Objective: To study the effect of EBV latent membrane protein (LMP1) gene isolated from human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line SUNE on the growth of epithelial cells and the role of LMP1 in the genesis of nasopharyngeal carcinomas.
Methods: EBV LMP1 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid was transfected into human embryo kideney epitheial cells. Expression of LMP1 protein in the transfected cells was detected. Dynamic cell growth status, growth rate, ability of colony formation in soft agar and the tumorigenicity of the transfected cells in nude mice were studied.
Results: The LMP1 gene transfected cells grew vigorously and rapidly, lost contact inhibition, formed more colonies in soft agar, developed tumors in nude mice.
Conclusion: LMP1 gene could alter the biological behaviours of epithelial cells, promote cell proliferation and transformation, and endows the transfected cells with growth characteristics like tumor cells.