SV40, JC and BK expression in tissue, urine and blood samples from patients with malignant and nonmalignant pleural disease

Background: Polyomaviruses are expressed in both human tumors and immunodep ressed patients. Malignant and nonmalignant pleural effusions create an env ironment that could favor the expression of opportunistic viral infections. We studied if SV40, JC, and BK viral DNA can be amplified fr om biopsies o btained from different pleural diseases. Materials and Methods. DNA was ext racted from mesotheliomas (MM), nonspecific inflammatory and tubercular ple ural biopsies, blood and urinary sediments from patients with MM, and pleur al effusion cytological specimens. SV40, JC and BK viral early regions were amplified by PCR and analyzed by Southern Blot hybridization with specific probes. Results: SV40 was positive in 9/23 MM, 5/18 tubercular and 1/7 non specific inflammatory biopsies, and 5/12 pleural effusion cytological speci mens. JC was positive in 2/23 MM and in 7/15 urinary sediments. All blood s amples were negative and BK was also negative in all samples. Conclusions.. Tissue specific factors, characteristic of MM and TB, may contribute to ex pression of SV40 in these diseases.