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Verbeek R, Vandekerckhove L, Van Cleemput J. Update on human herpesvirus 7 pathogenesis and clinical aspects as a roadmap for future research. J Virol 2024; 98:e0043724. [PMID: 38717112 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00437-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is a common virus that is associated with various human diseases including febrile syndromes, dermatological lesions, neurological defects, and transplant complications. Still, HHV-7 remains one of the least studied members of all human betaherpesviruses. In addition, HHV-7-related research is mostly confined to case reports, while in vitro or in vivo studies unraveling basic virology, transmission mechanisms, and viral pathogenesis are sparse. Here, we discuss HHV-7-related literature linking clinical syndromes to the viral life cycle, epidemiology, and viral immunopathogenesis. Based on our review, we propose a hypothetical model of HHV-7 pathogenesis inside its host. Furthermore, we identify important knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research to better understand HHV-7 diseases and improve therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne Verbeek
- HIV Cure Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Linos Vandekerckhove
- HIV Cure Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jolien Van Cleemput
- HIV Cure Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Pricoco R, Meidel P, Hofberger T, Zietemann H, Mueller Y, Wiehler K, Michel K, Paulick J, Leone A, Haegele M, Mayer-Huber S, Gerrer K, Mittelstrass K, Scheibenbogen C, Renz-Polster H, Mihatsch L, Behrends U. One-year follow-up of young people with ME/CFS following infectious mononucleosis by Epstein-Barr virus. Front Pediatr 2024; 11:1266738. [PMID: 38304441 PMCID: PMC10830704 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1266738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Infectious mononucleosis after primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-IM) has been linked to the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue-syndrome (ME/CFS) in children, adolescents, and young adults. Here, we present clinical phenotypes and follow-up data from a first German cohort of young people with ME/CFS following EBV-IM. Methods 12 adolescents and 13 young adults were diagnosed with IM-triggered ME/CFS at our specialized tertiary outpatient service by clinical criteria requiring post-exertional malaise (PEM) and a history of confirmed EBV primary infection as triggering event. Demographic information, laboratory findings, frequency and severity of symptoms, physical functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed and re-evaluated 6 and 12 months later. Results Young adults displayed more severe symptoms as well as worsening of fatigue, physical and mental functioning, and HRQoL throughout the study, compared to adolescents. After one year, 6/12 (54%) adolescents no longer met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS while all young adults continued to fulfill the Canadian consensus criteria. Improvement in adolescents was evident in physical functioning, symptom frequency and severity, and HRQoL, while young adults showed little improvement. EBV serology and EBV DNA load did not correlate with distinct clinical features of ME/CFS, and clinical chemistry showed no evidence of inflammation. Remarkably, the median time from symptom onset to ME/CFS diagnosis was 13.8 (IQR: 9.1-34.9) months. Conclusions ME/CFS following EBV-IM is a severely debilitating disease often diagnosed late and with limited responses to conventional medical care, especially in adults. Although adolescents may have a better prognosis, their condition can fluctuate and significantly impact their HRQoL. Our data emphasize that biomarkers and effective therapeutic options are also urgently needed to improve medical care and pave the way to recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pricoco
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Paulina Meidel
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Tim Hofberger
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Hannah Zietemann
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Yvonne Mueller
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Wiehler
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Kaja Michel
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Paulick
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Ariane Leone
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Haegele
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Mayer-Huber
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Gerrer
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Kirstin Mittelstrass
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen Scheibenbogen
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Herbert Renz-Polster
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Mihatsch
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
| | - Uta Behrends
- MRI Chronic Fatigue Center for Young People (MCFC), Children’s Hospital, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich and Munich Municipal Hospital Schwabing, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (partner site Munich), Munich, Germany
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Ruiz-Pablos M, Paiva B, Zabaleta A. Epstein-Barr virus-acquired immunodeficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis-Is it present in long COVID? J Transl Med 2023; 21:633. [PMID: 37718435 PMCID: PMC10506247 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04515-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Both myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID (LC) are characterized by similar immunological alterations, persistence of chronic viral infection, autoimmunity, chronic inflammatory state, viral reactivation, hypocortisolism, and microclot formation. They also present with similar symptoms such as asthenia, exercise intolerance, sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and neurological and gastrointestinal complaints. In addition, both pathologies present Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation, indicating the possibility of this virus being the link between both pathologies. Therefore, we propose that latency and recurrent EBV reactivation could generate an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in three steps: first, an acquired EBV immunodeficiency develops in individuals with "weak" EBV HLA-II haplotypes, which prevents the control of latency I cells. Second, ectopic lymphoid structures with EBV latency form in different tissues (including the CNS), promoting inflammatory responses and further impairment of cell-mediated immunity. Finally, immune exhaustion occurs due to chronic exposure to viral antigens, with consolidation of the disease. In the case of LC, prior to the first step, there is the possibility of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals with "weak" HLA-II haplotypes against this virus and/or EBV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Paiva
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Av. Pío XII 55, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aintzane Zabaleta
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Av. Pío XII 55, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
