Pim kinases are upregulated during Epstein-Barr virus infection and enhance EBNA2 activity

: Rainio EM, Ahlfors H, Carter KL, Ruuska M, Matikainen S, Kieff E, Koskinen PJ

Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

: 2005

: Virology

: VIROLOGY

: 333

: 2

: 201

: 206

: 6

: 0042-6822

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2005.01.001

Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is strongly associated with B-cell proliferative diseases such as Burkitt's lymphoma. Here we show that the oncogenic serine/threonine kinases Pim-1 and Pim-2 enhance the activity of the viral transcriptional activator EBNA2. During EBV infection of primary B-lymphocytes, the mRNA expression levels of pint genes, especially of pim-2, are upregulated and remain elevated in latently infected B-cell lines. Thus, EBV-induced upregulation of Pim kinases and Pim-stimulated EBNA2 transcriptional activity may contribute to the ability of EBV to immortalize B-cells and predispose them to malignant growth. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A28Rainio2005.pdf