High incidence of BK virus large-T-antigen-coding sequences in normal human tissues and tumors of different histotypes.
T-antigen (TAg) coding sequences specific for BK virus (BKV) were detected, by PCR amplification followed by Southern-blot hybridization, in a high percentage of human tumors and tumor-cell lines, as well as in normal tissues, by analysis of 189 specimens. Specifically, the BKV early region was detected in 85% of brain tumors and in all normal brain tissues, in 78% of osteosarcomas, in 38% of Ewing's tumors, in 40% of normal bone specimens and in 71% of normal peripheral blood cell samples. Wilms' tumor tissues used as a control were all negative for BKV sequences. RT-PCR analysis indicated that TAg coding sequences were expressed in specimens carrying BKV early region, ranging from 64% of the osteosarcomas to 100% of glioblastomas, Ewing's tumors, peripheral blood cells and normal bone. Moreover, DNA sequencing performed in 12 different positive samples revealed that the amplified PCR products are identical to the early-region sequence of wild-type BKV. The role of BKV TAg and its possible mechanism of action in human tumorigenesis are discussed.
De Mattei
M
M
Institute of Histology and General Embryology, University of Ferrara, Italy.
Martini
F
F
Corallini
A
A
Gerosa
M
M
Scotlandi
K
K
Carinci
P
P
Barbanti-Brodano
G
G
Tognon
M
M
D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012016:Reference Values; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D004279:DNA, Viral