JC virus variant associated with cerebellar atrophy in a patient with AIDS

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jun;49(6):2196-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02057-10. Epub 2011 Mar 23.

Abstract

The human polyomavirus JC virus (JCV) is the agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). It has also recently been involved in cerebellar atrophy. Factors involved in this entity are elusive. We present a case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient with PML and cerebellar atrophy. In addition to a compartmentalization of JCV strains between urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and cerebellum, specific rearrangements in the JCV regulatory region were observed in the cerebellum, resulting in alterations of transcription factor binding sites. Our data underline the importance of searching for JCV in HIV-infected patients with cerebellar disorders and suggest that mutations in the regulatory region may be involved in cerebellar degeneration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Atrophy / pathology*
  • Cerebellar Diseases / pathology*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / virology
  • Cerebrum / pathology
  • Cerebrum / virology
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Head / diagnostic imaging
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • JC Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / complications
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Microscopy
  • Polyomavirus Infections / complications*
  • Radiography
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Tumor Virus Infections / complications*
  • Urine / virology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral