Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) have been found to be associated with the oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) [1]. However, MCPyV sequences have been detected at low prevalence in buffy coats [2] and sera of blood donors [3]. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were also found associated with MCPyV by some investigators, whereas other studies did not confirm this result. In our investigation, DNA sequences belonging to MCPyV were identified with a different prevalence in sera from CLL patients and blood donors. MCPyV sequences in sera of CLL patients and blood donors had a prevalence of 7% (16/224) and 5% (14/284), respectively. Specifically, MCPyV DNA sequences, coding for the viral oncoprotein large T antigen (LT), analyzed by the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method and DNA sequencing, showed the circulation of two different MCPyV strains, MCC350 and MKL-1. Indeed, DNA sequencing performed in MCPyVpositive sera indicated that MCPyV LT sequences belong to the ubiquitous MKL-1 [1-2] and oncogenic MCC350 strains. Interestingly, the more oncogenic MCC-350 strain was present at higher prevalence, 81% (13/16), in CLL samples, while the prevalence of MCC-350 was only 21% (3/14) in sera of blood donors (P<0.05). It is worth recalling that MCPyV MCC350 was the strain originally identified in MCC, a rare skin cancer. In our study, this oncogenic strain is found to be more prevalent in CLL patients, whereas the ubiquitous MKL-1 is more prevalent in blood donors. These data suggest that the MCC 350 strain could be responsible of the CLL onset in a fraction of these patients, whereas the MKL-1 strain seems to be the MCPyV circulating in normal subjects.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia tested positive for the oncogenic Merkel Cell Polyomavirus, MCC-350 strain
Elisa Mazzoni
Primo
;Maria Rosa Iaquinta;Chiara Mazziotta;Carmen Lanzillotti;John Charles Rotondo;Ilaria Bononi;
2018
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) have been found to be associated with the oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) [1]. However, MCPyV sequences have been detected at low prevalence in buffy coats [2] and sera of blood donors [3]. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were also found associated with MCPyV by some investigators, whereas other studies did not confirm this result. In our investigation, DNA sequences belonging to MCPyV were identified with a different prevalence in sera from CLL patients and blood donors. MCPyV sequences in sera of CLL patients and blood donors had a prevalence of 7% (16/224) and 5% (14/284), respectively. Specifically, MCPyV DNA sequences, coding for the viral oncoprotein large T antigen (LT), analyzed by the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method and DNA sequencing, showed the circulation of two different MCPyV strains, MCC350 and MKL-1. Indeed, DNA sequencing performed in MCPyVpositive sera indicated that MCPyV LT sequences belong to the ubiquitous MKL-1 [1-2] and oncogenic MCC350 strains. Interestingly, the more oncogenic MCC-350 strain was present at higher prevalence, 81% (13/16), in CLL samples, while the prevalence of MCC-350 was only 21% (3/14) in sera of blood donors (P<0.05). It is worth recalling that MCPyV MCC350 was the strain originally identified in MCC, a rare skin cancer. In our study, this oncogenic strain is found to be more prevalent in CLL patients, whereas the ubiquitous MKL-1 is more prevalent in blood donors. These data suggest that the MCC 350 strain could be responsible of the CLL onset in a fraction of these patients, whereas the MKL-1 strain seems to be the MCPyV circulating in normal subjects.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
