Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens 3C and 3A maintain lymphoblastoid cell growth by repressing p16 and p14 expression

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) and EBNA3A are each essential for EBV conversion of primary human B lymphocytes into continuously proliferating lymphoblast cell lines (LCLs) and for maintaining LCL growth. We now find that EBNA3C and EBNA3A’s essential roles are to repress p16 and p14. In the absence of EBNA3C or EBNA3A, p16 and p14 expression increased and cell growth ceased. EBNA3C inactivation did not alter p16 promoter CpG methylation, but reduced already low H3K27me3, relative to resting B cells, and increased H3K4me3 and H3-acetylation, linking EBNA3C inactivation to histone modifications associated with increased transcription. Importantly, knockdown of p16 or p14 partially rescued LCLs from EBNA3C or EBNA3A inactivation-induced growth arrest and knockdown of both rescued LCL growth, confirming central roles for p16 and p14 in LCL growth arrest following EBNA3C or EBNA3A inactivation. Moreover, blockade of p16 and p14 effects on pRb and p53 by human papilloma virus type 16 E7 and E6 expression, sustained LCL growth after EBNA3C or EBNA3A inactivation. These data indicate that EBNA3C and EBNA3A joint repression of CDKN2A p16 and p14 is essential for LCL growth.