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Vojdani A, Vojdani E, Saidara E, Maes M. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection, EBV, HHV-6 and Other Factors May Contribute to Inflammation and Autoimmunity in Long COVID. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020400. [PMID: 36851614 PMCID: PMC9967513 DOI: 10.3390/v15020400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel syndrome called long-haul COVID or long COVID is increasingly recognized in a significant percentage of individuals within a few months after infection with SARS-CoV-2. This disorder is characterized by a wide range of persisting, returning or even new but related symptoms that involve different tissues and organs, including respiratory, cardiac, vascular, gastrointestinal, musculo-skeletal, neurological, endocrine and systemic. Some overlapping symptomatologies exist between long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Very much like with long ME/CFS, infections with herpes family viruses, immune dysregulation, and the persistence of inflammation have been reported as the most common pattern for the development of long COVID. This review describes several factors and determinants of long COVID that have been proposed, elaborating mainly on viral persistence, reactivation of latent viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6 which are also associated with the pathology of ME/CFS, viral superantigen activation of the immune system, disturbance in the gut microbiome, and multiple tissue damage and autoimmunity. Based on these factors, we propose diagnostic strategies such as the measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, EBV, HHV-6, viral superantigens, gut microbiota, and biomarkers of autoimmunity to better understand and manage this multi-factorial disorder that continues to affect millions of people in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristo Vojdani
- Immunosciences Lab, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA
- Cyrex Laboratories, LLC, Phoenix, AZ 85034, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-310-657-1077
| | | | - Evan Saidara
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Michael Maes
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 1873 Rama 4 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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5
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Rasa-Dzelzkaleja S, Krumina A, Capenko S, Nora-Krukle Z, Gravelsina S, Vilmane A, Ievina L, Shoenfeld Y, Murovska M. The persistent viral infections in the development and severity of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Transl Med 2023; 21:33. [PMID: 36653846 PMCID: PMC9847171 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03887-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multifactorial disease with an unexplained aetiology in which viral infections are possible trigger factors. The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A/B, HHV-7, and parvovirus B19 (B19V) in the etiopathogenesis of ME/CFS. METHODS 200 patients with clinically diagnosed ME/CFS and 150 apparently healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Single-round, nested, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were used to detect the presence and load of HHV-6A/B, HHV-7, and B19V. HHV-6A and HHV-6B were distinguished by PCR and restriction analysis. Immunoenzymatic assays were applied to estimate the presence of virus-specific antibodies and the level of cytokines. RESULTS HHV-6A/B, HHV-7, and B19V specific antibodies were detected among patients and healthy individuals in 92.1% and 76.7%, 84.6% and 93.8%, and 78% and 67.4% of cases. HHV-6B had 99% of HHV-6 positive patients. Latent HHV-6A/B, HHV-7, and B19V infection/co-infection was observed in 51.5% of the patients and 76.7% of the healthy individuals, whereas active-45% of the ME/CFS patients and 8.7% of healthy individuals. HHV-6A/B load in patients with a persistent infection/co-infection in a latent and active phase was 262 and 653.2 copies/106 cells, whereas HHV-7 load was 166.5 and 248.5 copies/106 cells, and B19V-96.8 and 250.8 copies/106 cells, respectively. ME/CFS patients with persistent infection in an active phase had a higher level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin(IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and IL-12) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) than with a persistent infection in a latent phase. A significant difference was revealed in the levels of TNF-α, IL-12, and IL-10 among the patient groups without infection, with latent infection/co-infection, active single, double and triple co-infection. The levels of TNF-α, IL-12, and IL-10 are significantly higher in patients with severe compared with a moderate course of ME/CFS. CONCLUSIONS Significantly more persistent HHV-6A/B, HHV-7, and B19V infection/co-infection in an active phase with a higher viral load and elevated levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines among patients with ME/CFS than healthy individuals indicate the importance of these infections/co-infections in ME/CFS development. The presence of these infections/co-infections influences the ME/CFS clinical course severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santa Rasa-Dzelzkaleja
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Angelika Krumina
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Svetlana Capenko
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Zaiga Nora-Krukle
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Sabine Gravelsina
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Anda Vilmane
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Lauma Ievina
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- grid.413795.d0000 0001 2107 2845Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Centre, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Modra Murovska
- grid.17330.360000 0001 2173 9398Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
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6
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Ruiz-Pablos M, Paiva B, Montero-Mateo R, Garcia N, Zabaleta A. Epstein-Barr Virus and the Origin of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:656797. [PMID: 34867935 PMCID: PMC8634673 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.656797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) affects approximately 1% of the general population. It is a chronic, disabling, multi-system disease for which there is no effective treatment. This is probably related to the limited knowledge about its origin. Here, we summarized the current knowledge about the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and revisit the immunopathobiology of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Given the similarities between EBV-associated autoimmune diseases and cancer in terms of poor T cell surveillance of cells with EBV latency, expanded EBV-infected cells in peripheral blood and increased antibodies against EBV, we hypothesize that there could be a common etiology generated by cells with EBV latency that escape immune surveillance. Albeit inconclusive, multiple studies in patients with ME/CFS have suggested an altered cellular immunity and augmented Th2 response that could result from mechanisms of evasion to some pathogens such as EBV, which has been identified as a risk factor in a subset of ME/CFS patients. Namely, cells with latency may evade the immune system in individuals with genetic predisposition to develop ME/CFS and in consequence, there could be poor CD4 T cell immunity to mitogens and other specific antigens, as it has been described in some individuals. Ultimately, we hypothesize that within ME/CFS there is a subgroup of patients with DRB1 and DQB1 alleles that could confer greater susceptibility to EBV, where immune evasion mechanisms generated by cells with latency induce immunodeficiency. Accordingly, we propose new endeavors to investigate if anti-EBV therapies could be effective in selected ME/CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Paiva
