Merkel cell polyomavirus: A newly discovered human virus with oncogenic potential

Abstract A marked escalation in the rate of discovery of new types of human polyomavirus has occurred over the last five years largely owing to recent technological advances in their detection. Among the newly discovered viruses, Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV or MCV) has gained the most attention...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2013-01, Vol.435 (1), p.118-130
Main Authors: Spurgeon, Megan E, Lambert, Paul F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addiction
Antigen T (large)
Antigens, Viral, Tumor - genetics
Antigens, Viral, Tumor - metabolism
Attention
Carcinoma
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - pathology
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - virology
Cell culture
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics
DNA
DNA tumor virus
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Infection
Infectious Disease
Life cycle
MCPyV
MCV
Merkel
Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Merkel cell polyomavirus - pathogenicity
Merkel cell polyomavirus - physiology
Molecular modelling
Mutation
Neurotransmission
Oncology
Polyomavirus
Polyomavirus Infections - pathology
Polyomavirus Infections - transmission
Polyomavirus Infections - virology
Replication
Skin
Skin - immunology
Skin - pathology
Skin - virology
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Skin Neoplasms - virology
Transformation
Translation
Tropism
Tumor antigen
Tumor Virus Infections - pathology
Tumor Virus Infections - transmission
Tumor Virus Infections - virology
Viral Tropism
Virus Replication
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Summary:Abstract A marked escalation in the rate of discovery of new types of human polyomavirus has occurred over the last five years largely owing to recent technological advances in their detection. Among the newly discovered viruses, Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV or MCV) has gained the most attention due to its link with a rare human cancer. Infection with MCPyV is common in the human population, and the virus is detected in several anatomical locations, but most frequently in skin. Study of MCPyV molecular virology has been complicated by the lack of straightforward cell culture models, but recent in vitro studies are making strides towards understanding the virus life cycle, its cellular tropism, and mode of transmission. While MCPyV shares several traditional traits with other human polyomaviruses, the burst of research since its discovery reveals insight into a virus with many unique genetic and mechanistic features. The evidence for a causal link between MCPyV and the rare neuroendocrine cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), is compelling. A majority of MCCs contain clonally integrated viral DNA, express viral T antigen transcripts and protein, and exhibit an addiction to the viral large T and small t antigen oncoproteins. The MCPyV large T antigen contains MCC tumor-specific mutations that ablate its replication capacity but preserve its oncogenic functions, and the small t antigen promotes an environment favorable for cap-dependent translation. The mechanisms of MCPyV-induced transformation have not been fully elucidated, but the likely etiological role of this new polyomavirus in human cancer provides a strong opportunity to expand knowledge of virus–host interactions and viral oncology.
ISSN:0042-6822
1096-0341
DOI:10.1016/j.virol.2012.09.029