Tumorigenic poxviruses: growth factors in a viral context?

Abstract

Shope fibroma virus (SFV) is one of the few poxviruses that induce cutaneous tumours, whereas myxoma virus, a closely related leporipoxvirus, does not. However, both have a virally encoded homologue of the epidermal growth factor (namely SFGF and MGF, respectively) that is considered to be crucial for poxvirus tumorigenesis. In this study, the role of viral growth factors in the context of infection with SFV, a tumorigenic leporipoxvirus, was investigated. An SFV mutant was engineered with the sfgf gene deleted and replaced with mgf. Macroscopic, histological and cytological examinations led to the conclusion that growth factors are indeed important for the development and maintenance of fibromas, provided that they are expressed in the proper viral context. However, they are not exchangeable and MGF cannot substitute for SFGF in the genesis of fibromas. It is likely that factors other than viral epidermal growth factor homologues influence the development of tumours.

• Authors: Frédérique Sabourdy, Antoine Casteignau, Jacqueline Gelfi, Séverine Deceroi, Maxence Delverdier, Frédérique L Messud-Petit
• Journal: The Journal of general virology (J Gen Virol) Vol. 85 Issue Pt 12 Pg. 3597-3606 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0022-1317 [Print] England
• PMID: 15557232 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Growth Substances
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Shope fibroma virus growth factor
• Transforming Growth Factor alpha
• myxoma virus growth factor

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Fibroma Virus, Rabbit (physiology)
• Growth Substances (physiology)
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (physiology)
• Poxviridae Infections (pathology)
• Rabbits
• Skin Neoplasms (etiology)
• Transforming Growth Factor alpha (physiology)
• Tumor Virus Infections (pathology)