title: In vivo detection of polyomaviruses JCV and SV40 in mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cords.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multipotent stromal cells are present in the Wharton's jelly matrix (WJSC) of the umbilical cord and can be used as an allogeneic source of cells to treat immunological disorders. Recently it was demonstrated that adult bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchimal stromal cells (MSC) are susceptible to infection with viruses showing potential oncogenic properties, such as the polyomavirus JC (JCV). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of human polyomaviruses (JCV, BK Virus-BKV, SV40, and Merkel cell polyomavirus-MCPyV) in WJSC, and explore the risk of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  MSC samples from 35 umbilical cords were investigated by quantitative Real Time PCRs for the presence of DNA sequences of JCV, BKV, SV40, and MCPyV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  JCV DNA was detected in 1/35 (2.8%) of MSC samples, while SV40 DNA was found in 3/35 (8.6%) of the examined samples. None of the samples showed sequences of BKV and MCPyV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates the in vivo ability of polyomaviruses to infect WJSC. Since the therapeutic approach with the WJSC has high potentiality and a more intensive use can be easily hypothesized, the need to develop consensus guidelines to detect rare viral infections in MSC is pressing.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"-Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Medical Science Department, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Manola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comar
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delbue
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zanotta
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valencic
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piscianz
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Savio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tesser
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000821:virology*; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Wharton's jelly stromal cells; polyomavirus; umbilical cords