Detection of a novel truncating Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is detected in approximately 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC). Yet, clonal integration and truncating mutations of the large T antigen (LTAg) of MCPyV are restricted to MCC. We tested the presence and mutations of MCPyV in highly purified leukemic cells of 70 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. MCPyV was detected in 27.1% (n = 19) of these CLL cases. In contrast, MCPyV was detected only in 13.4% of normal controls (P < .036) in which no LTAg mutations were found. Mutational analyses revealed a novel 246bp LTAg deletion in the helicase gene in 6 of 19 MCPyV-positive CLL cases. 2 CLL cases showed concomitant mutated and wild-type MCPyV. Immunohistochemistry revealed protein expression of the LTAg in MCPyV-positive CLL cases. The detection of MCPyV, including LTAg deletions and LTAg expression in CLL cells argues for a potential role of MCPyV in a significant subset of CLL cases.
Pantulu
N Deepa
ND
Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Pallasch
Christian P
CP
Kurz
Anna Kordelia
AK
Kassem
Ahmad
A
Frenzel
Lukas
L
Sodenkamp
Sebastian
S
Kvasnicka
Hans Michael
HM
Wendtner
Clemens M
CM
Zur Hausen
Axel
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000821:virology; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D018862:Merkel Cells; D008875:Middle Aged; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming