Nude (nu/nu) mice were inoculated intracranially with 106.5 newborn mouse 50% lethal doses of K virus and were studied over a period of 28 weeks using serological methods, virus assay and immunohistological staining for viral antigens. K virus infection of nude mice, although clinically asymptomatic, was slowly progressive despite prompt IgM and IgG antibody response. The highest titres of K virus infectivity were reached in spleens, kidneys and intestines. Vascular endothelial cells represented the major site of viral replication, as has been shown to be the case in immunologically normal mice, with extensive involvement of intestinal capillaries. In addition, however, unlike immunologically normal mice, nude mice inoculated with K virus developed multifocal infection of renal tubular epithelial cells. Nude mice did not develop histologically detectable evidence of central nervous system involvement by K virus, and K virus infection did not result in neoplasia. Infected vascular endothelial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells in animals studied at 16 and 27 weeks after inoculation were grouped in scattered clusters, suggesting local spread of infection. The present study indicates that nude mice with preserved B cell function but impaired T cell-mediated immunity are able to limit systemic dissemination of K virus but are unable to prevent local progression of infection by cell-to-cell spread. K virus is capable of altering its cellular tropism during chronic infection.
ChestersP. M.,
HeritageJ.,
McCanceD. J.1983; Persistence of DNA sequences of BK virus and JC virus in normal human tissues and in diseased tissues. Journal of Infectious Diseases 147:676–684
CostaJ.,
HowleyP. M.,
BowlingM. C.,
HowardR.1981; Presence of human papilloma viral antigens in juvenile multiple laryngeal papilloma. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 75:194–197
GreenleeJ. E.,
KeeneyP. M.1982; Immunofluorescent labelling of K-papovavirus antigens in glycol methacrylate embedded material: a method for studying infected cell populations by fluorescence microscopy and histological staining of adjacent sections. Stain Technology 57:197–205
HarperJ. S.III,
DaweC. J.,
TrappB. D.,
MckeeverP. E.,
CollinsM.,
WoyciechowskaJ. L.,
MaddenD. L.,
SeverJ. L.1983; Paralysis in nude mice caused by polyomavirus-induced vertebral tumors. In Polyomaviruses and Human Neurological Diseases pp 359–367 Edited by
SeverJ. L.,
MaddenD. L.
New York: Alan R. Liss;
KilhamL.,
MurphyH. W.1953; A pneumotropic virus isolated from C3H mice carrying the Bittner milk agent. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 82:133–137
MccanceD. J.,
SebestenyA.,
GriffinB. E.,
BalkwillF.,
TillyR.,
GregsonN. A.1983; A paralytic disease of nude mice associated with polyoma virus infection. Journal of General Virology 64:57–67
PadgettB. L.,
WalkerD. L.1983; Virologic and serologic studies of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. In Polyomaviruses and Human Neurological Diseases pp 107–117 Edited by
SeverJ. L.,
MaddenD. L.
New York: Alan R. Liss;
ReeseJ. M.,
ReissigM.,
DanielR. W.,
ShahK. V.1975; Occurrence of BK virus and BK virus-specific antibodies in the urine of patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancy. Infection and Immunity 11:1375–1381
RosenS.,
HarmonW.,
KrenskyA. M.,
EdelsonP. J.,
PadgettB. L.,
GrinnellB. W.,
RubinoM. J.,
WalkerD. L.1983; Tubulo-interstitial nephritis associated with polyomavirus (BK type) infection. New England Journal of Medicine 308:1192–1196
WalkerD. L.,
PadgettB. L.1983; The epidemiology of human polyomaviruses. In Polyomaviruses and Human Neurological Diseases pp 99–106 Edited by
SeverJ. L.,
MaddenD. L.
New York: Alan R. Liss;