Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
Published on: February 7, 2019
Pleural mesothelioma patients and ex-exposed asbestos workers are immunologically poor responders to oncogenic Merkel
Chiara Mazziotta1,2, Carmen Lanzillotti1, Christian Felice Cervellera1
1Department of Medical Sciences, Laboratories of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Background:
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive tumor of the serous cavities primarily caused by the inhalation of asbestos, a carcinogenic and immunomodulatory mineral. Other factors, such as oncogenic viruses, might be involved in PM onset. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a ubiquitous oncogenic DNA virus whose increased activity has been documented in conditions of immunosuppression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the immunological response to MCPyV in PM patients and workers ex-exposed to asbestos (WEA).
Methods:
MCPyV serology was investigated herein in sera from 108 PM patients, 102 WEA, and 110 healthy subjects (HS). Total serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were evaluated. The presence of MCPyV DNA and viral protein (VP)1 and large T (LT) messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was evaluated by droplet-digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR)/quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in 50 tumor specimens from PM patients unrelated to PM serum donors.
Results:
Reduced serum anti-MCPyV IgG rates and optical densities (ODs) were detected in PM (26.9% and 0.08-0.09) and WEA (27.5% and 0.08-0.09) compared to HS (60.9% and 0.16-0.33) (P<0.001), while the mean total IgG concentrations were similar among groups (4.3-5.7 mg/mL) (P>0.05). Biphasic PM histotype exhibited the lowest MCPyV IgG levels. WEAs with the highest asbestos exposure had the lowest rate and ODs of serum anti-MCPyV IgGs (5.6% and 0.074-0.083) in contrast to WEA (44.4% and 0.083-0.096) with lower exposure. Spearman analyses revealed an inverse correlation between ODs and both cumulative asbestos exposure and years of asbestos exposure (P<0.05), while a direct correlation was detected between years since last exposure and ODs (P=0.02). MCPyV DNA was detected in 32% of PM specimens with a mean viral DNA load of 0.39±0.2 copy/cell. VP1 mRNA was detected in all MCPyV DNA-positive PMs, while 69% of these specimens tested LT mRNA-positive.
Conclusions:
Our study provides the first evidence that PM and WEA may experience a specific impairment of their immune response to MCPyV. This might possibly depend on the immunomodulatory effect of asbestos, a well-known immunosuppressive mineral.
Insights
Pleural mesothelioma (PM) patients and asbestos-exposed workers show reduced immune response to Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Asbestos exposure appears to impair the immune system
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Virology
Background:
- Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos inhalation.
- Oncogenic viruses, like Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), may contribute to PM development.
- MCPyV activity increases in immunosuppressed individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune response to MCPyV in PM patients.
- To assess the immune response to MCPyV in workers exposed to asbestos (WEA).
- To explore the correlation between asbestos exposure and MCPyV immune markers.
Main Methods:
- MCPyV serology (IgG levels) was performed on sera from 108 PM patients, 102 WEA, and 110 healthy subjects (HS).
- MCPyV DNA and mRNA (VP1, LT) were analyzed in 50 PM tumor specimens using ddPCR/qPCR.
- Total serum IgG levels were quantified, and correlations with asbestos exposure were analyzed.
Main Results:
- PM patients (26.9%) and WEA (27.5%) showed significantly reduced anti-MCPyV IgG rates and optical densities compared to HS (60.9%).
- WEA with higher asbestos exposure exhibited lower anti-MCPyV IgG rates and optical densities, inversely correlated with cumulative and years of exposure.
- MCPyV DNA was detected in 32% of PM specimens, with VP1 and LT mRNA found in 100% and 69% of these, respectively.
Conclusions:
- PM patients and WEA exhibit an impaired immune response to MCPyV.
- Asbestos's immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties may underlie this impaired response.
- This study highlights a potential link between asbestos exposure, immune response to MCPyV, and PM.
