Papel do citamegalovirus humano (HCMV)

O citomegalovirus Humano (HCMV) e um agente viral que acomete individuos imunocomprometidos e recem nascidos,causando uma variedade de doencas graves e podendo levar ao obito. Recentes evidencias indicam que o HCMV esta envolvido no processo de progressao tumoral. Estudos demonstraram que o DNA viral e proteinas virais estao presentes em diferentes tipos de câncer; proteinas virais sao capazes de interferir com a progressao do ciclo celular, apoptose e ativacao do sistema imune e ha indicacoes de que a infeccao de celulas tumorais pelo HCMV aumenta a malignidade das mesmas.Estas descobertas levaram a criacao do termo oncomodulacao,definido como a habilidade do virus em promover um processo tumoral. Os estudos do papel do HCMV no processo de malignidade de tumores estao avancando enormemente e um melhor entendimento do fenomeno de oncomodulacao e essencial para elucidacao da participacao do HCMV na progressao de tumores e para determinacao de proteinas virais que podem ser alvo terapeutico em certos tipos de cânceres.Esta revisao discute os mecanismos envolvidos na oncogenese e oncomodulacao de gliomas malignos promovidas pelo HCMV.(AU) Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important viral pathogen that causes a variety of diseases in imunocompromised individuals and newborns that can culminate in death. Recent evidences indicate that HCMV is involved in tumor progression.Studies demonstrated that the viral DNA and proteins are present in many types of cancer tissues; viral proteins are able to interfere with cell cycle, apoptosis and the immune system.In addition, there are indications that the infection of tumor cells by HCMV increases their malignity. These evidences led to the creation of the term oncomodulation, defined as the abilityof the virus to promote tumor progression. The studies ofthe HCMV role in the process of tumor malignity are rapidlyadvancing and a better understanding of the oncomodulation phenomenon is essential to clarify the participation of HCMV in malignancy and for the determination of specific viral proteins that can be therapeutic targets in certain tumor types. This review discusses the mechanisms of tumor progression and oncomodulation promoted by HCMV in malignant gliomas.(AU)