JC virus in human glial-derived tumors

To investigate the presence and the role of polyomaviruses JC (JCV), BK (BK V), and the simian polyomavirus (SV40) in human brain tumors, samples from 25 glial-derived tumors (10 astrocytomas, 5 ependymomas, 5 oligodendrogliom as, and 5 glioblastomas) were examined by means of molecular biology and im munohistochemistry. 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 o nly in 1 astrocytoma, the oligodendroglioma, and the ependymoma, one of whi ch (astrocytoma) also stained positively by immunohistochemistry (JCV LT), TCR sequence analysis of the oligodendroglioma showed a JCV rearranged stru cture not related to a known viral strain, while the astrocytoma and the ep endymoma 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 pathogenesi s of these brain tumors. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.