JC Virus

Shmuel Shoham, M.D., Paul Auwaerter, M.D.
JC Virus is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

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MICROBIOLOGY

  • JC virus (JCV) is a DNA polyomavirus discovered in 1971, isolated from patient John Cunningham.
    • Other polyoma viruses:
      • JCV is genetically closely related to BK and SV40 viruses.
      • Other members of the human polyoma virus group include:
        • Trichodysplasia spinulosa virus: associated with skin disease
        • Merkel cell polyoma virus: associated with a rare form of skin cancer called Merkle cell cancer
        • KI, WU, MW, human polyoma 6, 7, and 9 viruses: Found in human specimen, but no clear disease associations
    • Oncogenic potential:
      • Member of this DNA tumor virus family are well-known to cause tumors in rodents; however, except for Merkle cell cancer, oncologic potential in humans less certain.
      • Some studies have linked virus to human colorectal cancer, but this concept remains controversial.
    • Structure and composition: All polyoma viruses (including JCV) are non-enveloped and contain double-stranded DNA
    • JCV and tissues:
      • Tissue specificity: kidney epithelial cells, tonsillar stromal cells, bone marrow-derived cell lineages, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes
      • JCV in Kidney and bone marrow derived cell: Low level viral persistence (latency)
      • JCV in the CNS: rapid viral replication in oligodendrocytes with resultant demyelinating disease
      • Uncertain if reactivation or new infection of cells. Controversy exists regarding pathogenesis of viral latency, source of latent virus and reactivation in PML.

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MICROBIOLOGY

  • JC virus (JCV) is a DNA polyomavirus discovered in 1971, isolated from patient John Cunningham.
    • Other polyoma viruses:
      • JCV is genetically closely related to BK and SV40 viruses.
      • Other members of the human polyoma virus group include:
        • Trichodysplasia spinulosa virus: associated with skin disease
        • Merkel cell polyoma virus: associated with a rare form of skin cancer called Merkle cell cancer
        • KI, WU, MW, human polyoma 6, 7, and 9 viruses: Found in human specimen, but no clear disease associations
    • Oncogenic potential:
      • Member of this DNA tumor virus family are well-known to cause tumors in rodents; however, except for Merkle cell cancer, oncologic potential in humans less certain.
      • Some studies have linked virus to human colorectal cancer, but this concept remains controversial.
    • Structure and composition: All polyoma viruses (including JCV) are non-enveloped and contain double-stranded DNA
    • JCV and tissues:
      • Tissue specificity: kidney epithelial cells, tonsillar stromal cells, bone marrow-derived cell lineages, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes
      • JCV in Kidney and bone marrow derived cell: Low level viral persistence (latency)
      • JCV in the CNS: rapid viral replication in oligodendrocytes with resultant demyelinating disease
      • Uncertain if reactivation or new infection of cells. Controversy exists regarding pathogenesis of viral latency, source of latent virus and reactivation in PML.

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Last updated: May 2, 2016