No evidence for a causal role of Merkel cell polyomavirus in keratoacanthoma - 14/06/12
Reprint requests: Alexander Kreuter, MD, Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstr. 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany.Abstract |
Background |
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a recently discovered virus that is monoclonally integrated into the genome of approximately 80% of all Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs). While some evidence exists that MCPyV does not play a pathogenic role in other nonmelanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), little is known about the presence of MCPyV in keratoacanthoma (KA).
Objectives |
To evaluate the prevalence, viral DNA-load, and large T(umor)-antigen expression of MCPyV in KA of immunocompetent patients and to compare the results with those found in SCC and MCC.
Methods |
Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were analyzed for the presence of MCPyV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MCPyV-DNA load (MCPyV-DNA copies per beta-globin gene copy) was determined by using quantitative real-time PCR. Immunohistochemical analysis of the MCPyV large T-antigen was performed with the monoclonal antibody CM2B4.
Results |
A total of 137 samples (42 KA, 52 SCC, and 43 MCC) were analyzed. MCPyV-DNA was found significantly more frequently in MCC (37/43, 86.0%) compared with KA (12/42, 28.6%) and SCC (14/52, 26.9%). Moreover, MCPyV-DNA loads were more than two orders of magnitude lower in KA and SCC compared with MCC (median/mean loads 0.005/0.015 [KA] vs 0.023/0.059 [SCC] vs 2.613/56.840 [MCC] MCPyV-DNA copies per beta-globin gene copy). All MCC analyzed (n = 3) expressed MCPyV large T-antigen, whereas 8 KA and 7 SCC were negative in immunohistochemistry.
Limitations |
The relatively small number of samples is a limitation.
Conclusions |
Our findings argue against a pathogenic role of MCPyV in KA and SCC.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : keratoacanthoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, Merkel cell polyomavirus, squamous cell carcinoma
Abbreviations used : BCC, KA, LNA, MCC, MCPyV, PCR, Q-PCR, SCC
Plan
| Dr Wieland and Dr Scola contributed equally to this work. |
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| Funding source: The German National Reference Centre for Papilloma- and Polyomaviruses (German Federal Ministry of Health, grant No. 1369-401) funded the MCPyV analyses. |
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| Conflicts of interest: None declared. |
Vol 67 - N° 1
P. 41-46 - juillet 2012 Retour au numéro
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