From In Vivo, May-June issue 2011.
Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus-associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveals a Distinct Inflammatory Signature
VINCENT C. LOMBARDI1, KATHRYN S. HAGEN1, KENNETH W. HUNTER4, JOHN W. DIAMOND2,†,M JULIE SMITH-GAGEN
1Whittemore Peterson Institute, University of Nevada, Reno MS 0552, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557, U.S.A.
2Triad Medical Center, 4600 Kietzke Lane M242, Reno, NV 89502, U.S.A.
3Nevada Center for Health Statistics and Informatics, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557, U.S.A.
4University of Nevada Reno, Department of Microbiology and Immunology Applied Research Facility, 1664 N. Virginia St., MS 199, Reno, NV 89557 U.S.A.
Correspondence to: Dr. Vincent C. Lombardi, Whittemore Peterson Institute, University of Nevada, Reno MS 0552, 1664 N. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89557-0552, U.S.A. Tel: +7758437657, e-mail: vclombardi@wpinstitute.org; vclombardi@gmail.com
Abstract
Background: The recent identification of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) in the blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) establishes that a retrovirus may play a role in the pathology in this disease. Knowledge of the immune response might lead to a better understanding of the role XMRV plays in this syndrome. Our objective was to investigate the cytokine and chemokine response in XMRV-associated CFS. Materials and Methods: Using Luminex multi-analyte profiling technology, we measured cytokine and chemokine values in the plasma of XMRV-infected CFS patients and compared these data to those of healthy controls. Analysis was performed using the Gene Expression Pattern Analysis Suite and the Random Forest tree classification algorithm. Results: This study identifies a signature of 10 cytokines and chemokines which correctly identifies XMRV/CFS patients with 93% specificity and 96% sensitivity. Conclusion: These data show, for the first time, an immunological pattern associated with XMRV/CFS.
Received January 20, 2011.
Revision received February 25, 2011.
Accepted February 28, 2011.
Copyright © 2011 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios). All rights reserved.
goodness!
More solid evidence of immune system dysregulation in ME/cfs patients which the UK will ignore.
Perhaps when Maureen Hanson reports finding high rates of XMRV/MuLVrVs in ME/cfs later this year, they will start to wake up.
In the meantime, here in the UK, we remain in the stoneage with regards to functional testing of the immune system.
I guess that the policy continues to be: “If you don’t look then you won’t risk finding the inconvenient truth.”