Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). More than 50 genomic regions have been associated with MS susceptibility and vitamin D status also influences the risk of this complex disease. However, how these factors interact in disease causation is unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) binding in lymp...

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2), a direct transcriptional activator of viral and cellular genes, is required for EBV-induced B-cell transformation. The functional role of conserved regions within the amino terminus of the protein preceding the poly-proline region has yet to be fully characterized. Thus, we tested whether the EBNA2 amino-terminal 30 amino acid residues, contai...

Recently, a new class of extrachromosomal circular DNA, called microDNA, was identified. They are on average 100 to 400 bp long and are derived from unique non-repetitive genomic regions with high gene density. MicroDNAs are thought to arise from DNA breaks associated with RNA metabolism or replication slippage. Given the paucity of information on this entirely novel phenomenon, we aimed to get...

RBP, a transcriptional repressor, is intricately involved in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation of human B cells. The EBV nuclear proteins EBNA-2, -3, -4 and -6 all utilize RBP to regulate the transcription of both cellular and viral genes. This study investigates the isoforms of the RBP protein in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells and in EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Two-d...

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) are etiologically related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and malignant NPC cells have consistent although heterogeneous expression of the EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). LMP1 trafficking and signaling require its incorporation into membrane rafts. Conversely, raft environment is likely to modulate LMP1 activity. In order to investigate NPC-specific raft p...

ICF (immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability and facial anomalies) is a recessive disease caused by mutations in the DNA methyltransferase 3B gene (DNMT3B). Patients have immunodeficiency, chromosome 1 (Chr1) and Chr16 pericentromeric anomalies in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes, a small decrease in overall genomic 5-methylcytosine levels and much hypomethylation of Chr1 and Chr16 juxta...

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection converts resting human B cells into permanently proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). The Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) plays a key role in this process. It preferentially binds to B cell enhancers and establishes a specific viral and cellular gene expression program in LCLs. The cellular DNA binding factor CBF1/CSL serves as a sequenc...

During Epstein-Barr virus latent infection of B lymphocytes in vitro, six viral nuclear antigens (EBNAs) are expressed from one of two promoters, Cp or Wp, whose activities are mutually exclusive. Upon infection, Wp is initially active, followed by a switch to Cp for the duration of latency. In this study, the region upstream of Cp was analyzed for the presence of cis elements involved in regul...

The sequence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and B lymphocyte changes in the 3 days following acute infection was analyzed. By 16 hr the average infected lymphocyte had 1 EBV episome. Nuclear protein-2 (EBNA-2) and EBNA-leader protein (-LP) were detected by 12 hr, and by 32 hr were at the levels of stable EBV infection in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). At 12 hr, all EBNA-LP and EBNA-2 RNAs were ...

Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and natural killer cells play a major role in the immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In X-linked lymphoproliferative (XLP) disease, a severe immunodeficiency, immunodysregulatory phenomena are observed following EBV infection, suggesting that defects exist in these effector populations. The gene defective in XLP is SAP (signaling lymphocytic activati...