Volume 125, Issue 6 pp. 1250-1256
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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

Yanis L. Tolstov

Yanis L. Tolstov

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

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Diana V. Pastrana

Diana V. Pastrana

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

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Huichen Feng

Huichen Feng

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

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Jürgen C. Becker

Jürgen C. Becker

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

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Frank J. Jenkins

Frank J. Jenkins

Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

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Stergios Moschos

Stergios Moschos

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

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Yuan Chang

Corresponding Author

Yuan Chang

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

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

Fax: +412-623-7715.

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

Christopher B. Buck, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

Patrick S. Moore, Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.8, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

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Christopher B. Buck

Corresponding Author

Christopher B. Buck

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

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

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

Christopher B. Buck, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

Patrick S. Moore, Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.8, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

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Patrick S. Moore

Corresponding Author

Patrick S. Moore

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

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

Fax: +412-623-7715.

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

Christopher B. Buck, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

Patrick S. Moore, Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.8, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

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First published: 14 July 2009
Citations: 287

Fax: +412-623-7715.

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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