

Demonstration of the human herpesvirus 6-induced DNA polymerase and DNase

Infection of HSB-2 cells with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) results in an approximately 51-fold increase in the level of DNA polymerase activity and a 4.44-fold increase in the level of DNase activity when compared to mock-infected cells. There was no increase in thymidine kinase, uracil-DNA glycosylase, or deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase activities in the infected cells. The HHV6-induced DNase and DNA polymerase activities could be distinguished from their normal cellular counterparts on the basis of immunological specificities and in the case of DNA polymerase based upon differences in electrophoretic migration. Serological studies also demonstrated reactivity of the antisera not only for HHV6 but also for Epstein-Barr virus.

Maintenance of growth transformation with Epstein-Barr virus is mediated by secretion of autocrine growth factors in two serum-free B-cell lines

The characteristics of two tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) B-cell lines (sfBIT and sfBT) growth-transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that proliferate continuously in serum-free medium are described. sfBIT was established by selecting cells for growth in RPMI 1640 supplemented with insulin, transferrin, and selenium (J. E. Shaw, R. G. Petit, and K. Leung, J. Virol. 61:4033-4037, 1987). sfBT, a subline of sfBIT cells reported here for the first time, required transferrin as the only protein supplement for continuous growth in RPMI 1640. Growth of sfBT cells was linear with human transferrin at 10(-2) to 10 micrograms/ml. Transferrin at 5 micrograms/ml yielded a culture density of 5 X 10(5) to 1 X 10(6) cells per ml, a cell doubling time of 2 to 3 days, and a culture viability greater than 95%. sfBIT and sfBT cells released transforming virus during continuous growth in serum-free culture medium without EBV-inducing agents. The spent medium of both serum-free lines supported cell growth at low culture density (1 x 10(4) to 5 X 10(4) cells per ml), but growth was arrested at low culture density with fresh serum-free medium. A procedure to measure growth-promoting activity (GPA) was established, and it revealed that the GPA of spent medium was greater than that of fresh medium for both serum-free cell lines. When fresh and spent media were dialyzed (molecular weight cutoff, 3,500) and subsequently concentrated by lyophilization, only the GPA of spent medium increased. We conclude that maintenance of growth transformation of tamarin cells latently infected with EBV is mediated by growth factors that are entirely autocrine in origin.

Epstein-Barr virus-specific DNA polymerase in virus-nonproducer Raji cells

Virus-nonproducer Raji cells, when induced to early antigen synthesis by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and sodium butyrate, showed an increase in DNA polymerase activity. This enzyme has the characteristics of a typical Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase with regard to chromatographical pattern and biological properties: it is eluted from DEAE-cellulose at 0.08 M NaCl, has a high salt resistance, is sensitive to phosphonoacetic acid and phosphonoformate, and shows a substrate preference for poly(dC)-oligo(dG12-18). The resistance of Epstein-Barr virus polymerase activity to aphidicolin is a property distinct from that of HSV DNA polymerase. Viral DNA polymerase activity increases in the absence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA replication, indicating that this enzyme is an early viral protein.

Induction of a deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase activity in Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells

Superinfection of Raji cells with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or chemical induction of HR-1 cells with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) results in the induction of a deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) which is not observed in mock-treated cells or TPA-treated EBV genome-negative BJAB cells. The EBV-induced dUTPase could be distinguished from the host dUTPase based upon differences in their migration in polyacrylamide gels and sensitivity to the 5-mercurithioguanosine derivitive of dUTP. The expression of the EBV-specified dUTPase is prevented by phosphonoacetic acid indicating that its expression is dependent upon EBV-DNA replication.

Epstein-Barr virus induces a unique pyrimidine deoxynucleoside kinase activity in superinfected and virus-producer B cell lines

Epstein-Barr (EB) virus induces a new pyrimidine deoxynucleoside kinase [thymidine kinase (dTk)] activity in Raji B lymphocyte cells after superinfection. This dTk activity is also present in small amounts in the HR-1 virus-producer cell line and in larger amounts in the B95-8 virus-producer line. The dTk activity induced by EB virus coelutes from DEAE-cellulose columns with deoxycytidine kinase (dCk) activity and elutes as a broad peak well separated from the large peaks of cellular dTk and dCk activities. This EB virus-induced pyrimidine deoxynucleoside kinase activity from HR-1 cells differs from cellular kinases in most basic biochemical properties but shares certain properties with the herpes simplex virus dTk.

