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Human Merkel cell polyomavirus infection II. MCV is a common human infection that can be detected by conformational capsid epitope immunoassays

  1. Yanis L. Tolstov1,
  2. Diana V. Pastrana2,
  3. Huichen Feng1,
  4. Jürgen C. Becker3,
  5. Frank J. Jenkins4,
  6. Stergios Moschos5,
  7. Yuan Chang1,†,‡,*,
  8. Christopher B. Buck2,†,*,
  9. Patrick S. Moore1,†,‡,*

Article first published online: 14 APR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24509

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 125, Issue 6, pages 1250–1256, 15 September 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tolstov, Y. L., Pastrana, D. V., Feng, H., Becker, J. C., Jenkins, F. J., Moschos, S., Chang, Y., Buck, C. B. and Moore, P. S. (2009), Human Merkel cell polyomavirus infection II. MCV is a common human infection that can be detected by conformational capsid epitope immunoassays. Int. J. Cancer, 125: 1250–1256. doi: 10.1002/ijc.24509

Author Information

  1. 1

    Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

  2. 2

    Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  3. 3

    Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy, University Clinic of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

  4. 4

    Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

  5. 5

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

  1. †

    Yuan Chang, Christopher B. Buck and Patrick S. Moore contributed equally to this work.

  2. ‡

    Fax: +412-623-7715.

*Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.8, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

  1. †

    Yuan Chang, Christopher B. Buck and Patrick S. Moore contributed equally to this work.

  2. ‡

    Fax: +412-623-7715.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 14 APR 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 8 APR 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 6 MAR 2009

Funded by

  • NIH. Grant Numbers: CA136363, CA120726
  • The Al Copeland Foundation
  • University of Pittsburgh EXPLORER Award
  • University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute Catalyst Training Program

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Keywords:

  • Merkel cell polyomavirus;
  • Merkel cell carcinoma;
  • virus-like particles;
  • enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;
  • serologic assay

Abstract

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) is a newly-discovered human tumor virus found in ∼80% of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The rate of MCV infection among persons without MCC is unknown. We developed a MCV virus-like particle (VLP) enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) that does not cross-react with human BK or murine polyomaviruses. Peptide mapping of the MCV VP1 gene and immunoblotting with denatured MCV VLP are less sensitive than the MCV EIA in detecting MCV antibodies suggesting antibody reactivity in this assay primarily targets conformational but not linear epitopes. Among MCC patients, all 21 (100%) patients tested with MCV-positive tumors had high serum MCV IgG but not high MCV IgM levels. Only 3 of 6 (50%) MCC patients with MCV-negative tumors were positive for MCV antibodies. Sera from most adults, including 107 of 166 (64%) blood donors, 63 of 100 (63%) commercial donors and 37 of 50 (74%) systemic lupus erythematosus patients, show evidence for prior MCV exposure. Age-specific MCV prevalence was determined by examining a cross-sectional distribution of 150 Langerhans cell histiocytosis (an unrelated neoplasm) patient sera. MCV prevalence increases from 50% among children age 15 years or younger to 80% among persons older than 50 years. We did not find evidence for vertical transmission among infants. Although past exposure to MCV is common among all adult groups, MCC patients have a markedly elevated MCV IgG response compared with control patients. Our study demonstrates that MCV is a widespread but previously unrecognized human infection. © 2009 UICC

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