Expression of BKV and JCV encoded microRNA in human cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urine

BK and JC polyomaviruses encode microRNAs which may facilitate the establishment of persistent infection. MicroRNAs contribute to disease pathogenesis, and may provide useful tools in laboratory diagnostics and patient management.

In this pilot work we studied whether viral and cellular microRNAs can be extracted and detected from body fluids to provide added value in a diagnostic laboratory.

Altogether 120 human plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid samples from individuals diagnosed with, or suspected of, a severe polyomavirus associated disease, were included in the study. The samples were spiked with unrelated synthetic microRNA to control for sample quality and inhibition. BKV specific bkv-miR-B1-5p, JCV specific jcv-miR-J1-5p, and bkv-miR-B1-3p/jcv-miR-J1-3p, sharing identical sequences between the two viruses, were amplified from human samples using specific TaqMan assays. Expression of 84 circulating human microRNAs was studied in four selected plasma samples in microarray.

jcv-miR-J1-5p and bkv-miR-B1-3p/jcv-miR-J1-3p were frequently amplified from human plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid samples. bkv-miR-B1-5p was amplified from one-third of the samples, which often contained high viral DNA loads. A microarray screen of human microRNAs in plasma samples suggested regulation of several human microRNA expression in BKV positive vs negative samples.

Viral and cellular microRNAs can be processed and detected from human body fluids. They may prove useful in the diagnosis and management of severe polyomavirus associated diseases, calling for further clinical evaluation.