Cells in G2/M phase increased in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line by EBV-LMP1 through activation of NF-κB and AP-1

Although previous studies showed that the principal oncoprotein encoded by Epstein-Barr virus, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), could induce the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in G(2)/M phase increased, little is known about the target molecules and mechanisms. The present study demonstrated that LMP1 could induce the accumulation of p53 protein and upregulate its transactivity in a dose dependent manner, which resulted in the decrease of the kinase activity of cdc2/cyclin B complex and inducing arrest at G2/M phase through the activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 signaling pathways, and the effect of NF-kappaB was more obvious than that of AP-1. This study provided some significant evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms that LMP1 had effects on the surveillance mechanism of cell cycle and promoting the survival of transformed cells and tumorigenesis.