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Harms PW, Verhaegen ME, Vo JN, Tien JC, Pratt D, Su F, Dhanasekaran SM, Cao X, Mangelberger D, VanGoor J, Choi JE, Ma VT, Dlugosz AA, Chinnaiyan AM. Viral Status Predicts the Patterns of Genome Methylation and Decitabine Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:641-652. [PMID: 34474081 PMCID: PMC8860850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that is classified as Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive (virus positive [VP]) or Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative (virus negative [VN]). Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, can alter gene expression and influence cancer progression. However, patterns of DNA methylation and the therapeutic efficacy of hypomethylating agents have not been fully explored in MCC. We characterized genome-wide DNA methylation in 16 MCC cell lines from both molecular subclasses in comparison with other cancer types and found that the overall profile of MCC is similar to that of small-cell lung carcinoma. Comparison of VP MCC with VN MCC revealed 2,260 differentially methylated positions. The hypomethylating agent decitabine upregulated the expression of antigen-presenting machinery in MCC cell lines and stimulated membrane expression of HLA-A in VP and VN MCC xenograft tumors. Decitabine also induced prominent caspase- and large T antigen‒independent cell death in VP MCC, whereas VN MCC cell lines displayed decreased proliferation without increased cell death. In mouse xenografts, decitabine significantly decreased the size of VP tumors but not that of VN tumors. Our findings indicate that viral status predicts genomic methylation patterns in MCC and that decitabine may be therapeutically effective against MCC through antiproliferative effects, cell death, and increased immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W. Harms
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Josh N. Vo
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jean C. Tien
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Drew Pratt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Fengyun Su
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Saravana M. Dhanasekaran
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Doris Mangelberger
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Julia VanGoor
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jae Eun Choi
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Vincent T. Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Andrzej A. Dlugosz
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Corresponding Author: Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, American Cancer Society Professor, S. P. Hicks Endowed Professor of Pathology, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 1400 E. Medical Center Dr. 5316 CCGC, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0602,
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Mazziotta C, Lanzillotti C, Govoni M, Pellielo G, Mazzoni E, Tognon M, Martini F, Rotondo JC. Decreased IgG Antibody Response to Viral Protein Mimotopes of Oncogenic Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Sera From Healthy Elderly Subjects. Front Immunol 2021; 12:738486. [PMID: 34733278 PMCID: PMC8558529 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.738486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the main causative agent of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but aggressive skin tumor with a typical presentation age >60 years. MCPyV is ubiquitous in humans. After an early-age primary infection, MCPyV establishes a clinically asymptomatic lifelong infection. In immunocompromised patients/individuals, including elders, MCC can arise following an increase in MCPyV replication events. Elders are prone to develop immunesenescence and therefore represent an important group to investigate. In addition, detailed information on MCPyV serology in elders has been debated. These findings cumulatively indicate the need for new research verifying the impact of MCPyV infection in elderly subjects (ES). Herein, sera from 226 ES, aged 66-100 years, were analyzed for anti-MCPyV IgGs with an indirect ELISA using peptides mimicking epitopes from the MCPyV capsid proteins VP1-2. Immunological data from sera belonging to a cohort of healthy subjects (HS) (n = 548) aged 18-65 years, reported in our previous study, were also included for comparisons. Age-/gender-specific seroprevalence and serological profiles were investigated. MCPyV seroprevalence in ES was 63.7% (144/226). Age-specific MCPyV seroprevalence resulted as 62.5% (25/40), 71.7% (33/46), 64.9% (37/57), 63.8% (30/47), and 52.8% (19/36) in ES aged 66-70, 71-75, 76-80, 81-85, and 86-100 years, respectively (p > 0.05). MCPyV seroprevalence was 67% (71/106) and 61% (73/120) in ES males and females, respectively (p > 0.05). Lack of age-/gender-related variations in terms of MCPyV serological profiles was found in ES (p > 0.05). Notably, serological profile analyses indicated lower optical densities (ODs) in ES compared with HS (p < 0.05), while lower ODs were also determined in ES males compared with HS males (p < 0.05). Our data cumulatively suggest that oncogenic MCPyV circulates in elders asymptomatically at a relatively high prevalence, while immunesenescence might be responsible for a decreased IgG antibody response to MCPyV, thereby potentially leading to an increase in MCPyV replication levels. In the worse scenario, alongside other factors, MCPyV might drive MCC carcinogenesis, as described in elders with over 60 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mazziotta
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carmen Lanzillotti
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marcello Govoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giulia Pellielo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisa Mazzoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mauro Tognon
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fernanda Martini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - John Charles Rotondo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Pietropaolo V, Prezioso C, Moens U. Role of Virus-Induced Host Cell Epigenetic Changes in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158346. [PMID: 34361112 PMCID: PMC8346956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor viruses human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) account for approximately 15% of all human cancers. Although the oncoproteins of these tumor viruses display no sequence similarity to one another, they use the same mechanisms to convey cancer hallmarks on the infected cell. Perturbed gene expression is one of the underlying mechanisms to induce cancer hallmarks. Epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation, histone modification and chromatin remodeling, microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circular RNA affect gene expression without introducing changes in the DNA sequence. Increasing evidence demonstrates that oncoviruses cause epigenetic modifications, which play a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. In this review, recent advances in the role of host cell epigenetic changes in virus-induced cancers are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (U.M.)
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- IRCSS San Raffaele Roma, Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (U.M.)
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