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Medica Aplicada (CIMA), IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Nicolas Garcia
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Medica Aplicada (CIMA), IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aintzane Zabaleta
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Centro de Investigación Medica Aplicada (CIMA), IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Walitt B, Bartrum E. A clinical primer for the expected and potential post-COVID-19 syndromes. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e887. [PMID: 33615088 PMCID: PMC7889402 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In late 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spread unchecked across the world's population. With tens of millions infected, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection will be a major health care focus for years after the contagion subsides. Most complications stem from direct viral invasion provoking an over-exuberant inflammatory response driven by innate immune cells and activation of the clotting cascade causing thrombosis. Injury to individual organs and their protective linings are frequent presentations in respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Reviewing the historical context of postviral fatiguing symptoms seems relevant to understanding reports of uneven recoveries and persistent symptoms that are emerging as "long-haul COVID-19." The pandemic is also an unprecedented sociocultural event, transforming how people consider their health, gather in groups, and navigate their daily lives. The unprecedented sociocultural stresses of the pandemic will have an invisible, ubiquitous, and predictable impact on neurologic, endocrine, and immune functioning, even in people untouched by the virus. COVID-19 may also have a surprise or two in store, with unique clinical presentations and novel mechanisms of injury which are yet to clearly emerge. Although challenging and unfortunate, these times also represent a unique opportunity to start to unravel the physiology that underlie how viruses may trigger cancers, neurological disease, and postviral fatiguing syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Walitt
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bartrum
- Division of Intramural Research, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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8
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Shikova E, Reshkova V, Kumanova А, Raleva S, Alexandrova D, Capo N, Murovska M, on behalf of the European Network on ME/CFS (EUROMENE). Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus-6 infections in patients with myalgic еncephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Med Virol 2020; 92:3682-3688. [PMID: 32129496 PMCID: PMC7687071 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling multisystem chronic disease. The etiology and pathogenesis of ME/CFS are unknown. Infections of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) are suspected as etiological agents for ME/CFS. This study aims to estimate prevalence and type (active/latent) of EBV, CMV, and HHV-6 infections in Bulgarian ME/CFS patients. In the study were included 58 patients with ME/CFS and 50 healthy controls. Virus-specific antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and viral genomic sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) and plasma samples by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We did not observe any significant differences in virus-specific immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M positivity rates between patients with ME/CFS and control group. In ME/CFS plasma samples, EBV DNA was found in 24.1%, CMV DNA in 3.4%, and HHV-6 DNA in 1.7% of samples. EBV DNA was detected in 4%, and CMV and HHV-6 DNA were not found in plasma samples of controls. The frequency of viral genome detection in PBMCs of patients and controls was 74% vs 78% for CMV, 81% vs 84% for EBV, and 82.8% vs 82% for HHV-6. The difference in frequency of EBV active infection in ME/CFS and control group was statistically significant (P = .0027). No ME/CFS and control individuals with active CMV and HHV-6 infection were observed. In conclusion, this study using both serological and PCR-based techniques for distinguishing between active and latent infection showed high rate of active EBV infection among patients with ME/CFS indicating that at least in a subset of cases, EBV is important factor for the development of disease.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/virology
- Female
- Male
- Adult
- Herpesvirus 6, Human/genetics
- Herpesvirus 6, Human/isolation & purification
- Middle Aged
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/virology
- Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/epidemiology
- Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/complications
- Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics
- Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology
- Herpesvirus 4, Human/isolation & purification
- Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology
- Cytomegalovirus Infections/complications
- Cytomegalovirus Infections/epidemiology
- DNA, Viral/blood
- DNA, Viral/genetics
- Cytomegalovirus/genetics
- Cytomegalovirus/immunology
- Cytomegalovirus/isolation & purification
- Young Adult
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/virology
- Roseolovirus Infections/virology
- Roseolovirus Infections/epidemiology
- Roseolovirus Infections/complications
- Prevalence
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Immunoglobulin M/blood
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Adolescent
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Shikova
- Department of VirologyNational Center of Infectious and Parasitic DiseasesSofiaBulgaria
- The National Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment in Haematological DiseasesSofiaBulgaria
| | | | - Аntoniya Kumanova
- Department of VirologyNational Center of Infectious and Parasitic DiseasesSofiaBulgaria
| | - Sevdalina Raleva
- Department of VirologyNational Center of Infectious and Parasitic DiseasesSofiaBulgaria
| | - Dora Alexandrova
- The National Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment in Haematological DiseasesSofiaBulgaria
| | - Natasa Capo
- Oncology Institute of VojvodinaSremska KamenicaSerbia
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Novi SadNovi SadSerbia
| | - Modra Murovska
- Institute of Microbiology and VirologyRiga Stradins UniversityRigaLatvia
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9
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Ariza ME. Commentary: Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1400. [PMID: 32793195 PMCID: PMC7390837 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Ariza
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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Blomberg J, Rizwan M, Böhlin-Wiener A, Elfaitouri A, Julin P, Zachrisson O, Rosén A, Gottfries CG. Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1946. [PMID: 31475007 PMCID: PMC6702656 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease characterized by myalgia and a sometimes severe limitation of physical activity and cognition. It is exacerbated by physical and mental activity. Its cause is unknown, but frequently starts with an infection. The eliciting infection (commonly infectious mononucleosis or an upper respiratory infection) can be more or less well diagnosed. Among the human herpesviruses (HHV-1-8), HHV-4 (Epstein-Barr virus; EBV), HHV-6 (including HHV-6A and HHV-6B), and HHV-7, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS. It was therefore logical to search for serological evidence of past herpesvirus infection/reactivation in several cohorts of ME/CFS patients (all diagnosed using the Canada criteria). Control samples were from Swedish blood donors. We used whole purified virus, recombinant proteins, and synthetic peptides as antigens in a suspension multiplex immunoassay (SMIA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG). The study on herpesviral peptides based on antigenicity with human sera yielded novel epitope information. Overall, IgG anti-herpes-viral reactivities of ME/CFS patients and controls did not show significant differences. However, the high precision and internally controlled format allowed us to observe minor relative differences between antibody reactivities of some herpesviral antigens in ME/CFS versus controls. ME/CFS samples reacted somewhat differently from controls with whole virus HHV-1 antigens and recombinant EBV EBNA6 and EA antigens. We conclude that ME/CFS samples had similar levels of IgG reactivity as blood donor samples with HHV-1-7 antigens. The subtle serological differences should not be over-interpreted, but they may indicate that the immune system of some ME/CFS patients interact with the ubiquitous herpesviruses in a way different from that of healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Blomberg
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agnes Böhlin-Wiener
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amal Elfaitouri
- Department of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya
| | - Per Julin
- Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic, Stora Sköndal, Sköndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Anders Rosén
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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11
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Kerr JR. Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene-2 Upregulation Identifies a Particular Subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:59. [PMID: 30918887 PMCID: PMC6424879 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a chronic multisystem disease characterized by a variety of symptoms, and exhibits various features of an autoimmune-like disease. Subtypes are well recognized but to date are difficult to identify objectively. The disease may be triggered by infection with a variety of micro-organisms, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A subset of CFS/ME patients exhibit up regulation of EBV virus induced gene 2 (EBI2) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and these patients appear to have a more severe disease phenotype and lower levels of EBNA1 IgG. EBI2 is induced by EBV infection and has been found to be upregulated in a variety of autoimmune diseases. EBI2 is a critical gene in immunity and central nervous system function; it is a negative regulator of the innate immune response in monocytes. Its heterogeneous expression in CFS/ME could explain the variable occurrence of a variety of immune and neurological abnormalities which are encountered in patients with CFS/ME. The EBI2 subtype occurred in 38-55% CFS/ME patients in our studies. Further work is required to confirm the role of EBV and of EBI2 and its oxysterol ligands in CFS/ME, and to identify the most practical means to identify patients of the EBI subtype. There are two EBI2 antagonists currently in development, and these may hold promise in the treatment of CFS/ME patients of the EBI subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Kerr
- Department of Microbiology, West Suffolk Hospital Foundation Trust, Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom
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12
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Rasa S, Nora-Krukle Z, Henning N, Eliassen E, Shikova E, Harrer T, Scheibenbogen C, Murovska M, Prusty BK. Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). J Transl Med 2018; 16:268. [PMID: 30285773 PMCID: PMC6167797 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1644-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and main text Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and controversial clinical condition without having established causative factors. Increasing numbers of cases during past decade have created awareness among patients as well as healthcare professionals. Chronic viral infection as a cause of ME/CFS has long been debated. However, lack of large studies involving well-designed patient groups and validated experimental set ups have hindered our knowledge about this disease. Moreover, recent developments regarding molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of various infectious agents cast doubts over validity of several of the past studies. Conclusions This review aims to compile all the studies done so far to investigate various viral agents that could be associated with ME/CFS. Furthermore, we suggest strategies to better design future studies on the role of viral infections in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santa Rasa
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Zaiga Nora-Krukle
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nina Henning
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eva Eliassen
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Evelina Shikova
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Thomas Harrer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carmen Scheibenbogen
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Modra Murovska
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Bhupesh K Prusty
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. .,Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, Würzburg, Germany.
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Serological profiling of the EBV immune response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a peptide microarray. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179124. [PMID: 28604802 PMCID: PMC5467847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV) plays an important role as trigger or cofactor for various autoimmune diseases. In a subset of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) disease starts with infectious mononucleosis as late primary EBV-infection, whereby altered levels of EBV-specific antibodies can be observed in another subset of patients. METHODS We performed a comprehensive mapping of the IgG response against EBV comparing 50 healthy controls with 92 CFS patients using a microarray platform. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cancer-related fatigue served as controls. 3054 overlapping peptides were synthesised as 15-mers from 14 different EBV proteins. Array data was validated by ELISA for selected peptides. Prevalence of EBV serotypes was determined by qPCR from throat washing samples. RESULTS EBV type 1 infections were found in patients and controls. EBV seroarray profiles between healthy controls and CFS were less divergent than that observed for MS or SLE. We found significantly enhanced IgG responses to several EBNA-6 peptides containing a repeat sequence in CFS patients compared to controls. EBNA-6 peptide IgG responses correlated well with EBNA-6 protein responses. The EBNA-6 repeat region showed sequence homologies to various human proteins. CONCLUSION Patients with CFS had a quite similar EBV IgG antibody response pattern as healthy controls. Enhanced IgG reactivity against an EBNA-6 repeat sequence and against EBNA-6 protein is found in CFS patients. Homologous sequences of various human proteins with this EBNA-6 repeat sequence might be potential targets for antigenic mimicry.
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14
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Eriksen W. The spread of EBV to ectopic lymphoid aggregates may be the final common pathway in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS. Med Hypotheses 2017; 102:8-15. [PMID: 28478837 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
According to the hypothesis presented here, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) develops over 3 steps: Step 1 is characterized by the aggregation of lymphoid cells in dorsal root ganglia or other nervous structures. The cause of this formation of ectopic lymphoid aggregates may be an acute infection, asymptomatic reactivations of a common neurotropic virus, exposure to a neurotoxin, or physical injury to peripheral nerves. In step 2, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected lymphocytes or monocytes bring EBV from the circulation to one or several of these lymphoid aggregates, whereupon cell-to-cell transmission of EBV and proliferation of latently EBV-infected lymphocytes lead to the presence of many EBV-infected cells in the lymphoid aggregates. The EBV-infected cells in the aggregates ignite an inflammation in the surrounding nervous tissue. This local inflammation elicits, in turn, a wave of glial cell activation that spreads from the EBV-infected area to parts of the nervous system that are not EBV-infected, disturbing the neuron-glial interaction in both the peripheral - and central nervous system. In step 3, immune cell exhaustion contributes to a consolidation of the pathological processes. There might be a cure: Infusions of autologous EBV-specific T-lymphocytes can perhaps remove the EBV-infected cells from the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy Eriksen
- Domain for Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403 Oslo, Norway.
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15
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Loebel M, Strohschein K, Giannini C, Koelsch U, Bauer S, Doebis C, Thomas S, Unterwalder N, von Baehr V, Reinke P, Knops M, Hanitsch LG, Meisel C, Volk HD, Scheibenbogen C. Deficient EBV-specific B- and T-cell response in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85387. [PMID: 24454857 PMCID: PMC3893202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has long been discussed as a possible cause or trigger of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). In a subset of patients the disease starts with infectious mononucleosis and both enhanced and diminished EBV-specific antibody titers have been reported. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the EBV-specific memory B- and T-cell response in patients with CFS. While we observed no difference in viral capsid antigen (VCA)-IgG antibodies, EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)-IgG titers were low or absent in 10% of CFS patients. Remarkably, when analyzing the EBV-specific memory B-cell reservoir in vitro a diminished or absent number of EBNA-1- and VCA-antibody secreting cells was found in up to 76% of patients. Moreover, the ex vivo EBV-induced secretion of TNF-α and IFN-γ was significantly lower in patients. Multicolor flow cytometry revealed that the frequencies of EBNA-1-specific triple TNF-α/IFN-γ/IL-2 producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets were significantly diminished whereas no difference could be detected for HCMV-specific T-cell responses. When comparing EBV load in blood immune cells, we found more frequently EBER-DNA but not BZLF-1 RNA in CFS patients compared to healthy controls suggesting more frequent latent replication. Taken together, our findings give evidence for a deficient EBV-specific B- and T-cell memory response in CFS patients and suggest an impaired ability to control early steps of EBV reactivation. In addition the diminished EBV response might be suitable to develop diagnostic marker in CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlen Loebel
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Strohschein
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
- Julius Wolff Institute, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carolin Giannini
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Koelsch
- Labor Berlin GmbH, Immunology Department, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Bauer
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Sybill Thomas
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Unterwalder
- Labor Berlin GmbH, Immunology Department, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Petra Reinke
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
- Department Nephrology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Knops
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leif G. Hanitsch
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Meisel
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
- Labor Berlin GmbH, Immunology Department, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Volk
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
| | - Carmen Scheibenbogen
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
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16
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Elfaitouri A, Herrmann B, Bölin-Wiener A, Wang Y, Gottfries CG, Zachrisson O, Pipkorn R, Rönnblom L, Blomberg J. Epitopes of microbial and human heat shock protein 60 and their recognition in myalgic encephalomyelitis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81155. [PMID: 24312270 PMCID: PMC3842916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME, also called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), a common disease with chronic fatigability, cognitive dysfunction and myalgia of unknown etiology, often starts with an infection. The chaperonin human heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) occurs in mitochondria and in bacteria, is highly conserved, antigenic and a major autoantigen. The anti-HSP60 humoral (IgG and IgM) immune response was studied in 69 ME patients and 76 blood donors (BD) (the Training set) with recombinant human and E coli HSP60, and 136 30-mer overlapping and targeted peptides from HSP60 of humans, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and 26 other species in a multiplex suspension array. Peptides from HSP60 helix I had a chaperonin-like activity, but these and other HSP60 peptides also bound IgG and IgM with an ME preference, theoretically indicating a competition between HSP60 function and antibody binding. A HSP60-based panel of 25 antigens was selected. When evaluated with 61 other ME and 399 non-ME samples (331 BD, 20 Multiple Sclerosis and 48 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients), a peptide from Chlamydia pneumoniae HSP60 detected IgM in 15 of 61 (24%) of ME, and in 1 of 399 non-ME at a high cutoff (p<0.0001). IgM to specific cross-reactive epitopes of human and microbial HSP60 occurs in a subset of ME, compatible with infection-induced autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Elfaitouri
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Herrmann
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agnes Bölin-Wiener
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yilin Wang
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Lars Rönnblom
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Blomberg
- Section of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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17
