• Spyridon Chalkias, Xin Dang, Evelyn Bord, Marion C Stein, R Philip Kinkel, Jacob A Sloane, Maureen Donnelly, Carolina Ionete, Maria K Houtchens, Guy J Buckle, Stephanie Batson, and Igor J Koralnik.
• Division of NeuroVirology, Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
• Ann. Neurol. 2014 Jun 1; 75 (6): 925-34.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of JC virus (JCV) reactivation and JCV-specific cellular immune response during prolonged natalizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsWe enrolled 43 JCV-seropositive MS patients, including 32 on natalizumab monotherapy >18 months, 6 on interferon β-1a monotherapy >36 months, and 5 untreated controls. We performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and urine for JCV DNA, and we determined JCV-specific T-cell responses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays, ex vivo and after in vitro stimulation with JCV peptides.ResultsJCV DNA was detected in the CSF of 2 of 27 (7.4%) natalizumab-treated MS patients who had no symptoms or magnetic resonance imaging-detected lesions consistent with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. JCV DNA was detected in blood of 12 of 43 (27.9%) and in urine of 11 of 43 (25.6%) subjects without a difference between natalizumab-treated patients and controls. JC viral load was higher in CD34(+) cells and in monocytes compared to other subpopulations. ICS was more sensitive than ELISpot. JCV-specific T-cell responses, mediated by both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes, were detected more frequently after in vitro stimulation. JCV-specific CD4(+) T cells were detected ex vivo more frequently in MS patients with JCV DNA in CD34(+) (p = 0.05) and B cells (p = 0.03).InterpretationAsymptomatic JCV reactivation may occur in CSF of natalizumab-treated MS patients. JCV DNA load is higher in circulating CD34(+) cells and monocytes compared to other mononuclear cells, and JCV in blood might trigger a JCV-specific CD4(+) T-cell response. JCV-specific cellular immune response is highly prevalent in all JCV-seropositive MS patients, regardless of treatment.© 2014 American Neurological Association.

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