[SV40 as a possible cofactor in the etiopathogenesis of mesothelioma and other human tumors]

G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 1998 Oct-Dec;20(4):218-24.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Simian virus 40 (SV40) has been introduced into the human population with contaminated polio vaccines between 1955 and 1963. Previous research conducted by southern blot hybridization and recent analysis by PCR have shown the presence of SW0 sequences in human brain tumors, mesotheliomas and osteosarcomas as well as in normal tissues such as blood and sperm fluids. SV40 RNA and T antigen were detected in the same tissues. All the samples were coinfected by BK Virus (BKV), suggesting that BKV may have a helper function for SV40 replication in human cells. The presence of SV40 in human tumors suggests that the virus may be a cofactor in the etiopathogenesis of human neoplasia. In addition, blood and semen may represent the vectors for transmission of SV40 by horizontal infection in the human population.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • BK Virus / genetics
  • BK Virus / pathogenicity
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Helper Viruses / genetics
  • Helper Viruses / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Mesothelioma / etiology*
  • Mesothelioma / genetics
  • Mesothelioma / virology
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / virology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / etiology*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / genetics
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods
  • Simian virus 40 / genetics
  • Simian virus 40 / pathogenicity*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / virology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / etiology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / genetics
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral