Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is considered a rare tumour, but recent estimations indicate that one-quarter million people will die of this neoplasm in Europe in the next three decades. The mineral asbestos is considered the main causative agent of this neoplasm. MPM is largely unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy. In addition to asbestos exposure, genetic predisposition to asbestos carcinogenesis and to SV40 infection were also suggested. SV40 is a DNA tumor virus found to be associated at high prevalence with MPM. SV40 sequences have also been detected, although at lower prevalence than MPM, in blood specimens from healthy donors. However, some studies have failed to reveal SV40 footprints in MPM and its association with this neoplasm. These conflicting results indicate the need of further investigations with new approaches. We report on the presence of antibodies in serum samples from patients affected by MPM which specifically react with two different SV40 mimotopes. The two SV40 peptides employed in indirect ELISAs correspond to viral capsid proteins (VPs). ELISA with the two SV40 mimotopes gave overlapping results. Our data indicate that in serum samples from MPM affected patients (n = 97) the prevalence of antibodies against SV40 VPs antigens is statistically significant higher (26%, P=0.043) than in the control group (15%), represented by healthy blood donors (n=168) with the same median age (66 years) and gender. No cross-reactivity was revealed with the related BK and JC human polyomaviruses (BKV and JCV), which are closely related to SV40. Our results suggest that SV40 is associated with MPM and circulates in humans.
High prevalence of serum antibodies reacting with simian virus 40 capsid protein mimotopes in patients affected by malignant pleural mesothelioma
MAZZONI, ElisaPrimo
;CORALLINI, Alfredo;TARONNA, Angelo Pio;MANFRINI, Marco;MARTINI, Fernanda
;TOGNON, Mauro
2012
Abstract
Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is considered a rare tumour, but recent estimations indicate that one-quarter million people will die of this neoplasm in Europe in the next three decades. The mineral asbestos is considered the main causative agent of this neoplasm. MPM is largely unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy. In addition to asbestos exposure, genetic predisposition to asbestos carcinogenesis and to SV40 infection were also suggested. SV40 is a DNA tumor virus found to be associated at high prevalence with MPM. SV40 sequences have also been detected, although at lower prevalence than MPM, in blood specimens from healthy donors. However, some studies have failed to reveal SV40 footprints in MPM and its association with this neoplasm. These conflicting results indicate the need of further investigations with new approaches. We report on the presence of antibodies in serum samples from patients affected by MPM which specifically react with two different SV40 mimotopes. The two SV40 peptides employed in indirect ELISAs correspond to viral capsid proteins (VPs). ELISA with the two SV40 mimotopes gave overlapping results. Our data indicate that in serum samples from MPM affected patients (n = 97) the prevalence of antibodies against SV40 VPs antigens is statistically significant higher (26%, P=0.043) than in the control group (15%), represented by healthy blood donors (n=168) with the same median age (66 years) and gender. No cross-reactivity was revealed with the related BK and JC human polyomaviruses (BKV and JCV), which are closely related to SV40. Our results suggest that SV40 is associated with MPM and circulates in humans.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
