Summary
Ultrastructural characteristics of the early steps of PML virus infection, i.e., adsorption, penetration, and intracellular virus transport were demonstrated in astrocytes. These phenomena were more frequently scen in the cytoplasm than virus assembly in the nuclei. Infection of the astrocytes is usually nonproductive.
Light- and electron-microscopic analysis of the present case and 23 cases published in the literature since 1970 leads to the conclusion that the relation is inverse between the appearance of giant, bizarre astrocytes and that of the productive infection of the nontransformed ones. The transformation of the astrocytes seems to be induced by infection with the PML virus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolton CF, Rozdilsky B (1971) Primary progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A case report. Neurology (Minneap) 21:72–77
Brun A, Nordenfeldt E, Kjellén L (1973) Aspects on the variability of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 24:232–243
Castaigne P, Escourolle R, Derouesne Ch, Cathala F, Hauw JJ, Duclos H, Goust JM (1973) Un cas de leucoencéphalopathie multifocale progressive. Isolement à partir d'une biopsie cerebrale, d'une nouvelle souche de virus Papova. Rev Neurol 128:85–94
Castaigne P, Rondot P, Escourolle R, Ribadeau Dumas JL, Cathala F, Hauw JJ (1974) Leucoencéphalopathie multifocale progressive et “gliomas” multiples. Rev Neurol 130:379–392
Field AM, Gardner SD, Goodbody RA, Woodhouse MA (1974) Identity of a newly isolated human polyomavirus from a patient with progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. J Clin Pathol 27:341–347
Gagne F, Bouchard JP, Bernier JP (1977) Leucoéncephalopathie multifocale progressive. Observation avec localisation lésionelle éléctivement pontocérébelleuse et contexte d'insuffisance immunitaire congenitale. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 38:167–169
Kepes JJ, Chou SM, Price LW (1975) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with 10-year survival in a patient with nontropical sprue. Report of a case with unusual light- and electron-microscopic features. Neurology 25:1006–1012
Knight A, O'Brien P, Osoba D (1972) “Spontaneous” progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Immunologic aspects. Ann Intern Med 77:229–233
Krempien B, Kolkmann FW, Schiemer HG, Mayer P (1972) Über die progressive multifokale Leukoencephalopathie. Beitrag zur Differentialdiagnose mit elektronenmikroskopischen und cytophotometrischen Untersuchungen. Virchows Arch A [Pathol Anat] 355:158–178
Legrain M, Graveleau J, Brion S, Mikol J, Küss R (1974) Leucoencéphalopathie multifocale progressive après transplantation rénale. J Neurol Sci 23:49–62
London WT, Houff SA, Madden DL, Fuccillo DA, Gravell M, Wallen WC, Palmer AE, Sever JL, Padgett BL, Walker DL, ZuRhein GM, Ohashi T (1978) Brain tumors in owl monkeys inoculated with a human polyomavirus (JC virus). Science 201:1246–1249
Løken AC (1974) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A neuropathological and electron-microscopical study of two cases. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [Suppl] 248:127–132
Manz HJ, Dinsdale HB, Morrin PAF (1971) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after renal transplantation. Demonstration of papova-like virions. Ann Intern Med 75:77–81
Mathews T, Wisotzkey H, Moossy J (1976) Multiple central nervous system infections in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy Neurology 26:9–14
Mázló M, Herndon RM (1977) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: Ultrastructural findings in two brain biopsies. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 3:323–339
Mázló M, Tariska I (1980) Morphological demonstration of the first phase of polyomavirus replication in oligodendroglia cells of human brain in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 49:133–143
Morecki R, Porro RS (1970) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Identification of virions in paraffin-embedded tissues. Arch Neurol 22:253–258
Narayan O (1976) On the neoplastic viral transformation of astrocytes in cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 35:313
Padgett BL, Walker DL, ZuRhein GM, Eckroade RJ, Dessel BH (1971) Cultivation of papova-like virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Lancet 1:1257–1260
Richardson EP (1961) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. New Engl J Med 265:815–823
Richardson EP, Johnson PC (1975) Atypical progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with plasma-cell infiltrates. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) [Suppl] 6:247–250
Rieth KG, Chiro GD, London WT, Sever JL, Houff SA, Kornblith PL, McKeever PE, Buonomo C, Padgett BL, Walker DL (1980) Experimental glioma in primates: A computed tomography model. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:285–290
Santoli D, Wroblewska Z, Gilden DH, Girardi A, Koprowski H (1975) Human brain in tissue culture. III. PML-SV40-induced transformation of brain cells and establishment of permanent lines. J Comp Neurol 161:317–328
Shein HM (1967) Transformation of astrocytes and destruction of spongioblasts induced by a simian tumor virus (SV40) in cultures of human fetal neuroglia. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 26:60–76
Tarsy D, Holden EM, Segarra JM, Calabresi P, Feldman RG (1973) 5-Iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IUDR; NSC-39661) given intraventricularly in the treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Cancer Chemother Rep 57:73–78
Walker DL, Padgett BL, ZuRhein GM, Albert AE, Marsh RF (1973) Human papovavirus (JC): Induction of brain tumors in hamsters. Science 181:674–676
ZuRhein GM (1972) Virions in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. In: Mincler J (ed) Pathology of the nervous system. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 2893–2912
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mázló, M., Tariska, I. Are astrocytes infected in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)?. Acta Neuropathol 56, 45–51 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691181
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691181