Viral variant nucleotide sequences help expose leukocytic positioning in the JC virus pathway to the CNS.
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The human polyomavirus JCV lytically infects oligodendrocytes of immunosuppressed individuals leading to the fatal demyelinating disease termed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Dementia, hemiparesis, and hemianopsia are the predominant presenting signs of PML. Asymptomatic JCV infection is common worldwide with approximately 80% of adults testing positive for JCV antibodies. In addition to the brain, JCV has been shown to infect tonsil, lymphoid, bone marrow, and kidney tissues. Viral variants, classified according to the nucleotide sequences of their regulatory regions, are being mapped in human tissues and cell types to help trace the pathway of JCV from a site of initial infection to target oligodendrocytes. In most literature, a dichotomy of the JCV regulatory region structure exists by tissue. B lymphocytes, however, have demonstrated the capacity to harbor JCV of diverse regulatory regions, which helps position their interaction with virus amid every stage of infection and implicates a lymphocytic role in latency. (+info)
The antigen-presenting environment in normal and human papillomavirus (HPV)-related premalignant cervical epithelium.
(26/2725)
The activation of HPV-specific T cells within the cervical microenvironment is likely to play an important part in the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The extent and the type of T cell activation will depend critically on the expression of MHC, costimulatory cell surface molecules and cytokines by keratinocytes and Langerhans cells within the cervical lesion. Expression of MHC class II (HLA-A-DR and -DQ), costimulatory/adhesion molecules (CD11a/18, CD50, CD54, CD58 and CD86) and cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10) was therefore investigated by immunohistochemistry in normal squamous epithelium (n = 12), low-grade (n = 23) and high-grade (n = 18) squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix. CIN progression was associated with de novo expression of HLA-DR and CD54, and increased expression of CD58 by keratinocytes. However, significantly, there was no expression of any adhesion/costimulation molecule by epithelial Langerhans cells in any cervical biopsy studied. Furthermore, TNF-alpha, a potent activator of Langerhans cells, was expressed constitutively by basal keratinocytes in normal cervix (12+/12). but expression of this cytokine was absent in a number of CIN samples (20+/23 for low-grade, 12+/18 for high-grade CIN). Conversely, the suppressive cytokine IL-10 was absent in normal epithelium (0+/12), but was up-regulated in a number of CIN lesions (12+/23 for low-grade; 8+/18 for high-grade CIN). The restricted expression of costimulation/adhesion molecules and the nature of the cytokine microenvironment within the epithelium may act to limit effective immune responses in some CIN lesions. (+info)
Selective inhibition of human papillomavirus-induced cell proliferation by (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonylmethoxy)propyl]cytosine.
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(S)-1-[3-Hydroxy-2-(phosphonylmethoxy)propyl]cytosine (HPMPC) is a nucleoside phosphonate analog which in its active diphosphorylated form is known to inhibit herpesvirus DNA polymerase. In this study, we have demonstrated that, in a dose-dependent manner, this compound irreversibly suppressed proliferation of cells infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), which does not possess a viral DNA polymerase. To elucidate the mechanism of cell growth inhibition, cell cycle indicator-regulator expression, thymidine incorporation, transcript levels of apoptosis factors, and anabolic products of HPMPC following drug treatment were evaluated. HPMPC treatment reduced WAF1 (p21) levels independent of those of p53, while proliferating cell nuclear antigen increased. However, in comparison to controls, HPMPC-treated cells displayed a decrease in thymidine incorporation, indicating an inhibition of host DNA polymerase activity. In normal primary keratinocytes, HPMPC predominantly accumulated in the form of the choline adduct HPMPCp-choline. However, in HPV type 16-transformed keratinocytes, HPMPCpp was the most abundant anabolic product, with little HPMPCp-choline having formed. The data imply that an unrecognized viral factor is modulating the conversion of nucleotides, including HPMPC, to the triphosphorylated form. (+info)
Distribution of cycling T lymphocytes in blood and lymphoid organs during immune responses.