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VanElzakker MB. Chronic fatigue syndrome from vagus nerve infection: A psychoneuroimmunological hypothesis. Med Hypotheses 2013; 81:414-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2013.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Watt T, Oberfoell S, Balise R, Lunn MR, Kar AK, Merrihew L, Bhangoo MS, Montoya JG. Response to valganciclovir in chronic fatigue syndrome patients with human herpesvirus 6 and Epstein-Barr virus IgG antibody titers. J Med Virol 2013; 84:1967-74. [PMID: 23080504 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Valganciclovir has been reported to improve physical and cognitive symptoms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with elevated human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG antibody titers. This study investigated whether antibody titers against HHV-6 and EBV were associated with clinical response to valganciclovir in a subset of CFS patients. An uncontrolled, unblinded retrospective chart review was performed on 61 CFS patients treated with 900 mg valganciclovir daily (55 of whom took an induction dose of 1,800 mg daily for the first 3 weeks). Antibody titers were considered high if HHV-6 IgG ≥ 1:320, EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG ≥ 1:640, and EBV early antigen (EA) IgG ≥ 1:160. Patients self-rated physical and cognitive functioning as a percentage of their functioning prior to illness. Patients were categorized as responders if they experienced at least 30% improvement in physical and/or cognitive functioning. Thirty-two patients (52%) were categorized as responders. Among these, 19 patients (59%) responded physically and 26 patients (81%) responded cognitively. Baseline antibody titers showed no significant association with response. After treatment, the average change in physical and cognitive functioning levels for all patients was +19% and +23%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Longer treatment was associated with improved response (P = 0.0002). No significant difference was found between responders and non-responders among other variables analyzed. Valganciclovir treatment, independent of the baseline antibody titers, was associated with self-rated improvement in physical and cognitive functioning for CFS patients who had positive HHV-6 and/or EBV serologies. Longer valganciclovir treatment correlated with an improved response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Watt
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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19
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Oakes B, Hoagland-Henefield M, Komaroff AL, Erickson JL, Huber BT. Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K18 Superantigen Expression and Human Herpesvirus-6 and Human Herpesvirus-7 Viral Loads in Chronic Fatigue Patients. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 56:1394-400. [DOI: 10.1093/cid/cit086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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20
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Montoya JG, Neely MN, Gupta S, Lunn MR, Loomis KS, Pritchett JC, Polsky B, Medveczky PG. Antiviral therapy of two patients with chromosomally-integrated human herpesvirus-6A presenting with cognitive dysfunction. J Clin Virol 2012; 55:40-5. [PMID: 22770640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a neurotropic virus implicated in central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, multiple sclerosis, seizures and encephalitis. Inherited or "chromosomally integrated" HHV-6 (CIHHV-6) is a condition characterized by high DNA loads and germ line transmission of HHV-6 genomes, which are integrated into the telomere. OBJECTIVES We previously reported that integrated HHV-6 can be reactivated by trichostatin A in vitro. Therefore, we hypothesized that a broad array of neurological symptoms of CIHHV-6 patients may respond to antiviral drug treatment. STUDY DESIGN The patients have been treated with antiviral drugs and monitored for viral load, late mRNA, and clinical improvement. RESULTS Antiviral therapy of two CIHHV patients resulted in successful clinical resolution. However, both patients relapsed on multiple occasions within 4-6 months of cessation of antiviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS Successful antiviral drug treatment suggests that clinical symptoms of these patients were due to symptomatic reactivation of CIHHV-6. Alternatively, some CIHHV-6 patients may have a reduced resistance to community-acquired HHV-6 strains due to tolerance leading to persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- José G Montoya
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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21
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Shapiro JS. Does varicella-zoster virus infection of the peripheral ganglia cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Med Hypotheses 2009; 73:728-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2009.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2009] [Revised: 04/27/2009] [Accepted: 04/29/2009] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is now recognized as a medial disorder. In contrast to recent related reports, the present review focuses primarily on aetiological aspects of CFS. Four major hypotheses are reviewed. (1) Although CFS is often associated with viral infection, the presence of viruses has as yet not consistently been detected. (2) It is not clear whether anomalies of the HPA axis often observed in CFS, are cause or the consequences of the disorder. (3) Immune dysfunction as the cause of CFS is thus far the weakest hypothesis. (4) The psychiatric and psychosocial hypothesis denies the existence of CFS as a disease entity. Accordingly, the fatigue symptoms are assumed to be the consequence of other (somatic) diseases. Other possible causes of CFS are oxidative stress and genetic predisposition. In CFS cognitive behavioural therapy is most commonly used. This therapy, however, appears to be ineffective in many patients. The suggested causes of CFS and the divergent reactions to therapy may be explained by the lack of recognition of subgroups. Identification of subtypes may lead to more effective therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Sanders
- University Centre of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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23
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Kerr JR. Gene profiling of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2009; 10:482-91. [PMID: 19007540 DOI: 10.1007/s11926-008-0079-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a multisystem disease, the pathogenesis of which remains undetermined. Following two microarray studies, we reported the differential expression of 88 human genes in patients with CFS; 85 of these genes were upregulated and 3 were downregulated. The top functional categories of these 88 genes were hematologic disease and function, immunologic disease and function, cancer, cell death, immune response, and infection. Clustering of quantitative polymerase chain reaction data from CFS/ME patients revealed seven subtypes with distinct differences in Short Form (SF)-36 scores, clinical phenotypes, and severity. Gene signatures in each subtype implicate five human genes as possible targets for specific therapy. Development of a diagnostic test for subtype status is now a priority. The possibility that these subtypes represent individual host responses to particular microbial infections is being investigated and may provide another route to specific therapies for CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Kerr
- St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom.
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24
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Kerr JR, Petty R, Burke B, Gough J, Fear D, Sinclair LI, Mattey DL, Richards SCM, Montgomery J, Baldwin DA, Kellam P, Harrison TJ, Griffin GE, Main J, Enlander D, Nutt DJ, Holgate ST. Gene expression subtypes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. J Infect Dis 2008; 197:1171-84. [PMID: 18462164 DOI: 10.1086/533453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a multisystem disease, the pathogenesis of which remains undetermined. We set out to determine the precise abnormalities of gene expression in the blood of patients with CFS/ME. We analyzed gene expression in peripheral blood from 25 patients with CFS/ME diagnosed according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diagnostic criteria and 50 healthy blood donors, using a microarray with a cutoff fold difference of expression of >or=2.5. Genes showing differential expression were further analyzed in 55 patients with CFS/ME and 75 healthy blood donors, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Differential expression was confirmed for 88 genes; 85 were upregulated, and 3 were downregulated. Highly represented functions were hematological disease and function, immunological disease and function, cancer, cell death, immune response, and infection. Clustering of quantitative polymerase chain reaction data from patients with CFS/ME revealed 7 subtypes with distinct differences in Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 scores, clinical phenotypes, and severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Kerr
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, St. George's University of London, London.
