title: Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinogenesis: small T antigen-mediates c-Jun phosphorylation.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). The MCPyV genome, which is clonally integrated in the majority of MCCs, encodes the regulatory small T (sT) antigen. Previously, reports have established MCPyV sT antigen as a potent oncogene capable of inducing cell transformation. In the current study, we demonstrate a distinct role for c-Jun hyperactivation in MCPyV sT antigen pathogenesis. As MCPyV sT antigen's association with aggressive cancer growth has been previously established, this finding may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of MCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Julie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Simonette
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Harrison P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Rady
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. styring@ccstexas.com.
authors.forename: Stephen K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tyring
mesh_terms: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
keywords: ERK; MEK; Merkel cell carcinoma; Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV); Small T antigen; c-Jun