KI, WU, and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus DNA was not Detected in Guthrie Cards of Children who Later Developed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

• DOI: 10.1097/mph.0b013e318241fb52
• Publication Date: 2013-06-13T21:27:59Z
• Authors: Britt Gustafsson; Emma Honkaniemi; Shan Goh; Geraldine Giraud; Erik Forestier; Ulrika von Döbeln; Tobias Allander; Tina Dalianis; Gordana Bogdanovic
• Keywords: Merkel cell polyomavirus; Polyomavirus Infections

Background: Neonatal dried blood spots (Guthrie cards) have been used to demonstrate a prenatal origin of clonal leukemia-specific genetic aberrations in several subgroups childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). One hypothesis suggests that an infectious agent could initiate transformation already utero. In search for possible viral agent, Guthrie cards were analyzed the presence 3 newly discovered polyomavirus Karolinska Institutet polymavirus (KIPyV), Washington University (WUPyV), and Merkel cell (MCPyV). Methods: from 50 children who later developed ALL 100 matched controls collected by standard or real-time polymerase chain reaction VP1 region KIPyV, WUPyV, MCPyV, LT MCPyV. Results Conclusions: DNA MCPyV was not detected neonatal samples with controls. Prenatal infections these viruses are likely be etiological drivers leukemogenesis.