Open AccessThe absence of JC virus antigens in Indian children with medulloblastomas
Author(s) -
Rakesh Kumar Vasishta,
Neelam Pasricha,
Avindra Nath,
Shobha Sehgal
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
indian journal of pathology and microbiology/indian journal of pathology and microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.217
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 0974-5130
pISSN - 0377-4929
DOI - 10.4103/0377-4929.44961
Subject(s) - progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy , jc virus , antigen , demyelinating disease , antibody , virology , population , immunostaining , biology , immunohistochemistry , monoclonal antibody , virus , medicine , immunology , pathology , multiple sclerosis , environmental health
The human polyoma virus, also known as the JC virus (JCV), replicates predominantly in the oligodendrocytes, the myelin producing cells in the central nervous system and results in the fatal demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) especially in immunosuppressed patients with AIDS. Several investigators have also documented the presence of the viral genome and early and late antigens in a variety of brain tumors particularly in medulloblastomas, gliomas and ependymomas. Reports also indicate the presence of JCV in patients with colon cancer. The T antigen of JCV has been postulated to have oncogenic potential as substantiated by animal experiments. Although JCV infects 80% of the population, there are scant epidemiological studies regarding JCV from India. There are also reports of the low prevalence of PML in patients with AIDS from India and Africa.