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Oncogenic transformation by BK virus and association with human tumors

Oncogene volume 22, pages 5192–5200 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

BK virus (BKV), a human polyomavirus closely related to JC virus and Simian Virus 40, is ubiquitous in human populations worldwide. After primary infection, BKV establishes a lifelong latent infection in many organs. BKV transforms rodent cells to the neoplastic phenotype and is highly oncogenic in rodents. This review considers the oncogenic potential of BKV in humans and its possible involvement in human tumors. BKV sequences and T antigen (Tag) are detected in several types of human neoplasms, although the viral load is generally low, with less than one copy of the viral genome per cell. The possible causative role of BKV in human oncogenesis rests on the ability of BKV Tag to inactivate the functions of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and pRB family as well as on its ability to induce chromosomal aberrations in human cells. A ‘hit and run’ mechanism and secretion of paracrine growth factors by BKV Tag-positive cells, recruiting into proliferation neighboring and distant cells, are discussed as possible BKV pathogenic elements in human oncogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

The work of the authors described in this review was supported by grants to G Barbanti-Brodano, M Negrini and M Tognon from Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) and from Ministero dell'Istruzione, Università e Ricerca (MIUR, PRIN and local projects) and by grants to A Corallini from MIUR local projects.

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  1. Department of Morphology and Embryology, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, I-44100, Italy

    Mauro Tognon & Fernanda Martini

  2. Center of Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, I-44100, Italy

    Mauro Tognon, Alfredo Corallini, Fernanda Martini, Massimo Negrini & Giuseppe Barbanti-Brodano

  3. Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, I-44100, Italy

    Alfredo Corallini, Massimo Negrini & Giuseppe Barbanti-Brodano

  4. Interdepartment Center for Cancer Research, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, I-44100, Italy

    Massimo Negrini

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Correspondence to Giuseppe Barbanti-Brodano.

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Tognon, M., Corallini, A., Martini, F. et al. Oncogenic transformation by BK virus and association with human tumors. Oncogene 22, 5192–5200 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1206550

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