Meningoencephalitis and demyelination are pathologic manifestations of primary polyomavirus infection in immunosuppressed rhesus monkeys.
The human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is the etiologic agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the CNS that occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. Because polyomavirus-induced CNS pathology usually occurs as a result of the reactivation of latent virus, little is known about the disease manifestations of a primary polyomavirus-induced disease in man. To model such a primary infection, SV40-negative rhesus monkeys were immunosuppressed by infection with the virus SHIV-89.6P and then superinfected with the polyomavirus SV40. The animals developed CNS pathology characterized by both demyelination and meningoencephalitis. This observation suggests that a primary polyomavirus infection can be associated with an inflammatory CNS process. These data shed new light on the pathogenic mechanisms of primate polyomaviruses in the immunocompromised host.
Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA.
Michael K
MK
Axthelm
Igor J
IJ
Koralnik
Xin
X
Dang
Christian
C
Wüthrich
Daniela
D
Rohne
Isaac E
IE
Stillman
Norman L
NL
Letvin
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000502:physiology; D007577:JC Virus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008578:Meninges / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000472:pathogenicity*