Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Antioxidant Enzyme Expression after Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Cycle Induction in Raji Cell Line

In a previous study, we have described oxidative stress during Epstein–Barr virus lytic cycle induction. Oxidative stress was evidenced by the observed high MDA levels and the decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes. We hypothesised that the lower activities of the antioxidant enzymes decrease were the result of either the excessive production of reactive oxygen radical species (ROS) or a negative regulation of the antioxidant enzyme gene expressions. In an attempt to clarify this situation, EBV lytic cycle was induced in Raji cell line by a non-stressing dose of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. BZLF-1, superoxide dismutase, and catalase gene expressions were then analysed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, simultaneously at a kinetic of 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. ROS production was evaluated by chemiluminescence. A study was conducted to establish whether ROS production, BZLF-1, and the expression of antioxidant genes were inter-correlated. Induction of the lytic cycle resulted in increased expressions of the genes of superoxide dismutase and catalase, which began at 24 h (p < 0.05) and reached a peak at 48 h (p < 0.05). Significant increases of the ROS levels were observed in TPA-treated Raji cell line at 12 h, as compared with untreated cells, reaching a peak at 48 h after EBV lytic cycle induction. ROS production correlates positively with BZLF-1, SOD, and CAT gene expressions (p < 0.05; r = 0.913, r = 0.978, and r = 0.955, respectively). A positive correlation was also observed between BZLF-1 and antioxidant gene expressions (p < 0.05; r = 0.961 and r = 0.987, respectively). In conclusion, the observed increases of the SOD and CAT gene expressions eliminate the hypothesis of a repression of the respective genes during the induction of the lytic cycle. On the other hand, the observed direct correlation between the BZLF-1 gene expression and the ROS production is indicative of a role of this gene in oxidative stress.