CCL17/TARC and CCR4 expression in Merkel cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. In more than 80% of the cases, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a causal factor. The oncogenic potential of MCPyV is mediated through its viral oncoproteins, large T antigen (LT) and small t antigen (sT). To investigate the role of cytokines in MCC, a PCR array analysis for genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and receptors was performed on MCPyV-negative and MCPyV-positive MCC cell lines, respectively. We detected an increased expression of CCL17/TARC in the MCPyV-positive MKL2 cell line compared to the MCPyV-negative MCC13 cell line. Transfection studies in MCC13 cells with LT expression plasmid, and a luciferase reporter plasmid containing the CCL17/TARC promoter, exhibited stimulated promoter activ

SUBMITTER: Rasheed K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6101144 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature