An endogenous retrovirus derived from human melanoma cells

We show that human melanoma cells produce retrovirus-like particles that exhibit reverse transcriptase activity, package sequences homologous to human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K), and contain mature forms of the Gag and Env proteins. We also demonstrate expression of the pol gene and of Gag, En...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2003-12, Vol.63 (24), p.8735-8741
Main Authors: MUSTER, Thomas, WALTENBERGER, Andrea, LÖWER, Roswitha, JANSEN, Burkhard, PEHAMBERGER, Hubert, WOLFF, Klaus, GRASSAUER, Andreas, HIRSCHL, Sonja, CAUCIG, Peri, ROMIRER, Ingrid, FÖDINGER, Dagmar, SEPPELE, Heide, SCHANAB, Oliver, MAGIN-LACHMANN, Christine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antineoplastic agents
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Endogenous Retroviruses - genetics
Endogenous Retroviruses - isolation & purification
Endogenous Retroviruses - metabolism
Gene Products, env - biosynthesis
Gene Products, gag - biosynthesis
Gene Products, pol - biosynthesis
Human endogenous retrovirus
Humans
Lymphatic Metastasis
Medical sciences
Melanoma - metabolism
Melanoma - secondary
Melanoma - virology
Molecular Sequence Data
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Skin Neoplasms - metabolism
Skin Neoplasms - secondary
Skin Neoplasms - virology
Tumors
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Description
Summary:We show that human melanoma cells produce retrovirus-like particles that exhibit reverse transcriptase activity, package sequences homologous to human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K), and contain mature forms of the Gag and Env proteins. We also demonstrate expression of the pol gene and of Gag, Env, and Rec proteins in human melanomas and metastases but not in melanocytes or normal lymph nodes. The data suggest that expression of retroviral genes and production of retroviral particles is activated during development of melanoma.
ISSN:0008-5472
1538-7445