Oncogene-specific T cells fail to eradicate lymphoma-initiating B cells in mice.

To date, little is known about the interaction between (pre-)malignant B cells and T cells. We generated transgenic mice that allow B cell-specific induction of the oncogene SV40 large T-antigen (TAg) to analyze the role of oncogene-specific T cells during sporadic B-cell lymphoma development. Constitutive TAg expression in CD19-Cre × LoxP-Tag mice resulted in TAg-tolerant CD8+ T cells and development of B-cell lymphomas. In contrast, CD19-CreERT2 × LoxP-Tag mice retained TAg-competent CD8+ T cells at time of oncogene induction and TAg expression in few B cells of adult mice resulted in exceptionally rare lymphoma formation late in life. Increased lymphoma incidence in the absence of TAg-specific T cells suggested T cell-mediated inhibition of lymphoma progression. However, TAg-initiated B cells were not eliminated by T cells and detected long term. Our results demonstrate a failure of the immune system to eradicate lymphoma-initiating B cells, retaining the risk of lymphoma development.

A monoclonal antibody against SV40 large T antigen (PAb416) does not label Merkel cell carcinoma.

AIMS: Merkel cell carcinoma represents poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of cutaneous origin. In most studies, the vast majority of Merkel cell carcinomas are Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)-associated. SV40 polyomavirus immunohistochemistry is typically used in the diagnosis of other polyomavirus-associated diseases, including tubulointerstitial nephritis and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, given cross-reactivity with BK and JC polyomaviruses. MCPyV-specific immunohistochemistry is commercially available, but, if antibodies against SV40 also cross-reacted with MCPyV, that would be advantageous from a resource-utilisation perspective. METHODS AND RESULTS: Tissue microarrays were constructed from 39 Merkel cell carcinomas, 24 small-cell lung carcinomas, and 18 extrapulmonary visceral small-cell carcinomas. SV40 large T antigen immunohistochemistry (clone PAb416) was performed; MCPyV large T antigen immunohistochemistry (clone CM2B4) had been previously performed. UniProt was used to compare the amino acid sequences of the SV40, BK, JC and MCPyV large T antigens, focusing on areas recognised by the PAb416 and CM2B4 clones. SV40 immunohistochemistry was negative in all tumours; MCPyV immunohistochemistry was positive in 38% of Merkel cell carcinomas and in 0% of non-cutaneous poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. UniProt analysis revealed a high degree of similarity between SV40, BK, and JC viruses in the region recognised by PAb416. There was less homology between SV40 and MCPyV in this region, which was also interrupted by two long stretches of amino acids unique to MCPyV. The CM2B4 clone recognises a unique epitope in one of these stretches. CONCLUSIONS: The PAb416 antibody against the SV40 large T antigen does not cross-react with MCPyV large T antigen, and thus does not label Merkel cell carcinoma.

The diagnostic utility of Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry in a fine needle aspirate of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown primary to the pancreas.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin tumor with a high tendency for metastases. We report a case of MCC initially presenting as axillary and pancreatic metastases. A 33-year-old HIV-positive Hispanic male presented with a history of a rapidly growing axillary mass. A needle core biopsy demonstrated an epithelioid neoplasm composed of small to medium-sized cells with high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear molding, and frequent mitotic figures. A subsequent PET scan revealed a 1.5 cm FDG avid mass in the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA of the pancreatic mass showed neoplastic cells with similar morphology to those of the axillary mass. The tumor cells were positive with pancytokeratin AE1/AE3, CK20, CD56, synatophysin, chromogranin, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). This case of MCC most likely originated from a resolved primary skin lesion drained by the involved axillary lymph node with subsequent metastases to the pancreas and distant lymph nodes.

A novel method for measuring hydraulic conductivity at the human blood-nerve barrier in vitro.

Microvascular barrier permeability to water is an essential biophysical property required for the homeostatic maintenance of unique tissue microenvironments. This is of particular importance in peripheral nerves where strict control of ionic concentrations is needed for axonal signal transduction. Previous studies have associated inflammation, trauma, toxin exposure and metabolic disease with increases in water influx and hydrostatic pressure in peripheral nerves with resultant endoneurial edema that may impair axonal function. The regulation of water permeability across endoneurial microvessels that form the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) is poorly understood. Variations exist in apparatus and methods used to measure hydraulic conductivity. The objective of the study was to develop a simplified hydraulic conductivity system using commercially available components to evaluate the BNB. We determined the mean hydraulic conductivity of cultured confluent primary and immortalized human endoneurial endothelial cell layers as 2.00×10-7 and 2.17×10-7cm/s/cm H2O respectively, consistent with restrictive microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. We also determined the mean hydraulic conductivity of immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cell layers, a commonly used blood-brain barrier (BBB) cell line, as 0.20×10-7cm/s/cm H2O, implying a mean 10-fold higher resistance to transendothelial water flux in the brain compared to peripheral nerves. To our knowledge, this is the first reported measurement of human BNB and BBB hydraulic conductivities. This model represents an important tool to further characterize the human BNB and deduce the molecular determinants and signaling mechanisms responsible for BNB hydraulic conductivity in normal and disease states in vitro.

Tumor-Specific T Cell Dysfunction Is a Dynamic Antigen-Driven Differentiation Program Initiated Early during Tumorigenesis.

CD8(+) T cells recognizing tumor-specific antigens are detected in cancer patients but are dysfunctional. Here we developed a tamoxifen-inducible liver cancer mouse model with a defined oncogenic driver antigen (SV40 large T-antigen) to follow the activation and differentiation of naive tumor-specific CD8(+) T (TST) cells after tumor initiation. Early during the pre-malignant phase of tumorigenesis, TST cells became dysfunctional, exhibiting phenotypic, functional, and transcriptional features similar to dysfunctional T cells isolated from late-stage human tumors. Thus, T cell dysfunction seen in advanced human cancers may already be established early during tumorigenesis. Although the TST cell dysfunctional state was initially therapeutically reversible, it ultimately evolved into a fixed state. Persistent antigen exposure rather than factors associated with the tumor microenvironment drove dysfunction. Moreover, the TST cell differentiation and dysfunction program exhibited features distinct from T cell exhaustion in chronic infections. Strategies to overcome this antigen-driven, cell-intrinsic dysfunction may be required to improve cancer immunotherapy.

SV40 T-Antigen Amino Acid Changes that Disrupt Cul-7 or Bub-1 Binding Do Not Globally Distort the T-Common Region.

BACKGROUND: Amino acids 1-107 of the SV40 T antigen constitute a functionally important and complex region. Cellular proteins, Hsc70, Bub-1, Cul-7, and Rb, each of which is involved in cell growth control or genomic stability, bind within this portion of the T antigen. Mutational analysis has mapped the J domain/Hsc70, Bub-1, and the Rb binding motifs. Two regions of the T antigen have been implicated in Cul-7 binding. Mutation of F98A diminished Cul-7 binding, and deletion of amino acids 68-83 abolished it. The authors suggest, based on T-antigen structure, that F98 is inaccessible and that the F98A change altered the configuration of the upstream region, preventing Cul-7 binding. Our objective was to determine, by using monoclonal T-antigen antibodies, whether F98 is accessible and whether F98A substitution globally distorted the T-common region. METHODS: Cell-expressing T antigens, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblot were used to determine the accessibility of amino acids. CONCLUSION: Full-length T-antigen and N-terminal fragments containing F98A were immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibody PAb902, which recognizes a conformation-dependent epitope within the first 82 amino acids. Therefore, this alteration does not globally distort the entire T-common region. Additionally, PAb416, which displaces Cul-7 from the T antigen and immunoprecipitates bound pRb peptides, depends on F98 for binding, implying that amino acid 98 is part of the epitope and accessible in the native T antigen.

Cutaneous Human Polyomavirus Small T Antigens and 4E-BP1 Targeting.

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV), human polyomavirus 6 (HPyV6), and human polyomavirus 7 (HPyV7) are implicated in the pathogeneses of distinct hyperproliferative cutaneous growths and encode small tumor (sT) antigens. The current study demonstrates that the four sT antigens differentially regulate 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) serine 65 hyperphosphorylation. MCPyV and HPyV7 sT antigens were found to promote the presence of the hyperphosphorylated 4E-BP1-δ isoform, while TSPyV and HPyV6 sT antigens had no significant effects. Given that hyperphosphorylated 4E-BP1 is associated with an aggressive cancer phenotype, our findings confirm the previously reported pathogenicity of MCPyV sT and highlight a novel mechanism by which HPyV7 sT may mediate oncogenesis.

Function of Hsf1 in SV40 T­antigen­transformed HEK293T cells.

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), a main regulator of the heat shock response in eukaryotes, increases cell survival in numerous pathophysiological conditions. The aim of the present study was to o bserve the function of defective HSF1 expression in HEK293T cells. shRNA of human HSF1 was constructed into the retroviral vector pLTHR generating pLTHR­shRNA­HSF1. The shRNA was transiently transfected into HEK293T cells to silence the expression of the HSF1 gene. Cell colony formation, MTT and cell cycle assays were used to analyze the SV40 T­antigen (Ag)­transformed cell proliferation rate. Immunoblotting was used to study the protein expression of HSF1, SV40 T­Ag, p53, p21, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), Hsp70 and Hsp25. The results revealed that a deficiency in HSF1 expression inhibited cellular growth. Defective HSF1 upregulated the protein expression of p53, retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and SV40 T­Ag, and reduced the association between SV40 T­Ag and p53/Rb, which resulted in growth inhibition of SV40 T­Ag­transformed cells. In conclusion, HSF1 is involved in the regulation of SV40 T­Ag­induced cell growth and modulates the expression of p53 and Rb proteins.

Genetic and structural analysis of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen from diverse biological samples.

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) large T antigen (LT-ag) is frequently found truncated in Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) and it is considered a major tumor-specific signature. Nonetheless, the biological role of LT-ag nontruncated mutations is largely unknown. In this study, MCPyV LT-ag second exon from 11 non-MCC oral samples and NCBI sequences derived from different anatomical sites were studied from the genetic and structural standpoint. As expected, the LT-ag mutation profile was influenced by the geographical origin of the sample, although nonsynonymous mutations were more frequent in lesional tissues. Our in silico study suggests that the mutations found would not significantly affect protein functions, regardless of sample category. This work presents a thorough investigation of the structural and functional properties of LT-ag nontruncated mutations in MCPyV. Our results sustain the geographical influence of the MCPyV genetic profile, but do not discard genetic tissue specificities. Further investigation involving other genetic segments in healthy and lesional tissues are necessary to improve our knowledge on MCPyV pathogenesis.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells migrate to healthy and damaged salivary glands following stem cell infusion.

Xerostomia is a severe side effect of radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients. To date, no satisfactory treatment option has been established. Because mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified as a potential treatment modality, we aimed to evaluate stem cell distribution following intravenous and intraglandular injections using a surgical model of salivary gland damage and to analyse the effects of MSC injections on the recruitment of immune cells. The submandibular gland ducts of rats were surgically ligated. Syngeneic adult MSCs were isolated, immortalised by simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen and characterized by flow cytometry. MSCs were injected intravenously and intraglandularly. After 1, 3 and 7 days, the organs of interest were analysed for stem cell recruitment. Inflammation was analysed by immunohistochemical staining. We were able to demonstrate that, after intravenous injection, MSCs were recruited to normal and damaged submandibular glands on days 1, 3 and 7. Unexpectedly, stem cells were recruited to ligated and non-ligated glands in a comparable manner. After intraglandular injection of MSCs into ligated glands, the presence of MSCs, leucocytes and macrophages was enhanced, compared to intravenous injection of stem cells. Our data suggest that injected MSCs were retained within the inflamed glands, could become activated and subsequently recruited leucocytes to the sites of tissue damage.

Simian virus 40 large T antigen induces IFN-stimulated genes through ATR kinase.

Polyomaviruses encode a large T Ag (LT), a multifunctional protein essential for the regulation of both viral and host cell gene expression and productive viral infection. Previously, we have shown that stable expression of LT protein results in upregulation of genes involved in the IFN induction and signaling pathway. In this study, we focus on the cellular signaling mechanism that leads to the induction of IFN responses by LT. Our results show that ectopic expression of SV40 LT results in the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in human fibroblasts and confers an antiviral state. We describe a LT-initiated DNA damage response (DDR) that activates IFN regulatory factor 1, causing IFN-ß production and consequent ISG expression in human cells. This IFN-ß and ISG induction is dependent on ataxia-telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, but independent of ATM. ATR kinase inhibition using a selective kinase inhibitor (ETP-46464) caused a decrease in IFN regulatory factor 1 stabilization and ISG expression. Furthermore, expression of a mutant LT that does not induce DDR also does not induce IFN-ß and ISGs. These results show that, in the absence of viral infection, LT-initiated activation of ATR-dependent DDR is sufficient for the induction of an IFN-ß-mediated innate immune response in human cells. Thus, we have uncovered a novel and critical role for ATR as a mediator of antiviral responses utilizing LT.

What we learn from in vivo EPR oxygen images.

Distributions of oxygen concentration (pO2) are a critical determinant of normal tissue health as well as tumor aggressiveness and response to therapy. A number of studies show the value of normal tissue and tumor tissue oxygenation images and some of these will be discussed here. A strong correlation between tumor hypoxic fraction as measured with electron paramagnetic resonance oxygen imaging and radiation treatment success or failure has been found in two separate cancer types. Oxygen images of the torso of wild type mice show initial reduction of lung, liver, visceral, and muscle pO2 with cyclic halving of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), but variation is blunted over an hour. Spontaneous breast cancers in Mouse Mammary Tumor Viral (MMTV) promoted-polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT) mice with BNIP3, a major factor in promotion of mitochondrial autophagy, knocked out will be compared with wild type animals. Preliminary studies for the BNIP3 knock out animals show extremely low pO2. The wide variety of studies, in which oxygen images can play an integral role, serve to demonstrate the importance of oxygen images.

Suppression of immunodominant antitumor and antiviral CD8+ T cell responses by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan-degrading enzyme known to suppress antitumor CD8(+) T cells (TCD8). The role of IDO in regulation of antiviral TCD8 responses is far less clear. In addition, whether IDO controls both immunodominant and subdominant TCD8 is not fully understood. This is an important question because the dominance status of tumor- and virus-specific TCD8 may determine their significance in protective immunity and in vaccine design. We evaluated the magnitude and breadth of cross-primed TCD8 responses to simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen as well as primary and recall TCD8 responses to influenza A virus (IAV) in the absence or presence of IDO. IDO(-/-) mice and wild-type mice treated with 1-methyl-D-tryptophan, a pharmacological inhibitor of IDO, exhibited augmented responses to immunodominant epitopes encoded by T antigen and IAV. IDO-mediated suppression of these responses was independent of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells, which remained numerically and functionally intact in IDO(-/-) mice. Treatment with L-kynurenine failed to inhibit TCD8 responses, indicating that tryptophan metabolites are not responsible for the suppressive effect of IDO in our models. Immunodominant T antigen-specific TCD8 from IDO(-/-) mice showed increased Ki-67 expression, suggesting that they may have acquired a more vigorous proliferative capacity in vivo. In conclusion, IDO suppresses immunodominant TCD8 responses to tumor and viral antigens. Our work also demonstrates that systemic primary and recall TCD8 responses to IAV are controlled by IDO. Inhibition of IDO thus represents an attractive adjuvant strategy in boosting anticancer and antiviral TCD8 targeting highly immunogenic antigens.

Regression of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma following transfer of polyomavirus-specific T cells and therapies capable of re-inducing HLA class-I.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer that typically requires the persistent expression of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) oncoproteins that can serve as ideal immunotherapeutic targets. Several immune evasion mechanisms are active in MCC including down-regulation of HLA class-I expression on tumor cells and dysfunctional endogenous MCPyV-specific CD8 T cell responses. To overcome these obstacles, we combined local and systemic immune therapies in a 67-year-old man, who developed metastatic MCPyV-expressing MCC. Intralesional IFNß-1b or targeted single-dose radiation was administered as a pre-conditioning strategy to reverse the down-regulation of HLA-I expression noted in his tumors and to facilitate the subsequent recognition of tumor cells by T cells. This was followed by the adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded polyclonal, polyomavirus-specific T cells as a source of reactive antitumor immunity. The combined regimen was well-tolerated and led to persistent up-regulation of HLA-I expression in the tumor and a durable complete response in two of three metastatic lesions. Relative to historical controls, the patient experienced a prolonged period without development of additional distant metastases (535 days compared to historic median of 200 days, 95% confidence interval = 154-260 days). The transferred CD8(+) T cells preferentially accumulated in the tumor tissue, remained detectable and functional for >200 days, persisted with an effector phenotype, and exhibited evidence of recent in vivo activation and proliferation. The combination of local and systemic immune stimulatory therapies was well-tolerated and may be a promising approach to overcome immune evasion in virus-driven cancers.

