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
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Retracted Publication
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Viral / blood
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / virology
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Base Sequence
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Cell Line
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Coculture Techniques
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DNA / genetics
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Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology*
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Gammaretrovirus / genetics
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Gammaretrovirus / immunology
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Gammaretrovirus / isolation & purification*
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Gammaretrovirus / physiology
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Gene Products, env / analysis
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Gene Products, gag / analysis
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Genome, Viral
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Humans
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology*
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Lymphocyte Activation
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Male
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Prostatic Neoplasms / virology
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Retroviridae Infections / epidemiology
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Retroviridae Infections / transmission
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Retroviridae Infections / virology*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / virology
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Tumor Virus Infections / epidemiology
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Tumor Virus Infections / transmission
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Tumor Virus Infections / virology*
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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Gene Products, env
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Gene Products, gag
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DNA
Associated data
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GENBANK/GQ483508
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GENBANK/GQ483509
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GENBANK/GQ483510
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GENBANK/GQ497343
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GENBANK/GQ497344
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GENBANK/GQ497345