title: New insights on human polyomavirus JC and pathogenesis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
abstract: John Cunningham virus (JCV) is a member of the Polyomaviridae family. It was first isolated from the brain of a patient with Hodgkin disease in 1971, and since then the etiological agent of the progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) was considered. Until the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, PML was rare: in fact HIV-induced immunodeficiency is the most common predisposing factor accounting for 85% of all instances of PML. This data led to intense research on JCV infection and resulted in better understanding of epidemiology and clinic-pathologic spectrum. Recently, cases of PML have been observed after the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, such as natalizumab, rituximab, efalizumab, and infliximab, in the treatment of autoimmune disease, underlining the important role of host immunity in PML pathogenesis. In this review current understanding of the JCV infection and the new findings relating to the pathogenesis of PML has been comprehensively revised, focusing our attention on the interaction between the cellular and viral molecular pathways implicated in the JCV infection and the modulating role of host immune surveillance in the viral reactivation from a latent state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro, 5-00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anzivino
authors.forename: Donatella Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rodio
authors.forename: Anna Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Palamara
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nencioni
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pietropaolo
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal