LMP1 Activates the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway and Promotes Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Progression Through Its Interaction With DVL2.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of cancer that is prevalent in southern China. In the development of NPC, the oncogenic protein LMP1, which is encoded by EBV, plays a very important role. The Wnt pathway is abnormally activated in many types of malignant tumors. The interaction between AXIN and DVL2 is pivotal for the breakdown of the β-catenin destruction complex and Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process in NPC are not well understood. In this study, we identified the transmembrane protein LMP1 as an interacting partner of DVL2, which positively regulates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by inhibiting the AXIN-DVL2 interaction. LMP1 overexpression enhanced NPC cell growth, metastasis, and stemness, whereas LMP1 knockdown suppressed these abilities. Our findings reveal new oncogenic roles for LMP1 in NPC progression.