Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T-antigen in Spitz naevi: a multimodal study

This study provides the first documentation of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) T-antigen expression in Spitz naevi, with 41.1% immunohistochemical positivity (58/141), 20.0% qPCR positivity (11/55), and electron microscopy confirmation in 75% (3/4) of examined cases. The detection pattern (IHC>PCR) indicates transcriptionally-active viral infection rather than passive colonisation, expanding MCPyV cellular tropism beyond neuroendocrine lineage to melanocytic cells. These findings represent a paradigm shift in viral oncology with potential implications for biomarker development in diagnostically-challenging spitzoid lesions.

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Publication Details

Journal
British Journal of Dermatology
Published
2026-05-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljag220
Primary Topic
Polyomavirus and related diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T-antigen in Spitz naevi: a multimodal study

Amaro Duarte Neto, Leonardo de Araujo, Julio De Moraes, Gabriel Cohlmia et al.
British Journal of Dermatology
Polyomavirus and related diseases
article

Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus large T-antigen in Spitz naevi: a multimodal study

Amaro Duarte Neto, Leonardo de Araujo, Julio De Moraes, Gabriel Cohlmia, A Dacosta, Trace Christensen, Alexandre Michalany, Isabel Gomes, Felipe Saueiro, Camila Ferreira, Caroline Pereira, Anna da Silva, Murilo Carapeba, Emily Pilar, Isabelle de Oliveira, Sofia Olsson, Aline Talarico, Fernanda Pereira, Rute Lellis
article en

Abstract

This study provides the first documentation of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) T-antigen expression in Spitz naevi, with 41.1% immunohistochemical positivity (58/141), 20.0% qPCR positivity (11/55), and electron microscopy confirmation in 75% (3/4) of examined cases. The detection pattern (IHC>PCR) indicates transcriptionally-active viral infection rather than passive colonisation, expanding MCPyV cellular tropism beyond neuroendocrine lineage to melanocytic cells. These findings represent a paradigm shift in viral oncology with potential implications for biomarker development in diagnostically-challenging spitzoid lesions.

British Journal of Dermatology
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR), Johns Hopkins University (US), Emory University (US), Universidade Federal Fluminense (BR), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR), Instituto Adolfo Lutz (BR), Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (BR), Universidade do Oeste Paulista (BR), Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (BR), D’Or Institute for Research and Education (BR), Centro Paulista de Investigação Clinica (BR), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais (BR), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Retina Clinic (BR), Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (BR), University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Polyomavirus and related diseases
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