A comparative study of Merkel cell, BK and JC polyomavirus infections in renal transplant recipients and healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer associated with immunosuppression and the integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA into the tumor cell genome. Little is known about the natural history of MCPyV infection.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of MCPyV, BK and JC polyomaviruses in serum and urine from immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients (KTx) and a control group of normal volunteers.


METHODS
Quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) was used to assess MCPyV, BKV and JCV viral load in urine and serum samples collected from normal donors (Group A), prospectively enrolled KTx patients (Group B) and from KTx with documented BK reactivation and/or nephropathy (Group C).


RESULTS
Low levels of MCPyV viruria was seen in 15% of the subjects in Group A, 30% of Group B, and was not detected in Group C. No individuals in the study developed MCPyV viremia. BK viruria was seen in 5% of Group A, 30% of Group B, and 100% of Group C. Consistent with previous reports, the mean BKV urinary load was significantly higher in immunosuppressed patients compared to non-immunosuppressed controls and also higher in urine compared to serum samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Like BKV and JCV, MCPyV is likely a common infection in adult humans. Low level shedding of MCPyV in urine was similar in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients to non-immunosuppressed subjects. However, MCPyV was not detected and JCV was infrequent in samples from KTx patients with clinical BKV reactivation.
Husseiny
Mohamed I
MI
Division of Translational Vaccine Research, Department of Virology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA.
Anastasi
Bishoy
B
Singer
Jennifer
J
Lacey
Simon F
SF
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology; D014180:Transplantation; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D017201:Virus Shedding