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Polyomavirus JC infects human brain microvascular endothelial cells independent of serotonin receptor 2A

Moti L Chapagain1, Saguna Verma, Frederic Mercier

  • 1Retrovirology Research Laboratory, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.

Virology
|April 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) infects brain endothelial cells, a key step in causing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This infection process occurs independently of the serotonin receptor 2A (5HT2AR).

Area of Science:

  • Neurovirology
  • Cell Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is linked to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in immunocompromised individuals.
  • The mechanism of JCV crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is not fully understood.
  • Endothelial cell infection is a potential route for JCV entry into the brain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if cell-free JCV infects human brain microvascular endothelial (HBMVE) cells.
  • To determine the role of serotonin receptor 2A (5HT2AR) in JCV infection of HBMVE cells.

Main Methods:

  • Inoculation of HBMVE cells with JCV(Mad1).
  • Analysis of viral gene and protein expression using immunocytochemistry, qPCR, and qRT-PCR.
  • Assessment of 5HT2AR expression and the effect of 5HT2AR blockers on JCV infection.

Main Results:

  • JCV efficiently infected and replicated in HBMVE cells in vitro.
  • Infectious virion production was significantly higher than the initial inoculum.
  • HBMVE cells did not express 5HT2AR, and blockers did not inhibit JCV infection.

Conclusions:

  • JCV productively infects HBMVE cells in vitro.
  • The infection mechanism in these cells is independent of 5HT2AR.
  • This finding provides insights into JCV's potential BBB crossing mechanisms.

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