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Janković M, Knežević A, Todorović M, Đunić I, Mihaljević B, Soldatović I, Protić J, Miković N, Stoiljković V, Jovanović T. Cytomegalovirus infection may be oncoprotective against neoplasms of B-lymphocyte lineage: single-institution experience and survey of global evidence. Virol J 2022; 19:155. [PMID: 36171605 PMCID: PMC9520857 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01884-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) is not considered tumorigenic, there is evidence for its oncomodulatory effects and association with hematological neoplasms. Conversely, a number of experimental and clinical studies suggest its putative anti-tumour effect. We investigated the potential connection between chronic CMV infection in patients with B-lymphocyte (B-cell) malignancies in a retrospective single-center study and extracted relevant data on CMV prevalences and the incidences of B-cell cancers the world over. Methods In the clinical single-center study, prevalence of chronic CMV infection was compared between patients with B-cell leukemia/lymphoma and the healthy controls. Also, global data on CMV seroprevalences and the corresponding country-specific incidences of B- lineage neoplasms worldwide were investigated for potential correlations. Results Significantly higher CMV seropositivity was observed in control subjects than in patients with B-cell malignancies (p = 0.035). Moreover, an unexpected seroepidemiological evidence of highly significant inverse relationship between country-specific CMV prevalence and the annual incidence of B-cell neoplasms was noted across the populations worldwide (ρ = −0.625, p < 0.001). Conclusions We try to draw attention to an unreported interplay between CMV infection and B-cell lymphomagenesis in adults. A large-scale survey across > 70 countries disclosed a link between CMV and B-cell neoplasms. Our evidence hints at an antagonistic effect of chronic CMV infection against B-lymphoproliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Janković
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 1, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia.
| | - Aleksandra Knežević
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 1, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
| | - Milena Todorović
- Clinic for Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, University of Belgrade, dr Koste Todorovića 2, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
| | - Irena Đunić
- Clinic for Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, University of Belgrade, dr Koste Todorovića 2, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
| | - Biljana Mihaljević
- Clinic for Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, University of Belgrade, dr Koste Todorovića 2, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
| | - Ivan Soldatović
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 15, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
| | - Jelena Protić
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera "Torlak",, Vojvode Stepe 458, Belgrade, 11152, Republic of Serbia
| | - Nevenka Miković
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera "Torlak",, Vojvode Stepe 458, Belgrade, 11152, Republic of Serbia
| | - Vera Stoiljković
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera "Torlak",, Vojvode Stepe 458, Belgrade, 11152, Republic of Serbia
| | - Tanja Jovanović
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, dr Subotića 1, Belgrade, 11000, Republic of Serbia
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Lubega J, Hallman MD, Lupo PJ, Fu Y, Peterson L, Scheurer ME. Association of population mixing and acute lymphocytic leukemia in children and young adults. Cancer Epidemiol 2020; 66:101722. [PMID: 32353774 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association of population mixing (PM1) with childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL2) has been reproduced in multiple studies. However, the mechanism underlying this association is unknown. METHODS Ecological study of incidence of pediatric ALL among 253 counties in the State of Texas (USA) using surrogates of genetic and environmental PM. ALL incidence data were obtained from Texas Cancer Registry and county population statistics from the US Census Bureau. Poisson regression was used to compare ALL incidence and PM. RESULTS There is substantial and variable genetic and environmental PM among counties in Texas. Indicators of genetic PM including proportion of multiracial households, ratio of Hispanics to non-Hispanics, and ratio of foreign to native-born residents were all significantly associated with a higher incidence of ALL (IRR3 1.81 (95CI 1.05-3.13), 1.67 (95CI 1.16-2.37), and 1.59 (95CI 1.03-2.48), respectively). Surrogates of environmental PM namely population density and persons per household were not associated with incidence of ALL; IRRs 1.29 (95CI 0.4-4.15) and 1.47 (95CI 0.89-2.43). CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with prior patterns and magnitudes of PM association with ALL. Our findings suggest that the implicated mechanism of leukemogenesis in PM may be genetically transmitted rather than environmental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Lubega
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, United States.
