Biogen has announced that an anti-malaria compound may be useful for treating a brain infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), that is an adverse effect of the company’s multiple sclerosis/Crohn’s disease drug Tysabri. How does JC virus fit into this story?
Tysabri is the trade name for Natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody against the cellular protein alpha-4 integrin. The antibody was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Both are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system damages host tissues. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the central nervous system, causing loss of the myelin sheath that surrounds neurons – also known as demyelination. As a consequence, nerve function is impaired, leading to physical and cognitive deterioration. In Crohn’s disease, immune cells damage the gastrointestinal tract, which causes severe pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. The membrane protein alpha-4 integrin is important in the movement of immune cells from the bloodstream into surrounding tissues. Treatment with an antibody to this protein is believed to inhibit such cell movement, thereby decreasing the immune attack in multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.
Tysabri is an immunosuppressive drug, and the problem with treating any illness with such a compound is that opportunistic infections may occur. Indeed, shortly after Tysabri was approved, several cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy occurred in recipients of the drug. This is a rare and usually fatal neurological disease caused by the polyomavirus JC. The virus multiplies in and destroy oligodendrocytes, which are cells of the brain that produce the myelin sheath surrounding neurons. JCV was identified in 1971 by inoculation of brain material from a PML patient into cultured human fetal glial cells. In the same year, another polyomavirus, BK, was isolated from the urine of a human renal transplant patient.
Both JCV and BKV are widespread in humans: it has been estimated that up to 90% of the global population is infected with these viruses. Most infections are asymptomatic, making it difficult to determine how the virus is transmitted. They are probably shed intermittently throughout life and spread to others by respiratory or oral routes. Why these viruses can persist for long periods in humans without causing disease is a mystery.
When patients are immunosuppressed – for organ transplantation, as a consequence of AIDS, or by treatment with Tysabri or other monoclonal antibodies that dampen the host immune response – JCV may multiply unchecked and cause PML. These observations tell us that the immune system is important in regulating the asymptomatic nature of human polyomavirus infections.
MS is a relatively common disease (incidence 2-150 per 100,000 population) and therefore treatments such as Tysabri are extremely useful. Clearly it was important for Biogen to determine how to limit the incidence of PML in patients receiving this antibody. Screening a chemical library of 2000 FDA-approved drugs identified mefloquine as an inhibitor of JCV. This compound is now being tested in humans for treatment of PML.
Other human polyomaviruses, including Li, WU, and Merkel cell virus, have been identified in human samples. As immunosuppressive therapy becomes more commonly used to treat a variety of human illnesses, these and other yet undiscovered viruses are likely to emerge as new pathogenic agents. We do not know how many different viruses colonize humans without causing disease. But it is safe to conclude that the zoonotic pool is not the only source of new virus infections for us to worry about.
Padgett BL, Walker DL, ZuRhein GM, Eckroade RJ, & Dessel BH. (1971). Cultivation of papova-like virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Lancet, 19, 1257-1260 PMID: 4104715
Gardner SD, Field AM, Coleman DV, & Hulme B. (1971). New human papovavirus (B.K.) isolated from urine after renal transplantation. Lancet, 19, 1253-1257 PMID: 4104714
Brickelmaier, M., Lugovskoy, A., Kartikeyan, R., Reviriego-Mendoza, M., Allaire, N., Simon, K., Frisque, R., & Gorelik, L. (2009). IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MEFLOQUINE EFFICACY AGAINST JC VIRUS IN VITRO Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01614-08
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Some good points raised in that post. Will be back to check for more.
This is the best news I heard lately, coming from the medical reserach field. I am surprised to see that doctors have discovered something major and useful in this field. The world is still waiting for the cancer cure and of course for the AIDS cure which is said to be quite close to actually being released.
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Drug Treatments
Being a MS sufferer, I am actively seeking ways to ease MS symptoms etc.
Unfortunately, I am not sure if immuno-supression is a way to heal a body.
Obviously, we all MUST strong and vibrant immune system.
Problem is – I don't know if I am right.
I have M.S. and I understand that the people taking this medication are not getting worse and holding their own. My doctor at UC Davis, gave me a blood test yesterday to see if I have the PML virus and if I do then I cannot take this medication. I am hoping for the best because to take one shot monthly sounds a lot better then daily.
I have M.S. and I understand that the people taking this medication are not getting worse and holding their own. My doctor at UC Davis, gave me a blood test yesterday to see if I have the PML virus and if I do then I cannot take this medication. I am hoping for the best because to take one shot monthly sounds a lot better then daily.
My mother has been using this treatment for almost four years now and it makes me very sad that because she has suddenly (in the last 6 months) gotten progressively worse now the are telling us about this blood test.
I am also just waiting for my blood tests to come back to find out if I have the PML virus. I have been taking Betaferon for the last year and a half and am still having a lot of difficulties with the injections (I do not have a great deal of subcutaneous tissue). I am erally hoping that I am able to switch to Tsabri as I have heard a lot of positive things. A year ago – I was told I had no other options and this year I have the choice of a pill or intravenous. Very exciting news for MS patients:)
My wife had been taking the Tysabri for 2-1/2 years and was doing relatively well. 4 months ago they took blood to test for the JC Virus. We found out last night she tested positive for the virus and 1 in 1,000 can die or become brain dead. It is frustrating because when she was on the treatments through May in AZ, with assitance, it cost $16,500 a month. No one should worry about chosing between their home and their health. No that she has tested positive for the JCV, has anyone heard of any new developments or options?
You might want to contact Dr. Igor Koralnik, who works on this condition: https://research.bidmc.harvard.edu/research/ResearchPIInfo.ASP?Submit=Display&PersonID=364
Dr Ted Rothstein @ GW Hospital in DC, stated that research had shown that patients that sero-converted to positive for the JCVirus antibodies that are on Tysabri, should consider the every other month infusion vs stopping the drug & starting an interferon, such as Betaseron, have shown to have SEVERE & longer exacerbations of their MS. This is something he is trying to combat! Since I have tested positive only now after being on the med for 5 years!
Last year I tested negative for the JC Virus antibodies………& now I’m scheduled for every other month infusions of Tysabri.
I decided that less chances of more MS damage is worth the risk for me!