Interaction of the human polyomavirus, JCV, with human B-lymphocytes

The human polyomavirus, JCV, is the causative agent of the central nervous system demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The principal target of JCV infection in the central nervous system (CNS) is the myelinating oligodendrocyte. However, the site of JCV multiplication outside of the CNS and the mechanism by which virus gains access to the brain are not known. Recently, JCV infected B-lymphocytes have been demonstrated in PML patients in several lymphoid organs, in circulating peripheral lymphocytes, and in brain, suggesting a possible role of B-lymphocytes in the dissemination of virus to the brain. The experiments reported here were undertaken to understand more about the interactions of JCV with human B-lymphocytes. The data show that JCV is able to multiply in either Epstein-Barr virus transformed (EBV) or EBV negative human B cell lines resulting in production of infectious, progeny virions. In addition, nuclear proteins extracted from these B cells bind to similar nucleotides within the JCV regulatory region that are bound by nuclear proteins extracted from human fetal glial cells, the most susceptible host and principal target cell for JCV infection in vitro. It is not known, however, whether these DNA binding proteins from susceptible B cells and glial cells are similar.