Human endogenous retroviral K element encodes fusogenic activity in melanoma cells

• Main Authors: Gengming Huang, Zhongwu Li, Xiaohua Wan, Yue Wang, Jianli Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Carcinogenesis
• Subjects: Cell fusion; K-type human endogenous retroviral deoxyribonucleic acid; melanoma
• Online Access: http://www.carcinogenesis.com/article.asp?issn=1477-3163;year=2013;volume=12;issue=1;spage=5;epage=5;aulast=Huang

Introduction and Hypothesis: Nuclear atypia with features of multi nuclei have been detected in human melanoma specimens. We found that the K type human endogenous retroviral element (HERV K) is expressed in such cells. Since cellular syncytia can form when cells are infected with retroviruses, we hypothesized that HERV K expressed in melanoma cells may contribute to the formation of multinuclear atypia cells in melanoma. Experiments and Results: We specifically inhibited HERV K expression using RNA interference (RNAi) and monoclonal antibodies and observed dramatic reduction of intercellular fusion of cultured melanoma cells. Importantly, we identified loss of heterozygosity (LOH)of D19S433 in a cell clone that survived and proliferated after cell fusion. Conclusion: Our results support the notion that proteins encoded by HERV K can mediate intercellular fusion of melanoma cells, which may generate multinuclear cells and drive the evolution of genetic changes that provide growth and survival advantages.