Lecture 3 (tumorigenic DNA viruses) Flashcards
Advantages of using retroviruses to identify oncogenes
They efficiently reproduce tumours in experimental animals and transform cells in culture. Also, the small size of the viral genome facilitates isolation of the gene.
Difference between DNA viral oncogenes and RNA viral oncogenes
DNA viral oncogenes are usually truly viral. RNA viral oncogenes are usually of cellular origin and cancer arises due to the virus altering the cellular gene.
6 DNA viruses implicated in cancer
- Hepatitis B (Hepadnavirus)
- SV40 and polyoma
- Papilloma virus
- Adenoviruses
- Herpes virus
- Pox viruses
Which DNA viruses are implicated in human cancers?
- Hepatitis B
- Papilloma
- Herpes virus
Cancer typically arises when a virus infects a species other than…
its normal host (block on lysis leads to transformation)
RNA viral family implicated in carcinogenesis (very seldom in humans)
Retroviruses
SV40 usually infects monkey cells, which leads to…
viral replication → cell lysis → progeny virus released
What can happen if SV40 infects other cells but the support mechanisms are not there to permit cell lysis?
Replication is aborted, SV40 interferes with the cell cycle and, in rare cases, can cause cell transformation → cancer
Many tumorigenic viral proteins target…
tumour suppressor proteins such as p53 and Rb
Primary site of Hepatitis B viral infection
Hepatocytes in the liver
Human Hepatitis B viral infection increases (100-fold) risk of __ in chronically infected individuals
liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
Why is the risk for mutations and oncogene activation increased in chronically HBV infected individuals?
Because HBV-infected hepatocytes are destroyed by the immune system and the liver regenerates to replenish the tissue
Examples of other risk factors for liver cancer, besides HBV
- Hereditary haemochromatosis
- Substance abuse (alcohol/drugs)
- HCV
HCV-infected individuals also have an increased risk of __
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (not understood why)
True or False: The risk for developing liver cancer in individuals with haemochromatosis is higher than in HBV-infected individuals.
True