The body's own action against both viral infections and cancer

Cancers: Researchers have discovered endogenous tumor blockers

German scientists have discovered new properties of a human protein: it works against viral infections and cancer. Future research will show whether this endogenous tumor blocker can serve as a starting point for therapies against the serious diseases.

Number of cancers is increasing

According to the Center for Cancer Registry Data at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), more than 14 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year and more than eight million people die from it. Also in this country there are more and more new cancer cases. The number of new diagnoses in Germany has almost doubled since 1970. Patients are usually treated by surgery, chemotherapy and / or radiation. In the future, a newly discovered endogenous tumor blocker may also help in the treatment of cancer.

German researchers have discovered that a particular human protein works against viral infections and cancer. The body's own tumor blocker could possibly serve as a starting point for therapies against such diseases. (Image: science photo / fotolia.com)

New factor of the body's immune system identified

Scientists at the University Medical Center Mainz have identified a new factor in the body's own immune defense: MYPOP - a hitherto little-known protein.

As stated in a communication, MYPOP suppresses the formation of new viral building blocks and acts as a tumor suppressor.

It prevents the division of the tumor cell and kills cancer cells. This was determined by the Mainz researchers as part of studies on infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).

Oncogenic HPV types are an important factor in the incidence of cervical and other genital, oral and pharyngeal tumors.

The results have been published in the journal Oncogene of the Nature Publishing Group.

Most dangerous trigger for cervical cancer

The working group of PD Dr. Luise Florin from the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene of the Mainz University Medical Center investigates how infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) occurs.

Human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) is the most dangerous cause of cervical cancer.

MYPOP, a Myb-related transcription factor, has central anti-viral properties, as the researchers discovered in their recent study: it detects invading papilloma viruses, including their DNA.

It then binds to the viral capsid protein and the viral control region of the DNA. This results in a reduced expression of the viral genes, which in turn both the infection of the mucosal cells blocked as well as long-term tumor formation can be prevented.

MYPOP thus has antiviral and antitumor properties. Thus, the researchers from Mainz have identified a new factor in cellular intrinsic immune defense, a so-called restriction factor.

Possible starting point for therapies

In addition, the researchers found in their study that the HPV tumor cells lack the MYPOP normally present in skin cells in high amounts.

The reason for this is a viral, carcinogenic protein that induces the breakdown of MYPOP. However, when the scientists re-introduced MYPOP into the tumor cells, the cells could no longer divide uninhibitedly.

The scientists also observed this effect in other cancer cells. Whether MYPOP can serve as a starting point for therapies against viral infections and / or cancer will need to be demonstrated in future research. (Ad)