| | - M David Hallman
- University of Texas - School of Public Health, Houston, United States
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Yunxin Fu
- University of Texas - School of Public Health, Houston, United States
| | - Leif Peterson
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, United States
| | - Michael E Scheurer
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, United States
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Maternal Infection in Pregnancy and Childhood Leukemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Pediatr 2020; 217:98-109.e8. [PMID: 31810630 PMCID: PMC7605597 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.10.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the published evidence regarding the association between maternal infection during pregnancy and childhood leukemia. STUDY DESIGN In this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO number, CRD42018087289), we searched PubMed and Embase to identify relevant studies. We included human studies that reported associations of at least one measure of maternal infection during pregnancy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or all childhood leukemias in the offspring. One reviewer extracted the data first using a standardized form, and the second reviewer independently checked the data for accuracy. Two reviewers used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess the quality of included studies. We conducted random effects meta-analyses to pool the ORs of specific type of infection on ALL and childhood leukemia. RESULTS This review included 20 studies (ALL, n = 15; childhood leukemia, n = 14) reported in 32 articles. Most (>65%) included studies reported a positive association between infection variables and ALL or childhood leukemia. Among specific types of infection, we found that influenza during pregnancy was associated with higher risk of ALL (pooled OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 1.34-9.90) and childhood leukemia (pooled OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.01-3.11). Varicella (pooled OR, 10.19; 95% CI, 1.98-52.39) and rubella (pooled OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.16-6.71) infections were also associated with higher childhood leukemia risk. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that maternal infection during pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of childhood leukemia.
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Mansell E, Zareian N, Malouf C, Kapeni C, Brown N, Badie C, Baird D, Lane J, Ottersbach K, Blair A, Case CP. DNA damage signalling from the placenta to foetal blood as a potential mechanism for childhood leukaemia initiation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4370. [PMID: 30867444 PMCID: PMC6416312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39552-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
For many diseases with a foetal origin, the cause for the disease initiation remains unknown. Common childhood acute leukaemia is thought to be caused by two hits, the first in utero and the second in childhood in response to infection. The mechanism for the initial DNA damaging event are unknown. Here we have used in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models to show that a placental barrier will respond to agents that are suspected of initiating childhood leukaemia by releasing factors that cause DNA damage in cord blood and bone marrow cells, including stem cells. We show that DNA damage caused by in utero exposure can reappear postnatally after an immune challenge. Furthermore, both foetal and postnatal DNA damage are prevented by prenatal exposure of the placenta to a mitochondrially-targeted antioxidant. We conclude that the placenta might contribute to the first hit towards leukaemia initiation by bystander-like signalling to foetal haematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els Mansell
- School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol, Learning and Research Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
| | - Nahid Zareian
- School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol, Learning and Research Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
| | - Camille Malouf
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, SCRM Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chrysa Kapeni
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, SCRM Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Natalie Brown
- Cancer Mecanisms and Biomarkers, Department of Radiation Effects, Public Health England's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE), Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, UK
| | - Christophe Badie
- Cancer Mecanisms and Biomarkers, Department of Radiation Effects, Public Health England's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE), Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, UK
| | - Duncan Baird
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jon Lane
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katrin Ottersbach
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, SCRM Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Bioquarter 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Allison Blair
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, NHS Blood and Transplant, Filton, UK
| | - C Patrick Case
- School of Clinical Science, University of Bristol, Learning and Research Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
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Is CMV in utero the first event in pediatric ALL? Blood 2017; 129:1572-1573. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-01-758730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Bartenhagen C, Fischer U, Korn K, Pfister SM, Gombert M, Chen C, Okpanyi V, Hauer J, Rinaldi A, Bourquin JP, Eckert C, Hu J, Ensser A, Dugas M, Borkhardt A. Infection as a cause of childhood leukemia: virus detection employing whole genome sequencing. Haematologica 2017; 102:e179-e183. [PMID: 28154091 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2016.155382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ute Fischer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Klaus Korn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Gombert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Cai Chen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Vera Okpanyi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Hauer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anna Rinaldi
- Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Cornelia Eckert
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology and Hematology, Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Jianda Hu
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martin Dugas
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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In utero cytomegalovirus infection and development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2016; 129:1680-1684. [PMID: 27979823 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-07-723148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely suspected, yet controversial, that infection plays an etiologic role in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer and a disease with a confirmed prenatal origin in most cases. We investigated infections at diagnosis and then assessed the timing of infection at birth in children with ALL and age, gender, and ethnicity matched controls to identify potential causal initiating infections. Comprehensive untargeted virome and bacterial analyses of pretreatment bone marrow specimens (n = 127 ALL in comparison with 38 acute myeloid leukemia cases in a comparison group) revealed prevalent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection at diagnosis in childhood ALL, demonstrating active viral transcription in leukemia blasts as well as intact virions in serum. Screening of newborn blood samples revealed a significantly higher prevalence of in utero CMV infection in ALL cases (n = 268) than healthy controls (n = 270) (odds ratio [OR], 3.71, confidence interval [CI], 1.56-7.92, P = .0016). Risk was more pronounced in Hispanics (OR=5.90, CI=1.89-25.96) than in non-Hispanic whites (OR=2.10 CI= 0.69-7.13). This is the first study to suggest that congenital CMV infection is a risk factor for childhood ALL and is more prominent in Hispanic children. Further investigation of CMV as an etiologic agent for ALL is warranted.
