Antibodies reacting with Simian Virus 40 capsid protein mimotopes in serum samples from patients affected by uveal melanoma.

The uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common human intraocular tumour. Simian Virus 40 (SV-40) is a small DNA tumor virus detected in some malignancies, including the cutaneous melanoma. In this study an indirect ELISA using synthetic peptides that mimic SV-40 antigens, was employed to detect antibodies against SV-40 in serum samples from UM patients. Our report indicates a significant higher prevalence of antibodies against SV-40 capsid protein antigens in serum samples from UM patients compared to controls. Our data suggest an association between UM and SV-40, indicating that patients affected by uveal melanoma tested SV-40-positive could be treated by innovative therapies.

Findings

The uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor. Many studies reported genetic alterations in UM [1], but the causes are poorly understood. BAP1, a gene encoding a deubiquitinant enzyme, is mutated in several UM cases and in the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) [2], a human tumour found be associated with the Simian Virus 40 (SV-40) infection [3,4]. SV-40 oncogenic potential has been demonstrated in experimental animals [3,4], while its mutagenic activities have been detected in different animal and human cell types [3,4]. In human tumours, SV-40 was identified for the first time in a patient affected by a cutaneous melanoma [5], that shares the onset model with UM. Altogether these data were the background that prompted us to investigate the association between UM and SV-40 by analysing the prevalence of SV-40 antibodies in serum samples from UM affected patients. This study was carried out, as reported before, by an indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with SV-40 specific synthetic peptides derived from its viral proteins, without cross-reactivity with the closely related BKV and JCV which are obiquitous polyomaviruses in humans [6].

In this investigation, serum samples from UM affected patients (n = 48) and healthy subjects with ocular nevi (HSON; n = 71) and without ocular nevi (HS; n = 168), with the same median age (66 yrs), were analysed for presence of SV-40 antibodies. All patients and subjects were vaccinated against the poliomyelitis. The immunologic study was carried out by indirect ELISAs employing two specific mimotopes from SV-40 viral capsid proteins 1 and 2–3, named B and C peptides, respectively [6]. In our experiments, serum samples were considered SV-40 VP-positive upon reacting to both peptides B and C. Informed written consent was obtained from the patients and subjects. The study was approved by the County Ethical Committee, Ferrara, Italy.

The overall prevalence, by combining SV-40-positive sera for both VP1 B and VP2/3 C peptides, in UM patients was 33%, higher than that detected in HSON or HS, 17% and 15% respectively. The difference between UM patients and HSON or HS is statistically significant (p = 0.038 and p = 0.004, respectively). Serologic profiles of serum antibody reactivity to SV40 mimotopes are reported in Figure 1. The difference of OD=optical density mean value of sera from UM and two control groups, is not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Figure 1

Serologic profile. Serologic profile of serum antibody reactivity to SV-40 mimotopes VP1 B (panel A) and VP2/3 C (panel B) and VPs B + C (panel C). Immunologic data are from patients affected by UM and from healthy individuals (HS) with and without ocular nevi. Data are OD values at 405 nm of serum samples diluted 1:20, detected in indirect ELISA. In scatter dot plotting, each plot represents the dispersion of OD values to a mean level indicated by the line inside the scatter with standard error mean (SEM) for each group of subjects analyzed (Mean OD ± SEM).

Our immunologic data indicate that a subset (1/3) of UM is associated with SV-40, a small DNA tumour virus detected as a contaminant in early anti-polio vaccines [3,4,7]. At present, SV-40 infection seems to spread in humans by different ways, including the urine and the faecal-oral route [3,4,7].

UM onset, like other human cancers, is due to specific gene mutations. Since SV-40 is oncogenic, clastogenic, mutagenic and a transforming viral agent [3,7], may be a risk factor, together with other oncogenic agents such as the U.V. irradiation, in the UM onset/progression [8]. One may postulate that after infecting the host, SV-40 may exert its tumourigenic potential when the immune system is impaired. The high prevalence of SV-40 antibodies in sera from UM affected patients is not proof of cause/effect in inducing human tumours by SV-40. SV-40 DNA and expression of its oncogene, the large T antigen, should be analysed in UM specimens to confirm and extend the potential role of this oncogenic virus in UM onset/progression. We should also consider, as an alternative explanation, that another not yet discovered human Polyomavirus closely related to SV-40 may be responsible of our immunologic data. Our results from the laboratory bench could be transferred to the clinical application employing specific innovative therapies for SV40-positive UM patients.

Competing interests

The author declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

TM, SA and MF designed the study and secured funding; MF, TM, PP and SA given final approval of the version to be published; PP, MA and BS collected samples; PP and SA performed the clinical diagnosis; BI, BS and BA conducted the experimental work; BI, BA, MF and TM analysed the data and wrote the manuscript; ME and PS gave support in analysis of data and statistics; MF and TM made the final critical revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.