Anmeldung zur Tagung
Registration
Grußwort
Invitation
Themen
Topics
Allgemeiner Ablauf
General overview
Wissenschaftliches Programm
Scientific program
Kurse
Courses
Symposien
Symposiums
Frühstück mit Spezialisten
Breakfast with specialists
Arzthelferinnen-Fortbildung
Rahmenprogramm
Social program
DOG Information
DOG Information
Allgemeine Informationen
General Information
Autorenindex
Index of Authors
Ausstellerliste
Exhibitors
Sponsoren
Sponsors
Teilnahmegebühren
Registration fees
Impressum
JC Virus can be found in eyes of HIV infected patients
1Eberwein P., 2Stoner G. L., 1Hansen L. L., 1Agostini H. T.
1University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Germany; 2NIH Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Objective: JC Virus is a small human DNA virus existing in multiple
genotypes which persists in the kidneys and infects lymphocytes and multiple
internal organs. By infection of oligodendrocytes or astrocytes JCV causes
the fatal progressive multifocal leucencephalopathy (PML) in immunocompromised
patients. In vitro assays have shown that cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can transactivate JCV via the viral CMV-DNA
polymerase and the HIV tat protein, respectively. We wanted to know whether
it also infects the human eye and possibly contributes to retinal disease
in immunocompromised patients.
Material and Methods: 63 paraffin-embedded eyes (provided by Dr.
W. Green, Baltimore, USA) of 35 HIV patients with CMV retinitis were tested
for the presence of JCV using PCR specific for JCV (VP1 gene), CMV (DNA-polymerase
gene) and HIV (proviral DNA). 17 of the 35 patients were African Americans,
another 17 Caucasians. One individual came from Haiti. The slides were
rehydrated and digested with Proteinase K. The specificity of the PCR-products
was controlled by direct cycle sequencing.
Results: JCV DNA was found in 21 of the 63 eyes, CMV in 53 and
HIV in 6 eyes. 13 of the 23 JCV positive eyes were also positive for CMV
and three for HIV. Four different JCV genotypes could be found be sequencing:
Type 1 (4x), Type 2 (6x), Type 3 (5x) and Type 4 (6x).
Conclusions: For the first time we could show that JCV DNA can
be found in the human eye. The genotypes found in the 21 eyes highly correspond
to the ethnographically expected genotypes of JCV as Type 3 is typical
for Africa and Types 1B and 4 are common in Europe. Whether and how JCV
is involved in the pathogenicity of human ocular disease in immunocompromised
patients can not be determined without further morphological studies.