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Virome characterisation from Guthrie cards in children who later developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Cancer 2016; 115:1008-1014. [PMID: 27552439 PMCID: PMC5061901 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2016.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Some childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL) can be traced back to a prenatal origin, where a virus infection could be involved in the first pre-leukaemic clone development. The DNA virome of 95 children who later developed ALL was characterised from neonatal blood spots (NBS) using unbiased next-generation sequencing (NGS) and compared with the virome of 95 non-ALL controls. Methods: DNA was individually extracted from the ALL-patients and controls, pooled, randomly amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq Sequencing System. Results: Virus-like sequences identified in both groups mapped to human endogenous retroviruses and propionibacterium phage, considered a part of the normal microbial flora. Potential pathogens human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and parvovirus B19 were also identified, but only few samples in both ALL and controls tested positive by PCR follow-up. Conclusions: Unbiased NGS was employed to search for DNA from potential infectious agents in neonatal samples of children who later developed ALL. Although several viral candidates were identified in the NBS samples, further investigation by PCR suggested that these viruses did not have a major role in ALL development.
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EBV, HCMV, HHV6, and HHV7 screening in bone marrow samples from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:548097. [PMID: 25309913 PMCID: PMC4189769 DOI: 10.1155/2014/548097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in childhood worldwide and Mexico has reported one of the highest incidence rates. An infectious etiology has been suggested and supported by epidemiological evidences; however, the identity of the involved agent(s) is not known. We considered that early transmitted lymphotropic herpes viruses were good candidates, since transforming mechanisms have been described for them and some are already associated with human cancers. In this study we interrogated the direct role of EBV, HCMV, HHV6, and HHV7 human herpes viruses in childhood ALL. Viral genomes were screened in 70 bone marrow samples from ALL patients through standard and a more sensitive nested PCR. Positive samples were detected only by nested PCR indicating a low level of infection. Our result argues that viral genomes were not present in all leukemic cells, and, hence, infection most likely was not part of the initial genetic lesions leading to ALL. The high statistical power of the study suggested that these agents are not involved in the genesis of ALL in Mexican children. Additional analysis showed that detected infections or coinfections were not associated with prognosis.
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KI, WU, and Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA was not detected in guthrie cards of children who later developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2012; 34:364-7. [PMID: 22713707 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0b013e318241fb52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal dried blood spots (Guthrie cards) have been used to demonstrate a prenatal origin of clonal leukemia-specific genetic aberrations in several subgroups of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). One hypothesis suggests that an infectious agent could initiate genetic transformation already in utero. In search for a possible viral agent, Guthrie cards were analyzed for the presence of 3 newly discovered polyomavirus Karolinska Institutet polymavirus (KIPyV), Washington University polyomavirus (WUPyV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). METHODS Guthrie cards from 50 children who later developed ALL and 100 matched controls were collected and analyzed by standard or real-time polymerase chain reaction for the presence of the VP1 region of KIPyV, WUPyV, and MCPyV, and the LT region for MCPyV. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS DNA from KIPyV, WUPyV, and MCPyV was not detected in neonatal blood samples from children with ALL or controls. Prenatal infections with these viruses are not likely to be etiological drivers for childhood leukemogenesis.
