title: JC virus in human glial-derived tumors.
abstract: To investigate the presence and the role of polyomaviruses JC (JCV), BK (BKV), and the simian polyomavirus (SV40) in human brain tumors, samples from 25 glial-derived tumors (10 astrocytomas, 5 ependymomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, and 5 glioblastomas) were examined by means of molecular biology and immunohistochemistry. Nested PCR of the large T (LT) region and its sequence analysis showed JCV in 6 cases (4 astrocytomas, 1 oligodendroglioma, and 1 ependymoma), while the transcriptional control region (TCR) was amplified only in 1 astrocytoma, the oligodendroglioma, and the ependymoma, one of which (astrocytoma) also stained positively by immunohistochemistry (JCV LT). TCR sequence analysis of the oligodendroglioma showed a JCV rearranged structure not related to a known viral strain, while the astrocytoma and the ependymoma disclosed a JCV Mad-4 strain that is known to induce brain tumors in animals. We suggest that JCV could have played a role in the pathogenesis of these brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Don C. Gnocchi, IRCCS, Cattedra di Virologia, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caldarelli-Stefano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldorini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meraviglia
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Zorini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000032:analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D004279:DNA, Viral