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Proliferation of murine T lymphocytes in blood, lymph nodes, and spleen was studied in four in vivo stimulation systems, using BrdU pulse-labeling of DNA-synthesizing cells. The T cell response to the superantigen Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) was studied in detail. Vbeta8+ T cells showed a peak of DNA synthesis 16-24 h after SEB injection, and the percentage of BrdU+ CD4 and CD8 T cells was higher in blood than in lymph nodes and spleen. DNA synthesis was preceded by massive migration of Vbeta8+ cells from blood to lymphoid organs, in which the early activation marker CD69 was first up-regulated. SEB-nonspecific Vbeta6+ cells showed minimal stimulation but, when cycling, also expressed a high level of CD69. The other systems studied were injection of the IFN-gamma inducer polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, infection by the BM5 variants of murine leukemia virus (the causative agent of murine AIDS), and T cell expansion after transfer of normal bone marrow and lymph node cells into recombinase-activating gene-2-deficient mice. In each case, a peak of T cell proliferation was observed in blood. These data demonstrate the extensive redistribution of cycling T cells in the first few hours after activation. Kinetic studies of blood lymphocyte status appear crucial for understanding primary immune responses because cycling and redistributing T lymphocytes are enriched in the circulating compartment. (+info)
Natural history of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection in children of mothers infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
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The natural history of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in 556 infants born to 517 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1-infected mothers was studied in a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. HIV-1-infected children had a cumulative EBV infection rate similar to HIV-1-uninfected children at age 3 years (77.8% vs. 84. 9%) but had more frequent oropharyngeal EBV shedding (50.4% vs. 28. 2%; P<.001). The probability of shedding decreased with longer time from EBV seroconversion and was similar to that of HIV-1-uninfected children 3 years after seroconversion. HIV-1-infected children identified as rapid progressors shed EBV more frequently than nonrapid progressors (69.4% vs.41.0%; P=.01). HIV-1-infected children with EBV infection had higher mean CD8 cell counts. EBV infection did not have an independent effect on mean CD4 cell counts, percent CD4, IgG levels, HIV-1 RNA levels, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, or splenomegaly. Early EBV infection is common in children born to HIV-1-infected mothers. Children with rapidly progressive HIV-1 disease have more frequent EBV shedding. (+info)
Association of human papillomavirus infection and disease with magnitude of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA plasma level among women with HIV-1 infection.
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Ninety-three women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and coincident cervical infection and disease caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs). HIV-1 RNA plasma levels of >10,000 copies/mL were highly associated with the presence in cervical specimens of HPV DNA of oncogenic (high risk) virus genotypes (P=.006; relative risk, 2.57). In addition, similar HIV-1 RNA plasma levels were associated with abnormal Pap smears (P=.01; relative risk, 2.11). In this study, 81% of women with high-risk HPV cervical infection had abnormal Pap smears. Measurement of HIV-1 RNA plasma levels may help to identify a subgroup of HIV-1-infected women at increased risk for cervical HPV infection and disease. (+info)
Preliminary characterization of a reovirus isolated from golden ide Leuciscus idus melanotus.
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Some characteristics of a reovirus recently isolated from golden ide Leuciscus idus melanotus and tentatively designated as golden ide reovirus (GIRV) were determined. Spherical non-enveloped particles with an outer capsid of about 70 nm and an inner capsid of about 50 nm were observed by electron microscopy. The density of the virus determined in CsCl gradients was 1.36 g ml-1. The genome contained 11 segments of dsRNA. GIRV differed from other aquareoviruses by a slight reduction of infectivity after treatment with chloroform and by the absence of forming syncytia in cell monolayers. (+info)
Polyomavirus infection of renal allograft recipients: from latent infection to manifest disease.
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Polyomavirus (PV) exceptionally causes a morphologically manifest renal allograft infection. Five such cases were encountered in this study, and were followed between 40 and 330 d during persistent PV renal allograft infection. Transplant (Tx) control groups without PV graft infection were analyzed for comparison. Tissue and urine samples were evaluated by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and PCR. The initial diagnosis of PV infection with the BK strain was made in biopsies 9+/-2 mo (mean +/- SD) post-Tx after prior rejection episodes and rescue therapy with tacrolimus. All subsequent biopsies showed persistent PV infection. Intranuclear viral inclusion bodies in epithelial cells along the entire nephron and the transitional cell layer were histologic hallmarks of infection. Affected tubular cells were enlarged and often necrotic. In two patients, small glomerular crescents were found. In 54% of biopsies, infection was associated with pronounced inflammation, which had features of cellular rejection. All patients were excreting PV-infected cells in the urine. PV infection was associated with 40% graft loss (2 of 5) and a serum creatinine of 484+/-326 micromol/L (mean +/- SD; 11 mo post-Tx). Tx control groups showed PV-infected cells in the urine in 5%. Control subjects had fewer rejection episodes (P<0.05) and stable graft function (P = 0.01). It is concluded that a manifest renal allograft infection with PV (BK strain) can persist in heavily immunosuppressed patients with recurrent rejection episodes. PV mainly affects tubular cells and causes necrosis, a major reason for functional deterioration. A biopsy is required for diagnosis. Urine cytology can serve as an adjunct diagnostic tool. (+info)