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JC virus chromogenic in situ hybridization in brain biopsies from patients with and without PML
Gary W Procop1, Rose C Beck, James D Pettay
1Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA. procopg@ccf.org
Abstract:
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by the JC polyoma virus. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry are the traditional methods of confirming the presence of the virus in brain biopsies from these patients. We studied the brain biopsies from 7 patients with PML and 6 patients without PML with chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) for the JC polyoma virus using a commercially available probe. The biopsies from the patients with the PML cases were proven to contain the JC polyoma virus by traditional and molecular methods. The CISH findings were compared with the known state of infection. All (7/7) of the biopsies from patients with PML were positive for the presence of polyoma virus by CISH, whereas the biopsies from patients without PML were uniformly negative. CISH seems to be a useful tool for the detection of the JC virus in brain biopsies from patients with PML, and is more accessible because a commercial probe is available.
Insights
Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) effectively detects JC polyoma virus in brain biopsies, aiding diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This molecular method offers a valuable and accessible tool for identifying PML in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
- PML is caused by the JC polyoma virus, a common human pathogen.
- Traditional diagnostic methods for PML include electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry on brain biopsies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) for detecting JC polyoma virus in brain biopsies.
- To compare CISH results with established diagnostic methods for PML.
Main Methods:
- Brain biopsies from 7 PML patients and 6 non-PML controls were analyzed.
- Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) was performed using a commercially available probe for JC polyoma virus.
- CISH findings were correlated with the confirmed infection status.
Main Results:
- All 7 PML patient biopsies tested positive for JC polyoma virus by CISH.
- All 6 non-PML control biopsies were negative for JC polyoma virus using CISH.
- CISH demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) is a highly sensitive and specific method for detecting JC polyoma virus in brain biopsies.
- CISH provides a valuable and accessible diagnostic tool for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
- The availability of a commercial probe enhances the practicality of CISH for PML diagnosis.
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