Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in the Context of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 709
• Main Authors: Passerini, Sara, Babini, Giulia, Merenda, Elisabetta, Carletti, Raffaella, Scribano, Daniela, Rosa, Luigi, Conte, Antonietta Lucia, Moens, Ugo, Ottolenghi, Livia, Romeo, Umberto, Conte, Maria Pia, Di Gioia, Cira Rosaria Tiziana, Pietropaolo, Valeria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Development and progression; Genes; Genomes; Infections; LTAg; Merkel Cell Polyomavirus; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs; miRNA; miRNAs; Oral cancer; Oral carcinoma; Oral cavity; oral diseases; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Pathology; Polymerase chain reaction; Proteins; Public health; Risk factors; Skin; Squamous cell carcinoma; Transgenic animals; Tumorigenesis; Tumors; VP1; VP1 protein; oral diseases; miRNAs; LTAg; VP1; Merkel Cell Polyomavirus; oral cancer
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040709

Despite recent advances in prevention, detection and treatment, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a global health concern, strongly associated with environmental and lifestyle risk factors and infection with oncogenic viruses. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV), well known to be the causative agent of Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) has been found in OSCC, suggesting its potential role as a co-factor in the development of oral cavity cancers. To improve our understanding about MCPyV in oral cavities, the detection and analysis of MCPyV DNA, transcripts and miRNA were performed on OSCCs and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). In addition, the cellular miR-375, known to be deregulated in tumors, was examined. MCPyV DNA was found in 3 out of 11 OSCC and 4 out of 12 OPMD samples, with a viral mean value of 1.49 × 10 copies/mL. Viral integration was not observed and LTAg and VP1 transcripts were detected. Viral miRNAs were not detected whereas the cellular miR-375 was found over expressed in all MCPyV positive oral specimens. Our results reported evidence of MCPyV replication in both OSCC and OPMD suggesting the oral cavity as a site of replicative MCPyV infection, therefore underscoring an active role of this virus in the occurrence of oral lesions.