title: Immunocytochemical search for JC papovavirus large T-antigen in multiple sclerosis brain tissue.
abstract: The large T-antigens of papovaviruses JC (JCV) and BK share a C-terminal subsequence with myelin basic protein (MBP). Since this sequence functions as a phosphate acceptor site in MBP, expression of a competing T-antigen sequence in oligodendroglia might adversely affect their ability to post-translationally process MBP and thus to maintain myelin. We have used techniques which demonstrate JCV T-antigen in small oligodendroglial cells from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy tissue to search for a possible latent JCV infection expressing T-antigen in nine cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and three normal brains. No cells expressing T-antigen were detected in plaque or periplaque regions of the MS brains or in control CNS tissue.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027382:Polyomaviridae
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral