Malignant transformation of B lymphoma cell line BJAB by Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs

EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) are non-polyadenylated and abundantly transc ribed RNAs, whose functions have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we re port that the EBV-negative B lymphoma cell line, BJAB, was rendered more ma lignant and resistant to apoptosis by EBERs, EBER-transfected cells exhibit ed enhanced growth potential in SCID mice as well as in soft agar, and show ed resistance to apoptotic stimuli in comparison with the vector control. E BERs inhibited the activity of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein ki nase, PKR, which is reputed to art as a tumor-suppressor. These results sug gest that EBERs play an important role in the pathogenesis of EBV-associate d malignancies through the inhibition of PKR, (C) 2000 Federation of Europe an Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.