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Low prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in human epithelial thymic tumors.
- Source :
-
Thoracic cancer [Thorac Cancer] 2019 Mar; Vol. 10 (3), pp. 445-451. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jan 09. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Background: The etiology of thymic epithelial tumors is unknown. Murine polyomavirus strain PTA has been shown to induce thymomas in mice. Recently, using diverse molecular techniques, we reported the presence of human polyomavirus 7 (HPyV7) in thymic epithelial tumors. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in thymic epithelial tumors.<br />Methods: Thirty-six thymomas were screened for MCPyV by PCR and subsequently tested by DNA and RNA in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Twenty-six thymomas were diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG).<br />Results: MCPyV DNA was detected by PCR in 7 (19.4%) of the 36 thymic epithelial tumors and in six of these, the presence of MCPyV was confirmed by fluorescence situ hybridization. Of these, 3 (28.6%) revealed weak MCPyV LT-antigen protein expression. In addition, one of the MCPyV positive thymomas tested positive for MCPyV LT RNA with RNAscope. Of interest, two out of the three thymomas that previously tested positive for MCPyV by immunohistochemistry also tested positive for HPyV7. One of the 11 MG-negative and 2 of the 25 MG-positive were positive for MCPyV.<br />Conclusions: MCPyV DNA and MCPyV protein expression can be detected in human epithelial thymoma; however, to a far lesser extent than HPyV7. Our data strongly indicate that because of its infrequent detection and weak expression, MCPyV is unlikely to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas.<br /> (© 2019 The Authors. Thoracic Cancer published by China Lung Oncology Group and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Carcinogenesis genetics
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic genetics
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence methods
Male
Merkel cell polyomavirus pathogenicity
Mice
Middle Aged
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial epidemiology
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial pathology
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial virology
Thymoma epidemiology
Thymoma pathology
Thymoma virology
Thymus Neoplasms epidemiology
Thymus Neoplasms pathology
Thymus Neoplasms virology
Merkel cell polyomavirus genetics
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial genetics
Thymoma genetics
Thymus Neoplasms genetics
Viral Proteins genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1759-7714
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Thoracic cancer
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30628176
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12953