JC virus infection in allograft kidneys - Analysis by polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry

Background Polyoma virus nephropathy after transplantation is believed to b e primarily due to the BK virus. me hypothesized that some eases may be ass ociated with the SC polyoma virus (JCV), which is also known to be latent i n the kidney. Methods. We sought polymerase chain reaction evidence of JCV infection in n eedle biopsy specimens with and without viral nephropathy. Cases positive b y polymerase chain reaction were studied by immuno-histochemistry for VP-1. antigen expression. Results. JCV DNA was found in 7 (36,8%) of 19 allograft kidney biopsy speci mens with viral nephropathy and 0 (0%) of 19 native or allograft biopsy spe cimens without viral nephropathy. Immunohistochemistry localized JCV to the nuclei of tubular epithelial cells fn one case. Conclusions. JCV is detectable in a subset of renal allograft kidneys with polyoma virus nephropathy. The tubular epithelium is identified as a site c apable of supporting JCV viral capsid protein VP-I expression, and hence vi ral replication.