Proportion of transcriptionally active DNA virus integrants: a meta-analysis. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marongiu, Luigi
• Is Part Of: Future virology. Volume 12:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 607
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: integration -- latency -- oncoviruses -- selectable integrant -- transcription silencing; Virology -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.9101
• DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2017-0063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0794

Abstract

Oncoviruses are collectively responsible for over 1, 000, 000 new cases of cancer per year; some can integrate into the host's chromosomes. The present work was aimed at assessing the proportion of transcriptionally active viral integrants through a systematic review of the scientific publications present on the MedLine database. From the articles screened, 628 viral integrants overall were retrieved, of which 530.84 were transcriptionally active (84.53%); among the clinical samples, 264 of 323 integrants were active (81.73%). The causes for the silencing were not addressed in the articles analyzed. These findings might highlight a possible risk factor for the insurgence of cancer since some oncovirus integrants could be reactivated by stimuli of disparate nature. Further studies should address such possibility.