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11
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Mahjour SB, Ghaffarpasand F, Fattahi MJ, Ghaderi A, Fotouhi Ghiam A, Karimi M. Seroprevalence of Human Herpes Simplex, Hepatitis B and Epstein-Barr Viruses in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Southern Iran. Pathol Oncol Res 2010; 16:579-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s12253-010-9258-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2009] [Accepted: 03/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Abstract
The acute leukaemias account for about 30% of all malignancy seen in childhood across the Western world. A peak incidence of precursor B cell ALL has emerged as socio-economic conditions have improved in countries worldwide. From twin studies and the use of neonatal blood spots it has been possible to back track the first initiating genetic events within critical haemopoietic cells to foetal development in utero for most precursor B cell ALL and some cases of AML. These events may occur as part of normal foetal development. Whether other factors (environmental or constitutional) are involved to increase the chance of these first genetic changes happening is unclear. For some leukaemias (e.g. infant MLL positive ALL) the first event appears adequate to create a malignant clone but for the majority of ALL and AML further 'genetic' changes are required, probably postnatal. Many environmental factors have been proposed as causative for leukaemia but only ionising irradiation and certain chemicals, e.g. benzene and cytotoxics (alkylators and topoisomerase II inhibitors) have been confirmed and then principally for acute myeloid leukaemia. It appears increasingly likely that delayed, dysregulated responses to 'common' infectious agents play a major part in the conversion of pre-leukaemic clones into overt precursor B cell ALL, the most common form of childhood leukaemia. Constitutional polymorphic alleleic variants in immune response genes (especially the HLA Class II proteins) and cytokines may play a role in determining the type of immune response. High penetrance germ-line mutations are involved in only about 5% of childhood leukaemias (more in AML than ALL). There is little evidence to support any role of viral transformation in causation, unlike in animals. Other environmental factors for which some evidence exists include non-ionising electromagnetic radiation and electric fields, although their mode of action in leukaemogenesis remains unclear. There is no single cause for childhood leukaemia and for most individuals a combination of factors appears to be necessary; all involving gene-environment interactions. To date few clear preventative measures have emerged, except the complete avoidance of first trimester X-rays in pregnancy; a healthy diet with adequate oral folic acid intake both preconception and early in pregnancy; and the early exposure of children to other children outside the home to facilitate stimulation and maturation of the natural immune system. Here then are clear echoes of the "hygiene hypothesis" regarding the initiation of allergies, autoimmune disease and type I diabetes mellitus in children and young people.
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Abstract
Pathogenetic roles of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 in lymphoproliferative diseases have been of continued interest. Many molecular studies have tried to establish a pathogenic role for HHV-6 in lymphoid malignancies. However, whether HHV-6 plays a role in these pathologies remains unclear, as positive polymerase chain reaction results for HHV-6 in those studies may reflect latent infection or reactivation rather than presence of HHV-6 in neoplastic cells. A small number of studies have investigated HHV-6 antigen expression in pathologic specimens. As a result, the lack of HHV-6 antigen expression on neoplastic cells argues against any major pathogenic role of HHV-6. The role of HHV-6 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has also been of interest but remains controversial, with 2 studies documenting higher levels of HHV-6 antibody in ALL patients, and another 2 large-scale studies finding no significant differences in HHV-6 seroprevalences between ALL patients and controls. Alternatively, HHV-6 is increasingly recognized as an important opportunistic pathogen. HHV-6 reactivation is common among recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), and is linked to various clinical manifestations. In particular, HHV-6 encephalitis appears to be significant, life-threatening complication. Most HHV-6 encephalitis develops in patients receiving transplant from an unrelated donor, particularly cord blood, typically around the time of engraftment. Symptoms are characterized by short-term memory loss and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging typically shows limbic encephalitis. Prognosis for HHV-6 encephalitis is poor, but appropriate prophylactic measures have not been established. Establishment of preventive strategies against HHV-6 encephalitis represents an important challenge for physicians involved with SCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masao Ogata
- Department of Hematology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu-city, Oita, Japan.
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Tesse R, Santoro N, Giordano P, Cardinale F, De Mattia D, Armenio L. Association between DEFB1 gene haplotype and herpes viruses seroprevalence in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2009; 26:573-82. [PMID: 19954367 DOI: 10.3109/08880010903271705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies investigated the role of an unusual immune response to infective agents in the etiology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) is an anti-microbial peptide of the innate immune system, which exerts a killing role against pathogens. In the present study, three polymorphisms have been genotyped, namely, -52G/A, -44C/G and -20G/A, of DEFB1 gene, coding for hBD-1, in 40 ALL patients and 40 healthy children, and tested for an association between genetic variants of the protein and seroprevalence of antibodies for herpes viruses. The seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG antibodies in leukemic children was higher than that in controls (CMV: 61.5 vs. 27.3%, p = .008; HSV: 50 vs. 24.2%, p = .04; EBV: 61.3 vs. 46.2%, p = ns, respectively). Carriers of the GCA haplotype were found to have a significantly higher rate of immunization against CMV and HSV in ALL children compared to controls (CMV: 68 vs. 29%, p = .006; HSV: 56 vs. 26%, p = .04, respectively). No such observation was made when we analyzed the immunization against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by GCA haplotype in case and controls (58 vs. 40%, p = ns). These findings suggest that leukemic patients carrying untranslated variants of hBD-1 display a higher susceptibility to herpes viruses infections than controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardina Tesse
- Department of Biomedicina dell'Eta' Evolutiva, Pediatric Unit S. Maggiore, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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Abstract
Archived neonatal blood cards (Guthrie cards) from children who later contracted leukaemia and matched normal controls were assayed for adenovirus (AdV) C DNA content using two highly sensitive methods. In contrast to a previous report, AdV DNA was not detected at a higher frequency among neonates who later developed leukaemia, when compared with controls.
