Quantitative detection of Merkel cell virus in human tissues and possible mode of transmission

Myriam Loyo; Rafael Guerrero-Preston; Mariana Brait; Mohmammad O. Hoque; Alice Chuang; Myoung S. Kim; Rajni Sharma; Nanette J. Liégeois; Wayne M. Koch; Joseph A. Califano; William H. Westra; David Sidransky

doi:10.1002/ijc.24737

Quantitative detection of Merkel cell virus in human tissues and possible mode of transmission

Myriam Loyo, Rafael Guerrero-Preston, Mariana Brait, Mohmammad O. Hoque, Alice Chuang, Myoung S. Kim, Rajni Sharma, Nanette J. Liégeois, Wayne M. Koch, Joseph A. Califano, William H. Westra, David Sidransky

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

151 Scopus citations

Abstract

Merkel Cell Virus (MCV) is a newly discovered polyomavirus, recently found in a rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, MCV has also been detected in some normal tissue samples. We tested and compared the relative quantity of the MCV in a set of diverse human tissue samples with the MCC samples. The levels of MCV in MCCs were over 60 times higher than the highest values in all other tissues. Low quantities of MCV were detected in diverse tissue samples independently of malignant or benign histologic status. Higher levels of the virus were found in the upper aerodigestive tract, digestive system, and saliva compared to the lung and genitourinary system samples. These results confirm that MCV is widespread in the human body and suggest a possible fecal-oral transmission route similar to the Hepatitis A virus. Despite widespread presence of the virus, it appears that only neuroendocrine skin cells are susceptible to transformation by MCV.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2991-2996
Number of pages	6
Journal	International Journal of Cancer
Volume	126
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.24737
State	Published - Jun 15 2010
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Infectious agents and cancer
Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell virus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology
Cancer Research

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10.1002/ijc.24737

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title = "Quantitative detection of Merkel cell virus in human tissues and possible mode of transmission",

abstract = "Merkel Cell Virus (MCV) is a newly discovered polyomavirus, recently found in a rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, MCV has also been detected in some normal tissue samples. We tested and compared the relative quantity of the MCV in a set of diverse human tissue samples with the MCC samples. The levels of MCV in MCCs were over 60 times higher than the highest values in all other tissues. Low quantities of MCV were detected in diverse tissue samples independently of malignant or benign histologic status. Higher levels of the virus were found in the upper aerodigestive tract, digestive system, and saliva compared to the lung and genitourinary system samples. These results confirm that MCV is widespread in the human body and suggest a possible fecal-oral transmission route similar to the Hepatitis A virus. Despite widespread presence of the virus, it appears that only neuroendocrine skin cells are susceptible to transformation by MCV.",

keywords = "Infectious agents and cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, Merkel cell virus",

author = "Myriam Loyo and Rafael Guerrero-Preston and Mariana Brait and Hoque, {Mohmammad O.} and Alice Chuang and Kim, {Myoung S.} and Rajni Sharma and Li{\'e}geois, {Nanette J.} and Koch, {Wayne M.} and Califano, {Joseph A.} and Westra, {William H.} and David Sidransky",

year = "2010",

month = jun,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1002/ijc.24737",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "126",

pages = "2991--2996",

journal = "International Journal of Cancer",

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T1 - Quantitative detection of Merkel cell virus in human tissues and possible mode of transmission

AU - Loyo, Myriam

AU - Guerrero-Preston, Rafael

AU - Brait, Mariana

AU - Hoque, Mohmammad O.

AU - Chuang, Alice

AU - Kim, Myoung S.

AU - Sharma, Rajni

AU - Liégeois, Nanette J.

AU - Koch, Wayne M.

AU - Califano, Joseph A.

AU - Westra, William H.

AU - Sidransky, David

PY - 2010/6/15

Y1 - 2010/6/15

N2 - Merkel Cell Virus (MCV) is a newly discovered polyomavirus, recently found in a rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, MCV has also been detected in some normal tissue samples. We tested and compared the relative quantity of the MCV in a set of diverse human tissue samples with the MCC samples. The levels of MCV in MCCs were over 60 times higher than the highest values in all other tissues. Low quantities of MCV were detected in diverse tissue samples independently of malignant or benign histologic status. Higher levels of the virus were found in the upper aerodigestive tract, digestive system, and saliva compared to the lung and genitourinary system samples. These results confirm that MCV is widespread in the human body and suggest a possible fecal-oral transmission route similar to the Hepatitis A virus. Despite widespread presence of the virus, it appears that only neuroendocrine skin cells are susceptible to transformation by MCV.

AB - Merkel Cell Virus (MCV) is a newly discovered polyomavirus, recently found in a rare skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, MCV has also been detected in some normal tissue samples. We tested and compared the relative quantity of the MCV in a set of diverse human tissue samples with the MCC samples. The levels of MCV in MCCs were over 60 times higher than the highest values in all other tissues. Low quantities of MCV were detected in diverse tissue samples independently of malignant or benign histologic status. Higher levels of the virus were found in the upper aerodigestive tract, digestive system, and saliva compared to the lung and genitourinary system samples. These results confirm that MCV is widespread in the human body and suggest a possible fecal-oral transmission route similar to the Hepatitis A virus. Despite widespread presence of the virus, it appears that only neuroendocrine skin cells are susceptible to transformation by MCV.

KW - Infectious agents and cancer

KW - Merkel cell carcinoma

KW - Merkel cell virus

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DO - 10.1002/ijc.24737

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JO - International Journal of Cancer

JF - International Journal of Cancer

IS - 12

ER -

Quantitative detection of Merkel cell virus in human tissues and possible mode of transmission

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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