A new evaluation of the rearranged non-coding control region of JC virus in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the presence of JC virus (JCV) in human tumors, The association of JCV and CRC remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the rearranged NCCR region of the detected JCV DNA in CRC patients' tissue samples. METHODS: In this case-control study, tumor tissues (n = 60), adjacent normal tissues (n = 60), and urine samples (n = 60) of the CRC patients were collected. The nested PCR was employed to detect the VP1 and NCCR regions of the JCV genome. The positive JCV PCR products were sequenced and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the JCV genotypes. After extracting RNA and preparing cDNA, the expression of JCV LTAg was examined in 60 tumor tissues and 60 adjacent normal tissues. The analysis of JCV LTAg expression was performed using GraphPad Prism software version 8. RESULTS: The analysis reveals that JCV DNA was detected in 35/60 (58.3%) tumor tissues, while 36/60 (60.0%) of adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.85). JCV DNA was detected in 42/60 (70.0%) urine samples when compared to 35/60 (58.3%) tumor tissues of CRC patients and was not found significant (P = 0.25). The phylogenetic tree analysis showed the dominant JCV genotype 3, followed by genotype 2D was distributed in tumor tissue, normal tissue, and urine samples of the CRC patients. Analysis of randomly selected NCCR sequences from JCV regions in tumor tissue samples revealed the presence of rearranged NCCR blocks of different lengths.: 431 bp, 292 bp, 449 bp, and 356 bp. These rearranged NCCR blocks differ from the rearranged NCCR blocks described in PML-type Mad-1, Mad-4, Mad-7, and Mad-8 prototypes. The expression of JCV LTAg was significantly different in tumor tissue compared to normal tissue, with a p-value of less than 0.002. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of 35%> of the tumor tissue and urine samples of the CRC patients was found to be positive for JCV DNA (P = 0.25). The parallel analysis of tumor and urine samples for JCV DNA further supports the potential for non-invasive screening tools. This study provides new insights into Rearranged NCCR variant isolates from patients with CRC. The significant difference in JCV LTAg expression between tumor and normal tissue indicates a latent JCV status potentially leading to cancer development.

Status of anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies among the hemodialysis patients in southwest region of Iran.

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) account for acute hepatitis, fulminant liver failure and chronic hepatitis worldwide. Several high risk groups including hemodialysis (HD) patients are at risk of HEV infection. Based on consequences of HEV infection it is important to determine the serological and molecular epidemiology of HEV in HD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of HEV antibodies and HEV RNA in HD patients. Materials and Methods: The sera of 84 HD patients were collected and tested for anti-HEV IgG and anti IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at Golestan hospital in Ahvaz city during October 2014 and November 2014. HEV RNA was tested in HD patients using RT PCR. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was evaluated in the age group (52/84) > 50 and (31/84) < 50 years. Results: Out of 84 patients, 52 (61.9%) were males and 32 (38.1%) females. The mean age of participants was 52 ± 1.57 years. 43/84 (51.19%) cases including 26/52 (50%) males and 17/32 (53.1%) females were positive for anti-HEV IgG (p=0.95). Among the 43 cases positive anti-HEV IgG 8 cases including 5 (9.61%) males and 3 (9.37%) females tested positive for anti-HEV IgM (p=0.729) while the HEV RNA was negative in HD patients. The distribution of anti-HEV IgG was 62.75% and 33.33% among the age group >50 and <50 respectively (p=0.015). Conclusion: This study showed high prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies (51.19%) were observed among the HD patients while the HEV RNA tested negative in HD patients. The rate of HEV IgG is significantly higher with increased age. Further investigation require to identify the factors account for high seroprevalence of HEV in Ahvaz HD units.

Study on JV Virus in Patients with Colon Cancer Type Adenocarcinoma

Colorectal cancer is the most repetitious malignancies with high mortality worldwide. JC virus (JCV) is ubiquitous Polyomavirus, with seroprevalence rates ranging from 70% to 90% in adult population. Recently the role of JCV have been reported in many malignant tumors worldwide. The association of JCV was reported in patients with colon and rectum cancers. Thus this study was conducted to evaluate the association of JCV DNA in patients with colon cancer type Adenocarcinoma. Material and Methods: A total of 120 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks samples were collected including 20/40(50%) males, 20/40(50%) females patients with Colorectal Cancer(CRC), and 80 (50% males, 50% females) patients with benign tumor as a control. DNA was extracted for all the samples. Nested PCR was carried out for detection of Vp1/T-Ag junction genome in JCV genome by Nested-PCR assay. Randomly, PCR products of 6 samples were sequenced to analysis the partial JCV DNA. The phylogeny tree was constructed to determine homology identity with other JCV. Results: 4/40(10%) samples of test group and 10/80 (12.5%) of control samples were positive for JCV DNA (P= 0.69). Out of 4 samples positive for JC DNA, 3(7.5%) were males and 1(2.4%) female (P=0.29). The frequency of JCV DNA in age group> 50 years was 4/32(10%), while in age group <50 years was 0/8 (0%) (p= 0.29). Conclusion: prevalence of JCV DNA was among 10% patients with CRC and 12.5% benign tumors (p=0.69). The distribution of JCV DNA was among 7.5% male and 2.5% female (p= 0.29). The frequency of JCV DNA was among 10% cases of age group >50 years and 0% of age group <50 years (P= 0.29). The subsequent T-Ag protein expression might explain the increased risk of colorectal cancer and requires further investigation.