DNA from Human Polyomaviruses, MWPyV, HPyV6, HPyV7, HPyV9 and HPyV12 in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas

The etiopathogenesis of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome remains obscure. Different viruses have been proposed to have a role in the etiopathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). In the present study, the presence of five recently discovered human polyomaviruses 6 (HPyV6), human polyomaviruses 7 (HPyV7), human polyomaviruses 9 (HPyV9), human polyomaviruses 12 (HPyV12), and Malawi polyomavirus (MWPyV), have been analyzed in 55 CTCL in order to confirm the skin tropism and the possible pathological association of these new polyomaviruses.

Human polyomaviruses DNA were amplified from skin lesions were recovered from a total of 55 patients (32 males and 23 females, average age 63±15 years) affected by CTCL.

When assayed for the presence of 5 different HPyVs, (HPyV6, HPyV7, HPyV9, MWPyV, and HPyV12) HPyV9, HPyV10 and HPyV12 DNA sequences were not found in any skin specimens. HPyV6 and 7 DNA was detected in 1/55 (1.8%) of skin specimens.

The low-level presence of HPyV6 and HPyV7 DNA, and lack of detection of polyomaviruses HPyV9, MWPyV and HPyV12 in our series do not support a significant role of these HPyVs subtypes in the etiopathogenesis of skin cancers.