EBV-encoded LMP1 regulates Op18/stathmin signaling pathway by cdc2 mediation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Oncoprotein 18/stathmin (Op18/stathmin) plays a crucial role in maintaining cell biological characteristics by regulating microtubule dynamics, especially entry into mitosis; phosphorylated Op18/stathmin promotes microtubule polymerization to form the mitotic spindle, which is essential for chromosome segregation and cell division. Cdc2 is a critical kinase in starting M phase events in cell-cycle progression and is a positive regulator of the cell cycle. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded oncogenic protein that is able to induce carcinogenesis via various signaling pathways. This study focused on regulation by LMP1 of Op18/stathmin signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and showed that LMP1 regulates Op18/stathmin signaling through cdc2 mediation, LMP1 upregulates cdc2 kinase activity, and Op18/stathmin phosphorylation promotes the interaction of cdc2 with Op18/stathmin and microtubule polymerization during mitosis, and inhibition of LMP1 expression attenuates the interaction of cdc2 and Op18/stathmin and promotes microtubule depolymerization. These results reveal a new pathway via which LMP1 regulates Op18/stathmin signaling by cdc2 mediation; this new signaling pathway not only perfects the LMP1 regulation network but also elucidates the molecular mechanism of LMP1 that leads to carcinogenesis.