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Description

Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells found in skin that have synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferents. These cells can turn malignant and form an aggressive form of skin cancer, which is known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). A vast majority of MCC are caused by a polyomavirus known as Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV or MCV). The MCPyV genome is reported to undergo clonal integration into the host cell chromosomes of MCC tumors and expresses small T antigen and truncated large T antigen. Full-length MCPyV large T-antigen is a 125 kDa nuclear protein, however, MCPyV T-antigens obtained from MCC have natural truncating mutations, which result in variably-sized, smaller proteins. Based on homology to other polyomaviruses, the MCPyV large and small T antigens are predicted to be oncogenic and contribute directly to the carcinogenesis of MCC. MCPyV large T antigen can serve as a specific marker for MCC.