Chlorpyrifos Induces the Expression of the Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Cycle Activator BZLF-1 via Reactive Oxygen Species

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2015:2015:309125. doi: 10.1155/2015/309125. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Abstract

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are among the most widely used synthetic chemicals for the control of a wide variety of pests, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by OPs may be involved in the toxicity of various pesticides. Previous studies have demonstrated that a reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could be induced by oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether OPs could reactivate EBV through ROS accumulation. The Raji cells were treated with chlorpyrifos (CPF), one of the most commonly used OPs. Oxidative stress indicators and the expression of the EBV immediate-early gene BZLF-1 were determined after CPF treatment. Our results show that CPF induces oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, accompanied by an increase in ROS production, DNA damage, glutathione (GSH) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Moreover, CPF treatment significantly enhances the expression of BZLF-1, and the increased BZLF-1 expression was ameliorated by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) incubation. These results suggest that OPs could contribute to the reactivation of the EBV lytic cycle through ROS induction, a process that may play an important role in the development of EBV-associated diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chlorpyrifos / toxicity*
  • DNA Damage / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / drug effects*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • Insecticides
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Trans-Activators
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Chlorpyrifos
  • Acetylcysteine