CD99 expression is positively regulated by Sp1 and is negatively regulated by Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 through nuclear factor-κB

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–encoded latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1) is highly expressed in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS) cells from patients with EBV-associated Hodgkin disease. It was previously demonstrated that CD99 can be negatively regulated by LMP1 at the transcriptional level, and the decreased expression of CD99 in a B lymphocyte cell line generates H-RS–like cells. In this study, detailed dissection of the CD99 promoter region was performed to search regulatory factor(s) involved in the expression of the gene. Using various mutant constructs containing deletions in the promoter region, it was revealed that the maximal promoter activity was retained on 5′-deletion to the position −137 from the transcriptional initiation site. Despite the presence of multiple putative Sp1-binding sites in the promoter region, the site located at −95 contributes heavily as a positive cis -acting element to its basal promoter activity. However, on examination of the involvement of the positive-acting Sp1-binding site of the promoter for the repressive activity of LMP1, it appeared to be dispensable. Instead, the repressive effect was mapped to the nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation domains in the cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus of LMP1 despite the absence of the NF-κB consensus sequences in the CD99 promoter region. Furthermore, the decreased CD99 promoter activity by LMP1 was markedly restored when NF-κB activity was inhibited. Taken together, these data suggest that Sp1 activates, whereas LMP1 represses, transcription from the CD99 promoter through the NF-κB signaling pathway, and they might aid in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis in EBV-positive Hodgkin disease.