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.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coculture Techniques
  • DNA / genetics
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology*
  • Gammaretrovirus / genetics
  • Gammaretrovirus / immunology
  • Gammaretrovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Gammaretrovirus / physiology
  • Gene Products, env / analysis
  • Gene Products, gag / analysis
  • Genome, Viral
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / virology
  • Retroviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Retroviridae Infections / transmission
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / transmission
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, gag
  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/GQ483508
  • GENBANK/GQ483509
  • GENBANK/GQ483510
  • GENBANK/GQ497343
  • GENBANK/GQ497344
  • GENBANK/GQ497345