STX140, but not paclitaxel, inhibits mammary tumour initiation and progression in C3(1)/SV40 T/t-antigen transgenic mice.

Despite paclitxael's clinical success, treating hormone-refractory breast cancer remains challenging. Paclitaxel has a poor pharmacological profile, characterized by a low therapeutic index (TIX) caused by severe dose limiting toxicities, such as neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy. Consequently, new drugs are urgently required. STX140, a compound previously shown to have excellent efficacy against many tumors, is here compared to paclitaxel in three translational in vivo breast cancer models, a rat model of peripheral neuropathy, and through pharmacological testing. Three different in vivo mouse models of breast cancer were used; the metastatic 4T1 orthotopic model, the C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag model, and the MDA-MB-231 xenograft model. To determine TIX and pharmacological profile of STX140, a comprehensive dosing regime was performed in mice bearing MDA-MD-231 xenografts. Finally, peripheral neuropathy was examined using a rat plantar thermal hyperalgesia model. In the 4T1 metastatic model, STX140 and paclitaxel significantly inhibited primary tumor growth and lung metastases. All C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice in the control and paclitaxel treated groups developed palpable mammary cancer. STX140 blocked 47% of tumors developing and significantly inhibited growth of tumors that did develop. STX140 treatment caused a significant (P<0.001) survival advantage for animals in early and late intervention groups. Conversely, in C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice, paclitaxel failed to inhibit tumor growth and did not increase survival time. Furthermore, paclitaxel, but not STX140, induced significant peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia. These results show that STX140 has a greater anti-cancer efficacy, TIX, and reduced neurotoxicity compared to paclitaxel in C3(1)/SV40 T-Ag mice and therefore may be of significant benefit to patients with breast cancer.

Virus-induced hepatocellular carcinomas cause antigen-specific local tolerance.

T cell surveillance is often effective against virus-associated tumors because of their high immunogenicity. It is not clear why surveillance occasionally fails, particularly against hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We established a transgenic murine model of virus-induced HCC by hepatocyte-specific adenovirus-induced activation of the oncogenic SV40 large T antigen (TAg). Adenovirus infection induced cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) targeted against the virus and TAg, leading to clearance of the infected cells. Despite the presence of functional, antigen-specific T cells, a few virus-infected cells escaped immune clearance and progressed to HCC. These cells expressed TAg at levels similar to HCC isolated from neonatal TAg-tolerant mice, suggesting that CTL clearance does not select for cells with low immunogenicity. Virus-infected mice revealed significantly greater T cell infiltration in early-stage HCC compared with that in late-stage HCC, demonstrating progressive local immune suppression through inefficient T cell infiltration. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 were expressed in all TAg-specific CD8+ T cells and HCC, respectively, which contributed to local tumor-antigen-specific tolerance. Thus, we have developed a model of virus-induced HCC that may allow for a better understanding of human HCC.

Gastrointestinal cancers reactive for the PAb416 antibody against JCV/SV40 T-Ag lack JCV DNA sequences while showing a distinctive pathologic profile.

AIM: Immunohistochemical and molecular studies have suggested an oncogenic role for JCV in gastrointestinal carcinomas, but at least in colorectal cancers, the data are far from being unambiguous. METHODS: Two large series of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric and colorectal cancers were analysed for the expression of JCV large T Antigen (T-Ag) with a panel of five antibodies, and for the presence of T-Ag DNA sequences using two PCR systems. RESULTS: Intense nuclear staining was observed in 54/116 (46%) colorectal, and in 92/234 (39%) gastric cancers, using the PAb416 monoclonal antibody against large T-Ag. In colorectal cancers, PAb416-positivity was directly related to the presence of chromosomal instability, lymph node metastases and a more advanced tumour stage, and inversely related to proximal tumour site and the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI). In gastric cancers, the glandular histotype, the presence of lymph node metastases, a low frequency of MSI and EBV infection, and a worse prognosis were significantly associated with PAb416 immunoreactivity. Moreover, at both these sites, PAb416 expression was significantly associated with p53 nuclear accumulation. No positivity was obtained with all the other four anti-T-Ag-antibodies, and molecular analysis failed to demonstrate the presence of JCV DNA sequences in tested cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our immunohistochemical and molecular results do not support the idea that JCV T-Ag has a role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. It is possible that PAb416, besides binding the viral protein, may cross-react with a hitherto undefined protein whose expression is associated with a distinct pathological profile and, at least in gastric cancers, with worse prognosis.

The role of gamma interferon in DNA vaccine-induced tumor immunity targeting simian virus 40 large tumor antigen.

The central role of CD4+ T lymphocytes in mediating DNA vaccine-induced tumor immunity against the viral oncoprotein simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (Tag) has previously been described by our laboratory. In the present study, we extend our previous findings by examining the roles of IFN-γ and Th1-associated effector cells within the context of DNA immunization in a murine model of pulmonary metastasis. Immunization of BALB/c mice with plasmid DNA encoding SV40 Tag (pCMV-Tag) generated IFN-γ-secreting T lymphocytes that produced this cytokine upon in vitro stimulation with mKSA tumor cells. The role of IFN-γ as a mediator of protection against mKSA tumor development was assessed via in vivo IFN-γ neutralization, and these experiments demonstrated a requirement for this cytokine in the induction immune phase. Neutralization of IFN-γ was associated with a reduction in Th1 cytokine-producing CD4+ and CD8+ splenocytes, as assessed by flow cytometry analysis, and provided further evidence for the role of CD4+ T lymphocytes as drivers of the cellular immune response. Depletion of NK cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes demonstrated the expendability of these cell types individually, but showed a requirement for a resident cytotoxic cell population within the immune effector phase. Our findings demonstrate the importance of IFN-γ in the induction of protective immunity stimulated by pCMV-Tag DNA-based vaccine and help to clarify the general mechanisms by which DNA vaccines trigger immunity to tumor cells.

Improved detection suggests all Merkel cell carcinomas harbor Merkel polyomavirus.

A human polyomavirus was recently discovered in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) specimens. The Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) genome undergoes clonal integration into the host cell chromosomes of MCC tumors and expresses small T antigen and truncated large T antigen. Previous studies have consistently reported that MCPyV can be detected in approximately 80% of all MCC tumors. We sought to increase the sensitivity of detection of MCPyV in MCC by developing antibodies capable of detecting large T antigen by immunohistochemistry. In addition, we expanded the repertoire of quantitative PCR primers specific for MCPyV to improve the detection of viral DNA in MCC. Here we report that a novel monoclonal antibody detected MCPyV large T antigen expression in 56 of 58 (97%) unique MCC tumors. PCR analysis specifically detected viral DNA in all 60 unique MCC tumors tested. We also detected inactivating point substitution mutations of TP53 in the two MCC specimens that lacked large T antigen expression and in only 1 of 56 tumors positive for large T antigen. These results indicate that MCPyV is present in MCC tumors more frequently than previously reported and that mutations in TP53 tend to occur in MCC tumors that fail to express MCPyV large T antigen.

C-terminal deletions of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T-antigen, a highly specific surrogate marker for virally induced malignancy.

In 67-100% of cutaneous Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) integrates into the host genome. Mutations and deletions truncating the C-terminal helicase domain of the T-antigen (TAg) protein have been detected in these MCCs, but not in healthy skin specimens. C-terminal deletions of the TAg nucleic acid sequences are characteristic for about 38% of these cases. While the association of MCPyV with MCC has been proven, it is unknown whether MCPyV may play a similar role in other tumor entities. We describe in detail the development and validation of a novel Merkel cell polyomavirus TAg C-terminus deletion assay (MCPyV ΔC-TAg). The triplex real-time PCR quantifies the N- and C-terminal part of the MCPyV TAg gene and the cellular ß-globin gene. By comparing the copy numbers of the N- and C-terminal part, deletions of the MCPyV TAg C-terminus are rapidly identified. MCPyV ΔC-TAg was used to assess the physical state of MCPyV TAg in a large series of 55 MCCs, 15 cutaneous lymphomas and 47 forehead smears of healthy individuals. Neither DNA positivity nor viral load was able to discriminate MCCs from the other different types of samples. However, deleted TAg C-terminus sequences were detected only in MCPyV positive MCCs (39%). Consequently, detection of deleted C-terminal TAg sequences appears to be a highly specific surrogate marker for virally induced malignancy and should be used to support novel assumed MCPyV-tumor associations. The study further supports the notion that MCPyV does not play a role in cutaneous lymphoma pathogenesis.