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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Measurement of BK-polyomavirus Non-Coding Control Region Driven Transcriptional Activity Via Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 13, 2019
BK Polyomavirus Activates HSF1 Stimulating Human Kidney Hek293 Cell Proliferation
Sara Baldelli1,2, Dolores Limongi1,2, Cristiana Coni2
1IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Rome, Italy.
Objectives:
Some DNA viruses, such as BKPyV, are capable of inducing neoplastic transformation in human tissues through still unclear mechanisms. The goal of this study is to investigate the carcinogenic potential of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) in human embryonic kidney 293 (Hek293) cells, dissecting the molecular mechanism that determines the neoplastic transformation.
Materials And Methods:
BKPyV, isolated from urine samples of infected patients, was used to infect monolayers of Hek293 cells. Subsequently, intracellular redox changes, GSH/GSSH concentration by HPLC, and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) production were monitored. Moreover, to understand the signaling pathway underlying the neoplastic transformation, the redox-sensitive HFS1-Hsp27 molecular axis was examined using the flavonoid quercetin and polishort hairpin RNA technologies.
Results:
The data obtained show that while BKPyV replication is closely linked to the transcription factor p53, the increase in Hek293 cell proliferation is due to the activation of the signaling pathway mediated by HSF1-Hsp27. In fact, its inhibition blocks viral replication and cell growth, respectively.
Conclusions:
The HSF1-Hsp27 signaling pathway is involved in BKPyV infection and cellular replication and its activation, which could be involved in cell transformation.
