title: Detection of JC virus by anti-VP1 immunohistochemistry in brains with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
abstract: We have assessed the diagnostic efficacy of a novel polyclonal rabbit antiserum directed to the recombinant major capsid protein VP1 of JC virus (JCV). Immunohistochemistry for VP1 was compared to non-radioactive JCV DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) in ten cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Tissue sections from postmortem brains were studied from PML patients suffering from immunodeficient conditions of various causes: immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, n = 7), severe combined immune deficiency due to adenosine deaminase deficiency (n = 1), sarcoidosis (n = 1) and leukemia (n = 1). VP1 immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of JCV in lesional oligodendrocytes of all PML patients, whereas ISH was able to detect JCV in nine out of ten cases. We conclude that VP1 immunohistochemistry is a specific, sensitive and rapid method for confirming the diagnosis of PML.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Neuropathologie, Departement Pathologie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jochum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunsmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lüke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguzzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C062481:VP1 protein, polyomavirus