VP1 DNA sequences of JC and BK viruses detected in urine of systemic lupuserythematosus patients reveal no differences from strains expressed in normal individuals

The ubiquitous human polyomaviruses BK (BKV) and JC (JCV) persist with no a dverse effects in immunocompetent individuals, Virus-induced pathogenesis h as been linked to virus reactivation during impaired immune conditions, Pre vious studies have shown a significant difference between the VP1 DNA seque nces of JCV obtained from control urine samples and those in progressive mu ltifocal leukoencephalopathy brain samples. This difference could not be de tected when comparing normal control urinary ICV DNA with DNA sequences fro m chronic progressive multiple sclerosis patients, Since BKV and JCV are re adily activated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, the presenc e of specific strains, related to VP1 DNA sequences, was investigated in th ese patients. VP1 DNA sequences in 100 urine samples from 21 SLE patients a nd 75 urine samples from 75 healthy pregnant women were analysed and compar ed to previously reported sequences. The results show that the VP1 sequence profiles of JCV and BKV excreted by SLE patients do not differ significant ly from those excreted by immunocompetent individuals, The European JCV sub types 1A or 1B were represented among all JCV-positive urine specimens, whi le BKV VP1 sequences showed complete, or almost complete, identity with the MM or JL strains. Different urine samples from the same patient collected over a 1 year period were predominantly stable. BKV VP 1 DNA in urine speci mens from healthy pregnant women was only detected during the third trimest er of their pregnancy. These results argue against SLE-specific JCV and BKV strains and suggest reactivation of the viruses rather than recurrent re-i nfections of patients with SLE.