Characterization of human cytomegalovirus-induced DNA polymerase and the associated 3'-to-5', exonuclease

A DNA polymerase activity induced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was separated from host cell DNA polymerase and purified by phosphocellulose and DNA-cellulose column chromatography. The DNA polymerase activity was strongly inhibited by phosphonoacetic acid, aphidicolin, araATP, and N-ethylmaleimide, but it was resistant to 2',3'-dideoxyTTP. The sensitivity of HCMV-induced DNA polymerase to these reagents resembles that of host cell DNA polymerase alpha. However, HCMV-induced DNA polymerase activity was stimulated several fold by 100 mM ammonium sulfate, by which DNA polymerase alpha activity was strongly inhibited. Furthermore, it was found that a 3'-to-5' exonuclease activity was tightly associated with the HCMV-induced DNA polymerase. The exonuclease was also stimulated by ammonium sulfate, was inhibited by phosphoacetic acid, and it preferred single-stranded DNA as a substrate. The results suggest that the 3'-to-5' exonuclease may play a role in proofreading in the polymerization process as an integral part of the HCMV-induced DNA polymerase.

Complex forms of mitochondrial DNA in human B cells transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

Human lymphocytes and lymphoid cell lines were analyzed for the presence of complex forms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by electron microscopy. A high frequency (9%-14.5%) of catenated dimers, circular dimers, or oligomers were found in samples from Epstein-Barr-virus-(EBV) transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines. These complex forms of mtDNA were present in much lower frequencies in lymphocytes isolated from donor blood (1.3%-4.6%). Similar low frequencies were found with primary fibroblasts (1.1%) or freshly isolated monkey liver cells (2.1%). Samples from cultures of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cell lines of EBV-positive or -negative origin contained intermediate (5%-7%) frequencies of complex forms of mtDNA.

Characterization of the Epstein-Barr virion-associated DNA polymerase as isolated from superinfected and drug-stimulated cells

We reported previously that Epstein-Barr (EB) virions and detergent-treated nucleocapsids co-purified with significant amounts of DNA polymerase activity that did not resemble other known host or viral polymerases. We report here that this species of DNA polymerase activity is present at early times after infection in lymphocytes abortively lytically infected (superinfected) with EB virus. However, studies with [35S]methionine labeling suggest de novo synthesis of enzyme has not occurred. Conversely, drug-stimulated lymphocytes that synthesize EB viral late proteins and virions contain this species of polymerase to the virtual exclusion of all others. This EB viral polymerase shows a marked preference for nicked and gapped double-stranded rather than primed single-stranded DNA templates. Its processiveness as measured on primed theta X174 phage DNA template is lower than that of lymphocyte beta polymerase. The data reported here are consistent with the hypothesis that the EB virion-associated DNA polymerase is synthesized at late times in the viral life cycle as are other structural proteins but it plays an important role early after viral infection. It is known that mature herpes virion DNA (including that of EB virus) is nicked and gapped and we propose that virion polymerase repairs the viral DNA at an early stage in infection before viral DNA replication begins.

DNA-polymerase induced by Herpesvirus papio (HVP) in cells of lymphoblastoid cultures derived from lymphomatous baboons. Report V

A new DNA-polymerase was found in the cells of suspension lymphoblastoid cultures which produce lymphotropic baboon herpesvirus (HVP). This enzyme was isolated in a partially purified form. Some of its properties vary from those of other cellular DNA-polymerases. HVP-induced DNA-polymerase has a molecule weight of 160,000 and sedimentation coefficient of about 8 S. The enzyme is resistant to high salt concentration and N-ethylmaleimide, but it is very sensitive to phosphonoacetate. It effectively copies "activated" DNA and synthetic deoxyribohomopolymers. Attempts to reveal the DNA-polymerase activity in HVP virions were unsuccessful.

Deoxyribonuclease activity found in Epstein--Barr virus producing lymphoblastoid cells

A deoxyribonuclease activity from Epstein--Barr (EB) virus producer lymphocyte cell lines which is correlated with viral production and which is not present in virus non-producer or negative lymphocyte cell lines has been purified 220-fold with 20% recovery and characterized. This nuclease copurifies through diethylaminoethylcellulose column chromatography with the EB virus induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase in EB virus producer cells which was recently reported by this laboratory, but elutes as a separate peak of activity upon phosphocellulose chromatography. This nuclease activity has a sedimentation coefficient of 4.0 S, a strong divalent cation requirement, an alkaline pH optimum, and the ability to utilize both native and denatured lymphocyte DNA as substrate, reducing both to monophosphonucleosides.