Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Springer Nature - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Springer Nature - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 1994;424(5):569–572. doi: 10.1007/BF00191445

Papovavirus detection by electron microscopy in the brain of an elderly patient without overt progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

H Shimada 1, K Noda 2, M Mori 3,✉, N Aoki 3, M Tajima 4, K Kato 5
PMCID: PMC7087722  PMID: 8032537

Abstract

Virions resembling papovavirus were demonstrated in glial cells in the brain of an aged patient without overt progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The patient was not in a severely immunocompromised state. On histological examination, only a few tiny incomplete necrotic foci were found in the subcortical area. These foci were widely dispersed. Rare, swollen oligodendroglial cells and astrocytes in which papovavirus capsid protein (VP-1) was demonstrated immunohistochemically were present around the foci. The two typical types of virus particles i.e. 35 to 40 nm round particles and elongated particles, were observed in the nuclei of the swollen glial cells. The latter were in the minority. Distinct crystals were also found in the nuclei. The centre-to-centre distance of the particles in the crystals, about 40 nm, and the electron-opaque spots of the round-shaped virions and of the elongated particles, were indicative of structural subunits of papovavirus capsids. This case provides further evidence that papovavirus, possibly JC virus, may be reactivated in the brains of aged patients who are not in an immunocompromised state.

Key words: Papovavirus, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Electron microscopy Elderly patient

References

  • 1.Bauer WR, Turel AP, Johnson KP. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and cytarabine. Remission with treatment. JAMA. 1973;226:174–176. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Bernhard W, Febvre HL, Cramer R. Miseen vidence au microscope lectronique d'un virus dans des cellules infect 'ees in vitro par l'agent du polyome. C R Acad SCI [III] 1959;249:483–485. [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Elsner C, Dorries K. Evidence of human polyomavirus BK and JC infection in normal brain tissue. Virology. 1992;191:72–80. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(92)90167-n. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Fazakerley JK, Buchmeier MJ (1993) Pathogenesis of virus-induced demyelination. In: Advances in virus research, Maramorosch (ed) vol 42. Academic Press, pp 249–324 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  • 5.Gibson PE, Gardner SD, Field AM. Use of a molecular probe for detecting JCV DNA directly in human brain material. J Med Virol. 1986;18:87–95. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890180111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Gissmann L, Pfister H, zur Hausen H. Human papillomavirus (HPV). Characterization of four different isolates. Virology. 1977;76:569–580. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(77)90239-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Kepes JJ, Chon SM, Price LW. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with 10-year survival in a patient with non-tropical sprue. Neurology. 1975;25:1006–1012. doi: 10.1212/wnl.25.11.1007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Mori M, Kurata H, Tajima M, Shimada H. JC virus detection by in situ hybridization in brain tissue from elderly patients. Ann Neurol. 1991;29:428–432. doi: 10.1002/ana.410290414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Mori M, Aoki N, Shimada H, Tajima M, Kato K. Detection of JC virus in the brains of aged patients without progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy by the polymerase chain reaction and southern hybridization. Neurosci Lett. 1992;141:151–155. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(92)90883-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Padgett BL, Walker DL. New human papovaviruses. Prog Med Virol. 1976;22:1–35. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Padgett BL, Walker DL, ZuRhein GM, Eckroade RJ. Cultivation of papova-like virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Lancet. 1971;I:1257–1260. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)91777-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Price RW, Nielsen S, Horton B, Rubino M, Padgett B, Walker D. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: a burnt-out case. Ann Neurol. 1983;13:485–490. doi: 10.1002/ana.410130503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Quinlivan EB, Norris M, Bouldin TW, Suzuki K, Meeker R, Smith MS, Hall C, Kenny S. Subclinical central nervous system infection with JC virus in patients with AIDS. J Infect Dis. 1992;166:80–85. doi: 10.1093/infdis/166.1.80. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Richardson EP., Jr Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. N Engl J Med. 1961;265:815–823. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196110262651701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Selhorst JB, Ducy KF, Thomas JM, et al. PML: remission and immunologic reversals. Neurology. 1978;28:337. [Google Scholar]
  • 16.White FA, Ishaq M, Stoner GL, Frisque RJ. JC virus DNA is present in many human brain samples from patients without progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. J Virol. 1992;66:5726–5736. doi: 10.1128/jvi.66.10.5726-5734.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Willoughby E, Price RW, Padjett BL, et al. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): in vitro cell mediated immune responses to mitogens and JC virus. Neurology. 1980;30:256–262. doi: 10.1212/wnl.30.3.256. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.ZuRhein GM, Chou SM. Particles resembling papovaviruses in human cerebral demyelinating disease. Science. 1965;148:1477–1479. doi: 10.1126/science.148.3676.1477. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.ZuRhein GM. Association of papova-virions with a human demyelinating disease (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) Prog Med Virol. 1969;11:185–247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Virchows Archiv are provided here courtesy of Nature Publishing Group

RESOURCES