title: Detection of a novel truncating Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: N Deepa
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pantulu
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pallasch
authors.forename: Anna Kordelia
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frenzel
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sodenkamp
authors.forename: Hans Michael
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kvasnicka
authors.forename: Clemens M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wendtner
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zur Hausen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming