Multiple Signatures of the JC Polyomavirus in Paired Normal and Altered Colorectal Mucosa Indicate a Link with Human Colorectal Cancer, but Not with Cancer Progression

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 20; no. 23; p. 5965
• Main Authors: Uleri, Elena, Piu, Claudia, Caocci, Maurizio, Ibba, Gabriele, Sanges, Francesca, Pira, Giovanna, Murgia, Luciano, Barmina, Michele, Giannecchini, Simone, Porcu, Alberto, Serra, Caterina, Scanu, Antonio M, De Miglio, Maria R, Dolei, Antonina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.11.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma - virology; Adenoma; Adenoma - metabolism; Adenoma - pathology; Adenoma - virology; Aged; Antigens; Antigens, Viral, Tumor - metabolism; Cell cycle; Chromosomes; Colonic Neoplasms - metabolism; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - virology; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - metabolism; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - virology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease Progression; DNA; DNA, Viral - genetics; Female; Gene expression; Genomes; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Intestinal Mucosa - virology; JC Virus - pathogenicity; Lesions; Male; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; MicroRNAs; Middle Aged; mRNA; Mucosa; Polymerase chain reaction; Polyomavirus Infections - metabolism; Polyomavirus Infections - pathology; Polyomavirus Infections - virology; Polyps; Proteins; Tumor Virus Infections - metabolism; Tumor Virus Infections - pathology; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; VP1 protein; JC polyomavirus; adenomatous polyps; colorectal cancer; T-antigen; NCCR non-coding control region; oncogenesis
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235965
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596

The JC polyomavirus (JCV) has been repeatedly but discordantly detected in healthy colonic mucosa, adenomatous polyps, and colorectal cancer (CRC), and proposed to contribute to oncogenesis. The controversies may derive from differences in JCV targets, patient's cohorts, and methods. Studies of simultaneous detection, quantification, and characterization of JCV presence/expression in paired samples of normal/altered tissues of the same patient are lacking. Therefore, we simultaneously quantified JCV presence (DNA) and expression (mRNA and protein) of T-antigen ( ), Viral Protein 1 ( ), and in paired normal/altered tissues of CRC or polyps, and from controls. JCV signatures were found in most samples. They increased in patients, but were higher in normal mucosa than in corresponding polyp or CRC lesions. JCV non-coding control region DNA rearrangements increased in CRC patients, also in normal mucosa, thus before the onset of the lesion. A new ∆98bp DNA rearrangement was detected. levels were higher in normal mucosa than in adenoma and adenocarcinoma lesions, but decreased to levels of controls in established CRC lesions. In CRC, expression decreased with CRC progression. expression was not detected. The data indicate a JCV link with the disease, but possible JCV contributes to oncogenesis should occur at pre-polyp stages.