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The human polyomavirus BK: Potential role in cancer
D Fioriti1, M Videtta, M Mischitelli
1Department of Public Health Sciences, University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
Journal of Cellular Physiology
|February 4, 2005
Summary
Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) can infect the urinary tract and lymphocytes, with BKV DNA transforming animal cells. However, its role in human cancer remains unproven due to inefficient transformation and asymptomatic shedding.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) is linked to kidney and bone marrow transplant complications.
- BKV establishes persistent infections in the urinary tract and lymphocytes after initial, often asymptomatic, infection.
- Correlative evidence suggests a potential role for BKV in human cancer pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for BK virus's role in human cancer.
- To evaluate the transforming potential of BKV DNA in animal and human cells.
- To discuss the challenges in definitively linking BKV to human cancer development.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on BKV and cancer.
- Analysis of studies on BKV DNA's transforming capabilities in various cell types.
- Discussion of diagnostic challenges, including PCR detection and asymptomatic viral shedding.
Main Results:
- BKV DNA can transform cells from multiple animal species, including fibroblasts and kidney/brain cells.
- Transformation of human cells by BKV is inefficient and frequently abortive.
- Persistent BKV infections and asymptomatic urinary shedding complicate etiological investigations.
Conclusions:
- While BKV DNA shows transforming potential in animal models, its direct causal role or cofactor activity in human cancer is not definitively established.
- Further research is needed to clarify the oncogenic potential of BKV in humans.
- The prevalence of persistent BKV infections complicates the assessment of its role in human cancer.