Brain vascular endothelial cells express JC virus large tumor antigen in immunocompetent and cyclophosphamide-treated hamsters.
When injected intracerebrally into newborn hamsters, the human polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) establishes a nonproductive infection resulting in brain tumor formation. Using immunostaining methods to detect the JCV regulatory protein, large tumor antigen (T antigen), we have now demonstrated JCV infection of brain vascular endothelial cells (EC) in infected hamsters. JCV T antigen was detected in lectin-labeled EC as well as in von Willebrand factor-expressing EC in both cyclophosphamide-treated and nonimmunosuppressed hamster brains 16, 21, and 31 days after birth. Cyclophosphamide-treated hamsters exhibited a greater number of JCV-infected EC, whereas T-antigen expression in nonvascular cells was not affected. The influence of cyclophosphamide was most pronounced in the cerebellum where increased numbers of JCV-infected EC were located predominantly at the internal granular layer-white matter junction, also a prominent location for T-antigen-expressing neoplastic foci. The hamster model demonstrates in vivo infection of EC by a human polyomavirus and directs interest toward the role of these cells in human JCV infection.
Ressetar
H G
HG
Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Webster
H D
HD
Stoner
G L
GL
D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000378:metabolism*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000382:microbiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide