Expression of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial tumor cell line.

An epithelial tumor cell line was recently established from a biopsy specimen of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and designated HONE-I. Uncloned (parental) HONE-I and HONE-I clone (C)-40 cells were found to contain latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the latent EBV genome in HONE-I C-40 cells has been examined. It was possible to detect a small percentage of cells spontaneously synthesizing EBV early antigen (EA) and virus capsid antigen (VCA) by immunofluorescence (IF). In addition, the EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA-I and EBNA-2), as well as the EBV latent membrane protein (LMP) were detected in the HONE-I cells. Attempts were made to induce the latent EBV genome in these cells with iododeoxyuridine (IUdR). We observed a significant increase in the number of EA/VCA-positive cells, an increase in EBV DNA, the synthesis of virus particles, and the rescue of infectious virus after treatment of HONE-I C-40 cells with IUdR. The HONE-I C-40 cells should facilitate studies of the expression and regulation of the EBV genome in NPC epithelial tumor cells, which have not previously been available.