Epigenetic regulation of polyomavirus JC.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Polyomavirus JC (JCV) causes the CNS demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which occurs almost exclusively in people with immune deficiencies, such as HIV-1/AIDS patients. JCV infection is very common and usually occurs early in life. After primary infection, virus is controlled by the immune system but, rarely when immune function is impaired, it can re-emerge and multiply in the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brain and cause PML. Thus a central question in PML pathogenesis is the nature of the molecular mechanisms maintaining JCV in a latent state and then allowing reactivation.

Methods

Since transcription can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, we investigated their r

SUBMITTER: Wollebo HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3765676 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature