title: BK virus capsid antibodies are associated with protection against subsequent development of PML in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is caused by JC polyomavirus (JCPyV). Because a reciprocal relationship has been described between antibody levels to JCPyV and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), we performed a nested case control study with pre-diagnostic serum samples from HIV infected subjects to examine the relationship between BKPyV capsid antibodies and the risk of PML. Serum samples collected 0.5-2 years before PML diagnosis from 25 cases (66 samples) and 80 matched controls (204 samples) were tested in ELISA for JCPyV, BKPyV type 1 and type 4 capsid antibodies. High levels of BKPyV 1 and 4 antibodies were associated with a lower risk of PML (BKPyV 1 OR, 0.56, 95% CI, 0.35-0.89; BKPyV 4 OR, 0.40, 95% CI, 0.24-0.0.67). Our study demonstrates that antibodies to BKPyV capsids are an immunological marker of protection against development of PML. Further studies are needed to define the mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Science and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Xiuhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Palella
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Margolick
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: rviscid1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viscidi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001739:BK Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060085:Coinfection; D056738:Cross Protection / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007577:JC Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D065288:Serogroup
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: BK polyomavirus; Cohort study; Human immunodeficiency virus; JC polyomavirus; Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; Viral serology