Human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp65 is detected in all intra- and extra-axial brain tumours independent of the tumour type or grade

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 30;9(9):e108861. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108861. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been indicated being a significant oncomodulator. Recent reports have suggested that an antiviral treatment alters the outcome of a glioblastoma. We analysed the performance of commercial HCMV-antibodies applying the immunohistochemical (IHC) methods on brain sample obtained from a subject with a verified HCMV infection, on samples obtained from 14 control subjects, and on a tissue microarray block containing cores of various brain tumours. Based on these trials, we selected the best performing antibody and analysed a cohort of 417 extra- and intra-axial brain tumours such as gliomas, medulloblastomas, primary diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and meningiomas. HCMV protein pp65 immunoreactivity was observed in all types of tumours analysed, and the IHC expression did not depend on the patient's age, gender, tumour type, or grade. The labelling pattern observed in the tumours differed from the labelling pattern observed in the tissue with an active HCMV infection. The HCMV protein was expressed in up to 90% of all the tumours investigated. Our results are in accordance with previous reports regarding the HCMV protein expression in glioblastomas and medulloblastomas. In addition, the HCMV protein expression was seen in primary brain lymphomas, low-grade gliomas, and in meningiomas. Our results indicate that the HCMV protein pp65 expression is common in intra- and extra-axial brain tumours. Thus, the assessment of the HCMV expression in tumours of various origins and pathologically altered tissue in conditions such as inflammation, infection, and even degeneration should certainly be facilitated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / virology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification
  • Cytomegalovirus / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Glioblastoma / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma / pathology
  • Lymphoma / virology
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Medulloblastoma / virology
  • Meningioma / pathology
  • Meningioma / virology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Phosphoproteins / analysis*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / analysis*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • cytomegalovirus matrix protein 65kDa

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Local Uppsala University Hospital "ALF" grants. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.