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Rasheed K, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U. Reciprocal transactivation of Merkel cell polyomavirus and high-risk human papillomavirus promoter activities and increased expression of their oncoproteins. Virol J 2021; 18:139. [PMID: 34217322 PMCID: PMC8254899 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01613-0] [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: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 15% of human cancers are attributed to viruses. Numerous studies have shown that high-risk human polyomaviruses (HR-HPV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) are two human tumor viruses associated with anogenetal and oropharyngeal cancers, and with Merkel cell carcinoma, respectively. MCPyV has been found in HR-HPV positive anogenetal and oropharyngeal tumors, suggesting that MCPyV can act as a co-factor in HR-HPV induced oncogenesis. This prompted us to investigate whether the oncoproteins large T-antigen (LT) and small antigen (sT) of MCPyV could affect the transcriptional activity HPV16 and HPV18 and vice versa whether HPV16 and HPV18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins affected the expression of MCPyV LT and sT. Reciprocal stimulation of these viral oncoproteinscould enhance the oncogenic processes triggered by these tumor viruses. METHODS Transient co-transfection studies using a luciferase reporter plasmid with the long control region of HPV16 or HPV18, or the early or late promoter of MCPyV and expression plasmids for LT and sT, or E6 and E7, respectively were performed in the HPV-negative cervical cancer cell line C33A, in the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, and in the oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line HSC-3. Transfections were also performed with deletion mutants of all these promoters and with mutants of all four oncoproteins. Finally, the effect of E6 and E7 on LT and sT expression in the MCPyV-positive Merkel cell carcinoma cell line WaGa and the effect of LT and sT on the expression of E6 and E7 was monitored by Western blotting. RESULTS LT and sT stimulated the transcriptional activity of the HPV16 and HPV18 LCR and v.v. E6 and E7 potentiated the MCPyV early and late promoter in all cell lines. Induction by E6 and E7 was p53- and pRb-independent, and transactivation by LT did not require DNA binding, nuclear localization and HSC70/pRb interaction, whereas sT stimulated the HPV16/18 LCR activity in a PP2A- and DnaJ-independent manner. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the co-infection of MCPyV may act as a co-factor in the initiation and/or progression of HPV-induced cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashif Rasheed
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.,Institute for Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.,Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 1176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - 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.
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Prezioso C, Van Ghelue M, Moens U, Pietropaolo V. HPyV6 and HPyV7 in urine from immunocompromised patients. Virol J 2021; 18:24. [PMID: 33482864 PMCID: PMC7821732 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human polyomavirus 6 (HPyV6) and HPyV7 are two of the novel polyomaviruses that were originally detected in non-diseased skin. Serological studies have shown that these viruses are ubiquitous in the healthy adult population with seroprevalence up to 88% for HPyV6 and 72% for HPyV7. Both viruses are associated with pruritic skin eruption in immunocompromised patients, but a role with other diseases in immunoincompetent patients or malignancies has not been established. Methods PCR was used to determine the presence of HPyV6 and HPyV7 DNA in urine samples from systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 73), multiple sclerosis (n = 50), psoriasis vulgaris (n = 15), arthritic psoriasis (n = 15) and HIV-positive patients (n = 66). In addition, urine from pregnant women (n = 47) and healthy blood donors (n = 20) was investigated. Results HPyV6 DNA was detected in 21 (28.8%) of the urine specimens from SLE patients, in 6 (9.1%) of the urine samples from the HIV-positive cohort, and in 19 (40.4%) samples from pregnant women. HPyV7 DNA was only found in 6 (8.2%) of the urine specimens from SLE patients and in 4 (8.5%) samples from pregnant women. No HPyV6 and HPyV7 viruria was detected in the urine samples from the other patients. Conclusions HPyV6, and to a lesser extend HPyV7, viruria seems to be common in SLE and HIV-positive patients, and pregnant women. Whether these viruses are of clinical relevance in these patients is not known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Prezioso
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Marijke Van Ghelue
- Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ugo Moens
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Csoboz B, Rasheed K, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U. Merkel cell polyomavirus and non-Merkel cell carcinomas: guilty or circumstantial evidence? APMIS 2020; 128:104-120. [PMID: 31990105 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the major causative factor of the rare but aggressive cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Two characteristics of MCPyV-positive MCCs are integration of the viral genome and expression of a truncated version of one of its oncogenic proteins, namely large T antigen. The strong association of MCPyV with MCC development has incited researchers to further investigate a possible role of this virus in other cancers. However, many of the examples displaying the presence of the virus in the various non-MCC cancers are not able to clearly demonstrate a direct connection between cellular transformation and the presence of the virus. The prevalence of the virus is significantly lower in non-MCC cancers compared to MCCs, with a lower level of viral load and sparse viral protein expression. Moreover, the state of the viral genome, and whether a truncated large T antigen is expressed, has rarely been investigated. Nonetheless, considering the strong oncogenic potential of MCPyV proteins in MCC, the plausible contribution of MCPyV to transformation and cancer growth in non-MCC tumors cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the absence of MCPyV in cancers does not exclude a hit-and-run mechanism, or the oncoproteins of MCPyV may potentiate the neoplastic process mediated by co-infecting oncoviruses such as high-risk human papillomaviruses and Epstein-Barr virus. The current review is focusing on the available data describing the presence of MCPyV in non-MCC tumors, with an aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the corresponding literature and to discuss the potential contribution of MCPyV to non-MCC cancer in light of this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balint Csoboz
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kashif Rasheed
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Zanotta N, Delbue S, Signorini L, Villani S, D'Alessandro S, Campisciano G, Colli C, De Seta F, Ferrante P, Comar M. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Is Associated with Anal Infections in Men Who Have Sex with Men. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7020054. [PMID: 30791443 PMCID: PMC6406607 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7020054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Viral infections of the anal/rectal tract of men who have sex with men (MSM) have been poorly studied. Methods: In total, 158 swab samples (81 anal/rectal, 65 throat/oral and 12 urethral) were collected from 126 MSM. DNA was isolated and subjected to real-time PCR assays for the detection of the sexually transmitted (ST) pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasmas ssp, human papillomavirus (HPV) and six human polyomaviruses (HPyVs; JCPyV, BKPyV, Merkel cell PyV–MCPyV-, HPyV-6, HPyV-7 and HPyV-9). Results: C. trachomatis (31/126, 24.6%) and M. genitalium (30/126, 23.8%) were the most frequently detected ST pathogens. Thirty-one/126 (24.6%) patients were positive for at least one HPyV. The significantly (p < 0.05) prevalent HPyV in the anal tract was MCPyV, which was amplified in 27/81 (33.3%) samples, followed by HPyV-6, which was amplified in 6/81 (7.4%) swabs. Coinfections with MCPyV and C. trachomatis or Mycoplasmas were found in 4/21 (19.0%) and 5/21 (23.8%) anal/rectal swabs, respectively. Three/4 MCPyV-C. trachomatis coinfected patients were symptomatic. Conclusions: Based on the high prevalence of MCPyV in the anal/rectal swabs from MSM patients and on the well-known oncogenic properties of MCPyV, sexual transmission and possible involvement of HPyVs in the pathogenesis of diseases of the anal canal should be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nunzia Zanotta
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Lucia Signorini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Sonia Villani
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Sarah D'Alessandro
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | | | | | - Francesco De Seta
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Ferrante
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Manola Comar
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137 Trieste, Italy.
- Department of Medical Science, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
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Torres C, Barrios ME, Cammarata RV, Victoria M, Fernandez-Cassi X, Bofill-Mas S, Colina R, Blanco Fernández MD, Mbayed VA. Phylodynamics of Merkel-cell polyomavirus and human polyomavirus 6: A long-term history with humans. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 126:210-220. [PMID: 29680507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
New human polyomaviruses have been described in the last years, including the Merkel-cell polyomavirus (MCPyV; Human polyomavirus 5) and the Human polyomavirus 6 (HPyV6). Although their infection is usually asymptomatic, in immunocompromised host can cause life-threatening pathologies, such as the Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive skin neoplasia associated to the MCPyV. Despite being prevalent viruses in population, epidemiological data from South America are scarce, as well as the characterization of the viral types circulating and their origin. The aims of this work were to describe MCPyV and HPyV6 from environmental samples with different geographical origin and to analyze their phylogenetic and evolutionary histories, particularly for MCPyV. Partial and complete genome sequences were obtained from sewage samples from Argentina, Uruguay and Spain. A total number of 87 sequences were obtained for MCPyV and 33 for HPyV6. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MCPyV sequences distributed according to their geographic origin in Europe/North America, Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania groups, suggesting that viral diversification might have followed human migrations across the globe. In particular, viruses from Argentina associated with Europe/North America and South America genotypes, whereas those from Uruguay and Spain also grouped with Africa genotype, reflecting the origin of the current population in each country, which could arrive not only during ancient human migration but also during recent migratory events. In addition, the South American group presented a high level of clusterization, showing internal clusters that could be related to specific locations, such as French Guiana and Brazil or the Southern region into South America, such as Argentina and Uruguay, suggesting a long term evolutionary process in the region. Additionally, in this work, we carried out the first analysis about the evolutionary history of MCPyV trough the integration of phylogenetic, epidemiological and historical data. Since a strong association is observed between the phylogenetic relationships and the origin of the sampled population, this analysis was based on the hypothesis of co-divergence between the virus and human populations. This analysis resulted in a substitution rate of 5.1 × 10-8 s/s/y (∼5.1% of divergence per million years) for the complete genome of MCPyV, which is in the range of those estimated for other double-stranded DNA viruses. Regarding HPyV6, a South American group with clusterization was observed (sequences from Uruguay). Meanwhile, sequences from Argentina grouped with European ones (France and Spain) and remained separated from those isolated in China, USA or Australia. The analysis of viruses from the environment allowed us to deep characterize prevalent infections in different geographic regions, reveling that viruses circulating in each population reflected its origin and that there are specific lineages associated with South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Torres
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Melina Elizabeth Barrios
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Robertina Viviana Cammarata
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Victoria
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - Xavier Fernandez-Cassi
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Silvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Rodney Colina
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Salto, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - María Dolores Blanco Fernández
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Viviana Andrea Mbayed
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología, Cátedra de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Smith SDB, Erdag G, Cuda JD, Rangwala S, Girardi N, Bibee K, Orens JB, Prono MD, Toptan T, Loss MJ. Treatment of human polyomavirus-7-associated rash and pruritus with topical cidofovir in a lung transplant patient: Case report and literature review. Transpl Infect Dis 2017; 20. [PMID: 29064138 DOI: 10.1111/tid.12793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human polyomavirus-7-associated rash and pruritus (PVARP) is a chronic superficial viral skin infection, which primarily impacts immunocompromised individuals. We report on a case of PVARP in a lung transplant recipient. Our patient developed symptoms 13 years after being on his immunosuppressive regimen, with an insidious course of progressive gray lichenification with marked islands of sparing and quality of life-altering pruritus. Treatment for PVARP is not established; however, topical cidofovir combined with immunomodulation may offer sustained therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane D B Smith
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gulsun Erdag
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cuda
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sophie Rangwala
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas Girardi
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristin Bibee
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan B Orens
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Tuna Toptan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Manisha J Loss
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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First detection and complete genome sequence of a phylogenetically distinct human polyomavirus 6 highly prevalent in human bile samples. J Infect 2016; 74:50-59. [PMID: 27840269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Oncovirus-associated malignancies are potentially preventable diseases with major public health significance. Human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) may be associated with oncogenesis or symptomatic illnesses in immunocompromised patients, but the site of viral shedding of most recently discovered HPyVs remains obscure. Using real-time PCR assay using specific primers targeting the HPyV6 large tumor antigen gene, we detected a phylogenetically distinct HPyV6 which was highly prevalent in the bile samples of patients with malignant biliary obstruction (18.8%) and acute gallstone cholangitis (5.5%). The prevalence rate and mean viral load of this HPyV6 were highest in the cholangiocarcinoma subgroup (27.6% and 2.41 × 104copies/ml). These findings were confirmed with another real-time PCR assay using specific primers targeting the HPyV6 viral capsid protein 2 gene. These bile HPyV6 strains may represent a novel clade of HPyV6 as they formed a distinct cluster from the other HPyV6s and exhibited >2% differences in amino acid sequences in their major proteins. While HPyV6 was unlikely the cause of the patients' acute symptoms and liver dysfunction, the virus may be related to immunosuppression in patients with malignancy and/or important in the oncogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma in patients without coinfection with other oncogenic microbes. Further studies to ascertain a causative role of HPyV6 in cholangiocarcinoma should be conducted.
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