title: Expression of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in melanomas of Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll.
abstract: Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds. Since some of them are able to infect human cells, they might represent a risk for xenotransplantation using pig cells or organs. However, the expression and biological role of PERVs in healthy pigs as well as in porcine tumours is largely unknown. Since we and others have recently shown overexpression of a human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-K, in human melanomas, we studied the expression of PERVs in melanomas of selectively bred Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll. This breeding herd of MMS Troll is characterised by a high prevalence of melanomas, which histologically resemble various types of cutaneous melanomas in humans. Several genetic factors have been defined when studying inheritance of melanomas and melanocytic nevi in MMS Troll. Here we show that the polytropic PERV-A and PERV-B as well as the ecotropic PERV-C are present in the genome of all melanoma bearing MMS Troll investigated. Most interestingly, in the spleen, but not in other organs, recombinant PERV-A/C proviruses were found. PERV expression was found elevated in melanomas when compared to normal skin and viral proteins were expressed in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived melanoma cell cultures. During passaging of these cells in vitro the expression of PERV mRNA and protein increased and virus particles were released as shown by RT activity in the supernatant and by electron microscopy. Genomic RNA of PERV-A, -B and -C were found in pelleted virus particles. Although PERV expression was elevated in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived cell cultures, the function of the virus in tumour development is still unclear.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dieckhoff
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puhlmann
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Büscher
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hafner-Marx
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Herbach
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bannert
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins