Fig. 1
a) RT-PCRs demonstrating predominant alternative TrkAIII splicing over fully-spliced TrkA expression, compared to GAPDH (GAP), 18S rRNA (18S), MCPyV VP1, small T-antigen (Small T) and large T- antigen (Large T) RT-PCR products, in undiluted (TrkA, TrkAIII, VP1, Small T and Large T), 1:100 diluted (GAP) and 1:1000 diluted (18S) RT reactions of MCC RNAs (500 ng) (MCPyV+) compared to exclusive expression of fully spliced TrkA in RNAs (500 ng) from MCPyV negative (MCPyV−) MCC, BCCs, SCCs and normal skin samples, grouped by patient (P) number (10 ul loads per lane). b Box plots demonstrating significantly enhanced TrkAIII percentage of total TrkA (TrkA + TrkAIII) RT-PCR products and significantly reduced TrkA percentage of total (TrkA + TrkAIII) RT-PCR products (upper left and right box plots * p < 0.0001, df = 24), in MCPyV positive (MCPyV+) MCCs compared to MCPyV negative (MCPyV−) MCC, BCCs, SCCs and normal skin (NS) samples plus box plots demonstrating a significantly enhanced TrkAIII to 18S rRNA RT-PCR densitometric ratio in MCPyV positive (MCPyV+) MCCs compared to MCPyV negative (MCPyV−) MCC, BCCs, SCCs and normal skin (NS) samples (lower left box plot * =0.0009, df = 24) and a significantly reduced TrkA to 18S rRNA RT-PCR densitometric ratio in MCPyV positive (MCPyV+) MCCs compared to MCPyV negative (MCPyV−) MCC, BCCs, SCCs and normal skin (NS) samples (lower right box plot * =0.0015, df = 24)