U87MG Glioblastoma Cell Line: An In Vitro Cell Culture System To Propagate Polyomavirus JC

Abstract

Polyomavirus JC (JCV) is the causative agent of the demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The primary target of virus infection is oligodendroglial cells. JCV shows highly restricted host range, there are no established susceptible cell lines for JCV except primary human fetal glial (PHFG) cells that are difficult to procure and maintain. The restricted in vitro growth of JCV has hindered JCV pathogenesis studies to very few laboratories worldwide. Most published studies on JCV have employed SV40 derived cell lines or JCV/SV40 chimeras, which complicates biological and molecular characterization of JCV. We employed the U87MG glioblastoma cells for propagation of JCV. By using DNA replication, RT-PCR, real time PCR, in situ hybridization assays we were successfully demonstrated JCV propagation and progeny virus production in U87MG glioblastoma cells. These data are consistent with our studies of JCV replication, gene transcription and virion production in PHFG cells. Our data suggests that U87MG glioblastoma cell line will expedite the study on polyomavirus JC.