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Gustafsson B, Bogdanovic G. Specific viruses were not detected in Guthrie cards from children who later developed leukemia. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2007; 24:607-13. [PMID: 18092251 DOI: 10.1080/08880010701640341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
There are hypotheses concerning infectious mechanism in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The first genetic event often happens in utero, based on studies from Guthrie cards. The authors have summarized the results from their studies concerning infectious mechanism. Presence of human polyomaviruses, parvovirus, HHV-6, EBV, and CMV were investigated by PCR from Guthrie cards from children who later developed ALL and healthy controls. Neither of these viruses were detected from patients nor from controls. The results do not support that these viruses have contributed to the development of a substantial part of the ALL cases in Swedish children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Gustafsson
- Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Gustafsson B, Huang W, Bogdanovic G, Gauffin F, Nordgren A, Talekar G, Ornelles DA, Gooding LR. Adenovirus DNA is detected at increased frequency in Guthrie cards from children who develop acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Br J Cancer 2007; 97:992-4. [PMID: 17876329 PMCID: PMC2360426 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) may be initiated by an in infection in utero. Adenovirus DNA was detected in 13 of 49 neonatal blood spots from ALL patients but only in 3 of 47 controls (P=0.012) suggesting a correlation between prenatal adenovirus infection and the development of ALL
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Affiliation(s)
- B Gustafsson
- Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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O'Connor SM, Boneva RS. Infectious etiologies of childhood leukemia: plausibility and challenges to proof. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2007; 115:146-50. [PMID: 17366835 PMCID: PMC1817664 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Infections as well as environmental exposures are proposed determinants of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), particularly common precursor B-cell ALL (cALL). Lines of investigation test hypotheses that cALL is a rarer result of common infection, that it results from uncommon infection, or that it ensues from abnormal immune development; perhaps it requires a preceding prenatal or early childhood insult. Ideally, studies should document that particular infections precede leukemiA and induce malignant transformation. However, limited detection studies have not directly linked specific human or nonhuman infectious agents with ALL or cALL. Primarily based on surrogate markers of infectious exposure, indirect evidence from ecologic and epidemiologic studies varies widely, but some suggest that infancy or early childhood infectious exposures might protect against childhood ALL or cALL. Several others suggest that maternal infection during pregnancy might increase risk or that certain breast-feeding practices decrease risk. To date, evidence cannot confirm or refute whether at least one infection induces or is a major co-factor for developing ALL or cALL, or perhaps actually protects against disease. Differences in methodology and populations studied may explain some inconsistencies. Other challenges to proof include the likely time lag between infection and diagnosis, the ubiquity of many infections, the influence of age at infection, and the limitations in laboratory assays; small numbers of cases, inaccurate background leukemia rates, and difficulty tracking mobile populations further affect duster investigations. Nevertheless, existing evidence partially supports plausibility and warrants further investigation into potential infectious determinants of ALL and cALL, particularly in the context of multifactorial or complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhán M O'Connor
- National Center for Infectious Diseases and National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
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Gustafsson B, Jernberg AG, Priftakis P, Bogdanovic G. No CMV DNA in Guthrie cards from children who later developed ALL. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2006; 23:199-205. [PMID: 16517536 DOI: 10.1080/08880010500506677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
An association of a viral infection in utero and development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been suggested. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been reported as a leading agent of intrauterine infections resulting in some cases of congenital infections. The authors investigated the presence of prenatal CMV infection in children who later developed ALL. Guthrie cards were obtained from 48 children with ALL and 46 healthy children and were analyzed for the presence of CMV DNA by a real-time TaqMan PCR. CMV DNA was not detected in Guthrie cards from the children with ALL, from the control healthy children. The results show that prenatal CMV infection does not seem to be associated with later development of childhood ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Gustafsson
- Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract
Childhood leukaemia is the principal subtype of paediatric cancer and, despite success in treatment, its causes remain enigmatic. A plethora of candidate environmental exposures have been proposed, but most lack a biological rationale or consistent epidemiological evidence. Although there might not be a single or exclusive cause, an abnormal immune response to common infection(s) has emerged as a plausible aetiological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mel Greaves
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom.
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