Abstract:
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disease of unknown etiology that is estimated to affect 17 million people worldwide. Studying peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CFS patients, we identified DNA from a human gammaretrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), in 68 of 101 patients (67%) as compared to 8 of 218 (3.7%) healthy controls. Cell culture experiments revealed that patient-derived XMRV is infectious and that both cell-associated and cell-free transmission of the virus are possible. Secondary viral infections were established in uninfected primary lymphocytes and indicator cell lines after their exposure to activated PBMCs, B cells, T cells, or plasma derived from CFS patients. These findings raise the possibility that XMRV may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of CFS.
Comment in:
- Comment on “Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome”. [Science. 2010]
- Comment on “Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome”. [Science. 2010]
- Editorial expression of concern. [Science. 2011]
- Comment on “Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome”. [Science. 2010]
- Virology. A new virus for old diseases? [Science. 2009]
Erratum in: Partial retraction. Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. [Science. 2011]
Retraction in: Retraction. [Science. 2011]
Source: Lombardi VC, Ruscetti FW, Das Gupta J, Pfost MA, Hagen KS, Peterson DL, Ruscetti SK, Bagni RK, Petrow-Sadowski C, Gold B, Dean M, Silverman RH, Mikovits JA. Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Science. 2009 Oct 23;326(5952):585-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1179052. Epub 2009 Oct 8. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/326/5952/585.long (Full article)