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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA in Merkel cell carcinomas
1Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary. vargerik@mail.derma.szote.u-szeged.hu
Background:
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive tumour for which an increasing incidence has been reported. A new human polyomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), was recently isolated from these tumours by applying digital transcriptome subtraction methodology.
Objectives:
To detect the presence or absence of MCV in MCCs and other, randomly selected neoplasms.
Methods:
Nine primary or recurrent MCCs from seven patients were examined; 29 other tumours (squamous cell, basal cell and basosquamous carcinomas and malignant melanomas) were examined for comparative purposes. Viral large T protein (LT1 and LT3), and viral capsid protein (VP1) were detected by primer-directed amplification, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method, and the amplified PCR products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequence analysis.
Results:
The presence of viral T antigen and/or viral capsid DNA sequences was demonstrated in seven of the eight MCC lesions. None of the comparative samples contained MCV DNA.
Conclusions:
Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that MCV infection may well be specific for MCC, and MCV may play a role in the pathogenesis of MCC.
