Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells found in skin that have synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferents. These cells can turn malignant and form an aggressive form of skin cancer, which is known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). A vast majority of
Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells found in skin that have synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferents. These cells can turn malignant and form an aggressive form of skin cancer, which is known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). A vast majority of MCC are caused by a polyomavirus known as Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV or MCV). The MCPyV genome is reported to undergo clonal integration into the host cell chromosomes of MCC tumors and expresses small T antigen and truncated large T antigen. Full-length MCPyV large T-antigen is a 125 kDa nuclear protein, however, MCPyV T-antigens obtained from MCC have natural truncating mutations, which result in variably-sized, smaller proteins. Based on homology to other polyomaviruses, the MCPyV large and small T antigens are predicted to be oncogenic and contribute directly to the carcinogenesis of MCC. MCPyV large T antigen can serve as a specific marker for MCC.
Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells found in skin that have synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferents. These cells can turn malignant and form an aggressive form of skin cancer, which is known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). A vast majority of
Retinoid-related orphan receptor-gamma t (RORgammaT) is one of two RORgamma isoforms belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor family and contains a single nuclear receptor DNA-binding domain. RORgammaT is a negative regulator of TNFDF6/FASL expressi
Platelet glycoprotein 4 (UniProt: Q08857; also known as Glycoprotein IIIb, GPIIIB, PAS IV, PAS-4, Platelet glycoprotein IV, GPIV, CD antigen: CD36) is encoded by the cd36 gene (Gene ID: 12491) in murine species. CD36 is a multifunctional glycoprotein
Troponin T, cardiac muscle (UniProt P45379; also known as Cardiac muscle troponin T, cTnT, TnTc) is encoded by the TNNT2 (also known as CMD1D, CMH2, RCM3) gene (Gene ID 7139) in human. Troponin is a complex composed of three regulatory proteins, trop
Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group I member 2 (UniProt O75469; also known as Orphan nuclear receptor PAR1, Orphan nuclear receptor PXR, Pregnane X nuclear receptor, Steroid and xenobiotic receptor, SXR) is encoded by the NR1I2 (also known as BXR, PAR
Bcl-2-like protein 12 (UniProt Q9HB09; also known as Bcl-2-related proline-rich protein, Bcl2-L-12) is encoded by the BCL2L12 (also known as BPR) gene (Gene ID 83596) in human. Bcl-2 family proteins paly either a pro- or anti-apoptotic role in cell d