Does the prostate retain an endogenous antiviral defense system suggesting a past viral etiology for cancer?

Marvin Rubenstein*, Courtney M P Hollowell, Patrick Guinan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evidence of viral infection of the prostate is presented, and consists of viral isolation as well as antigen and genomic detection of integrated or episomal forms. Prior infection from "ancient" exogenous retroviruses is suggested by residual endogenous forms. The presence of an antiviral defense system based upon interferon induction has been suggested for the testes. I suggest that a similar system is also present in the prostate. Prostate cell lines (or tissue) can be tested directly for expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ). However, enhanced expression should be induced by IFN inducers such as bispecific oligonucleotides having double stranded regions or poly I:C. RNA can be extracted and RT-PCR performed using commercially available primers for gamma interferon. Evidence for the presence of an interferon based anti-viral system would be indicated not only by interferon expression, but also its enhanced expression following exposure to the inducers. Gamma interferon is primarily associated with lymphocytic expression and immune regulation. Demonstration of its controlled expression in non-immune cells would support the hypotheses suggested here.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)368-370
Number of pages3
JournalMedical Hypotheses
Volume76
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

Funding

The Cellular Biology Laboratory at the Hektoen Institute is supported, in part, by the Blum Kovler Foundation, the Cancer Federation, the Dominicks/Safeway Breast Cancer Awareness Champaign, the Max Goldenberg Foundation, Herbert C. Wenske Foundation, the Sternfeld Family Foundation and Lawn Manor Beth Jacob Hebrew Congregation.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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