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11:54
Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 13, 2019
Potential relationship between BK virus and renal cell carcinoma
Yasemin Bulut1, Enver Ozdemir, Halil Ibrahim Ozercan
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey. ybulut@firat.edu.tr
Journal of Medical Virology
|April 17, 2013
Summary
BK virus (BKV) DNA is significantly associated with renal cell carcinoma, increasing the risk fivefold. BKV mRNA levels were also higher in renal cancer patients, confirming this link.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- BK virus (BKV) is a human polyomavirus.
- The association between BKV and urological malignancies requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between BK virus (BKV) DNA and mRNA and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
Main Methods:
- Nested PCR was used to detect BKV DNA in 160 tissue samples (50 RCC, 40 TCC, 45 benign renal, 25 benign bladder).
- Real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) quantified BKV mRNA levels, specifically VP1 mRNA.
Main Results:
- BKV DNA was detected in 14.3% of samples, significantly associated with cancer (P < 0.05).
- BKV DNA positivity was linked to RCC (P = 0.03) but not TCC.
- BKV VP1 mRNA was found in 69.5% of DNA-positive samples, with significantly higher levels in RCC than controls (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a significant association between BKV and renal cell carcinoma.
- BKV DNA presence increases the risk of developing RCC by fivefold.
- BKV may play a role in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma.
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