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The identification of cells containing JC papovavirus DNA in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy by combined in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry
Author(s) -
Ironside James W.,
Lewis Fraser A.,
Blythe David,
Wakefield Elizabeth A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711570405
Subject(s) - papovavirus , immunocytochemistry , progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy , jc virus , in situ hybridization , biology , pathology , labelling , vimentin , virus , microbiology and biotechnology , glial fibrillary acidic protein , slow virus , immunohistochemistry , virology , medicine , immunology , biochemistry , gene expression , gene
A double‐labelling technique combining in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry is described which was used to characterize cells in the central nervous system containing JC virus DNA in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues from four cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. All four cases showed positive nuclear labelling for JC virus in both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The latter gave a strongly positive cytoplasmic staining reaction using antibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin. No nuclear labelling of neurones or endothelial cells was noted. The results confirm previous suggestions that glia are the main cells infected by JC virus in this disorder and show that the distribution of viral DNA in the brain is more extensive than suggested by routine microscopy alone. In situ hybridization for JC virus may be useful in confirming the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in both surgical biopsies and post‐mortem brain tissue.