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25
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Sejvar JJ, Hossain J, Saha SK, Gurley ES, Banu S, Hamadani JD, Faiz MA, Siddiqui FM, Mohammad QD, Mollah AH, Uddin R, Alam R, Rahman R, Tan CT, Bellini W, Rota P, Breiman RF, Luby SP. Long-term neurological and functional outcome in Nipah virus infection. Ann Neurol 2007; 62:235-42. [PMID: 17696217 DOI: 10.1002/ana.21178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonosis. Central nervous system disease frequently results in high case-fatality. Long-term neurological assessments of survivors are limited. We assessed long-term neurologic and functional outcomes of 22 patients surviving NiV illness in Bangladesh. METHODS During August 2005 and May 2006, we administered a questionnaire on persistent symptoms and functional difficulties to 22 previously identified NiV infection survivors. We performed neurologic evaluations and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS Twelve (55%) subjects were male; median age was 14.5 years (range 6-50). Seventeen (77%) survived encephalitis, and 5 survived febrile illness. All but 1 subject had disabling fatigue, with a median duration of 5 months (range, 8 days-8 months). Seven encephalitis patients (32% overall), but none with febrile illness had persistent neurologic dysfunction, including static encephalopathy (n = 4), ocular motor palsies (2), cervical dystonia (2), focal weakness (2), and facial paralysis (1). Four cases had delayed-onset neurologic abnormalities months after acute illness. Behavioral abnormalities were reported by caregivers of over 50% of subjects under age 16. MRI abnormalities were present in 15, and included multifocal hyperintensities, cerebral atrophy, and confluent cortical and subcortical signal changes. INTERPRETATION Although delayed progression to neurologic illness following Nipah fever was not observed, persistent fatigue and functional impairment was frequent. Neurologic sequelae were frequent following Nipah encephalitis. Neurologic dysfunction may persist for years after acute infection, and new neurologic dysfunction may develop after acute illness. Survivors of NiV infection may experience substantial long-term neurologic and functional morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Sejvar
- Divisions of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases and Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA 30333, USA.
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26
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Kogelnik AM, Loomis K, Hoegh-Petersen M, Rosso F, Hischier C, Montoya JG. Use of valganciclovir in patients with elevated antibody titers against Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and Epstein—Barr Virus (EBV) who were experiencing central nervous system dysfunction including long-standing fatigue. J Clin Virol 2006; 37 Suppl 1:S33-8. [PMID: 17276366 DOI: 10.1016/s1386-6532(06)70009-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Twelve patients with long-standing symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction were found to have elevated antibody titres to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). All patients had four or more of the following neurocognitive symptoms: impaired cognitive functioning, slowed processing speed, sleep disturbance, short-term memory deficit, fatigue and symptoms consistent with depression. OBJECTIVES We sought to determine whether elevated antibodies to EBV and HHV-6 indicated chronic viral activation in patients with CNS dysfunction and if their symptoms could be improved by suppressing viral activity with oral valganciclovir. STUDY DESIGN Patients with high IgG antibody titers against HHV-6 and EBV who were suffering from central nervous system dysfunction and debilitating fatigue for more than one year (median 3 years, range 1-8 years) were treated with 6 months of valganciclovir in an open label study. RESULTS Nine out of 12 (75%) patients experienced near resolution of their symptoms, allowing them all to return to the workforce or full time activites. In the nine patients with a symptomatic response to treatment, EBV VCA IgG titers dropped from 1:2560 to 1:640 (p = 0.008) and HHV-6 IgG titers dropped from a median value of 1:1280 to 1:320 (p = 0.271). Clinically significant hematological toxicity or serious adverse events were not observed among the 12 patients. CONCLUSION These preliminary clinical and laboratory observations merit additional studies to establish whether this clinical response is mediated by an antiviral effect of the drug, indirectly via immunomodulation or by placebo effect.
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Siegel SD, Antoni MH, Fletcher MA, Maher K, Segota MC, Klimas N. Impaired natural immunity, cognitive dysfunction, and physical symptoms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: preliminary evidence for a subgroup? J Psychosom Res 2006; 60:559-66. [PMID: 16731230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The diagnostic criteria of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) define a heterogeneous population composed of several subgroups. Past efforts to identify subgroup markers have met with mixed success. This study was designed to examine natural killer cell activity (NKCA) as a potential subgroup marker by comparing the clinical presentations of CFS patients with and without clinically reduced NKCA. METHODS Forty-one female CFS patients were classified into having either low or normal NKCA levels. These subgroups were then compared on objective measures of cognitive functioning and subjective assessments of fatigue, vigor, cognitive impairment, and daytime dysfunction. RESULTS Relative to CFS patients in the normal-NKCA subgroup, low-NKCA patients reported less vigor, more daytime dysfunction, and more cognitive impairment. In addition, low-NKCA patients performed less on objective measures of cognitive functioning relative to normal-NKCA patients. CONCLUSIONS The results are offered as preliminary evidence in support of using NKCA as an immunological subgroup marker in CFS. Findings are also discussed in terms of known associations between dysregulated immune functions, somatic symptoms, and psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott D Siegel
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Medicine Research Center, University of Miami, FL, USA
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Touge C, Agawa H, Sairenji T, Inoue Y. High incidence of elevated antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus in patients with uveitis. Arch Virol 2005; 151:895-903. [PMID: 16362642 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-005-0686-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2005] [Accepted: 10/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We assayed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titers in patients' sera using indirect immunofluorescence and tested for the presence of antibody to EBV immediate-early BZLF1 protein ZEBRA by Western blotting to explore the association of EBV infection with uveitis. IgG and IgA antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA), IgG antibodies to early antigen (EA), and antibodies to EBV nuclear antigen were detected at higher titers in sera of patients with uveitis than in the sera of healthy controls. Neither IgM antibody to VCA nor EA was detected in the patients' sera. Anti-ZEBRA-IgG antibodies were detected in most patients' sera, but not in those of healthy controls. These results suggest that uveitis might be a disease accompanied by EBV reactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Touge
- Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
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Iwakami E, Arashima Y, Kato K, Komiya T, Matsukawa Y, Ikeda T, Arakawa Y, Oshida S. Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome with antibiotics: pilot study assessing the involvement of Coxiella burnetii infection. Intern Med 2005; 44:1258-63. [PMID: 16415546 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.44.1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is involved in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we administered tetracycline antibiotics to subjects with CFS, and followed changes in clinical symptoms, PCR findings, and C. burnetii antibody titers. PATIENTS AND METHODS The subjects were 8 patients with CFS and 213 with nonspecific complaints such as chronic fatigue and low-grade fever for several months or longer but not meeting the diagnostic criteria for CFS. All were examined for C. burnetii infection by nested PCR and the indirect immunofluorescence test (IF). RESULTS Four CFS patients (the CFS group) and 54 controls [the post-Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) group] positive for C. burnetii were treated mainly with minocycline or doxycycline (100 mg/day) for 3 months. After treatment, all 58 patients tested negative for C. burnetii infection. In the CFS group, no significant difference was noted between the mean pre- and post-treatment temperatures or headache scores. Similarly, there was no significant improvement in performance status (PS) scores. In the QFS group, however, mean temperatures and headache scores were significantly decreased after treatment (p<0.001). PS scores were also improved. CONCLUSION These results suggest the possibility of direct involvement of C. burnetii in the pathological state of CFS to be low, despite the C. burnetii infection rate being high in CFS patients. This is a pilot study and further larger investigations are necessary to confirm our preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etsuko Iwakami
- Department of Legal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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30
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Glaser R, Padgett DA, Litsky ML, Baiocchi RA, Yang EV, Chen M, Yeh PE, Klimas NG, Marshall GD, Whiteside T, Herberman R, Kiecolt-Glaser J, Williams MV. Stress-associated changes in the steady-state expression of latent Epstein-Barr virus: implications for chronic fatigue syndrome and cancer. Brain Behav Immun 2005; 19:91-103. [PMID: 15664781 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2004.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2004] [Accepted: 09/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies to several Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded enzymes are observed in patients with different EBV-associated diseases. The reason for these antibody patterns and the role these proteins might play in the pathophysiology of disease, separate from their role in virus replication, is unknown. In this series of studies, we found that purified EBV deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) can inhibit the replication of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro and upregulate the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. It also enhanced the ability of natural killer cells to lyse target cells. The EBV dUTPase also significantly inhibited the replication of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes and the synthesis of IFN-gamma by cells isolated from lymph nodes and spleens obtained from mice inoculated with the protein. It also produced sickness behaviors known to be induced by some of the cytokines that were studied in the in vitro experiments. These symptoms include an increase in body temperature, a decrease in body mass and in physical activity. The data provide a new perspective on how an early nonstructural EBV-encoded protein can cause immune dysregulation and produce clinical symptoms observed in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) separate from its role in virus replication and may serve as a new approach to help identify one of the etiological agents for CFS. The data also provide additional insight into the pathophysiology of EBV infection, inflammation, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Glaser
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 333 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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31
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Borenstein R, Singer O, Moseri A, Frenkel N. Use of amplicon-6 vectors derived from human herpesvirus 6 for efficient expression of membrane-associated and -secreted proteins in T cells. J Virol 2004; 78:4730-43. [PMID: 15078955 PMCID: PMC387683 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.9.4730-4743.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2003] [Accepted: 01/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The composite amplicon-6 vectors, which are derived from human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), can target hematopoietic cells. In the presence of the respective helper viruses, the amplicons are replicated by the rolling circle mechanism, yielding defective genomes of overall size 135 to 150 kb, composed of multiple repeats of units, containing the viral DNA replication origin, packaging signals, and the selected transgene(s). We report the use of amplicon-6 vectors designed for transgene expression in T cells. The selected transgenes included the green fluorescent protein marker, the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D (gD), and the gD gene deleted in the transmembrane region (gDsec). The vectors were tested after electroporation and passage in T cells with or without helper HHV-6A superinfections. The results were as follows. (i)The vectors could be passaged both as cell-associated and as cell-free secreted virions infectious to new cells. (ii)The intact gD accumulated at the cell surface, whereas the gDsec was dispersed at internal locations of the cells or was secreted into the medium. (iii)Analyses of amplicon-6-gD expression by flow cytometry have shown significant expression in cultures with reiterated amplicons and helper viruses. The vector has spread to >60% of the cells, and the efficiency of expression per cell increased 15-fold, most likely due to the presence of concatemeric amplicon repeats. Current studies are designed to test whether amplicon-6 vectors can be used for gene therapy in lymphocytes and whether amplicon-6 vectors expressed in T cells and dendritic cells can induce strong cellular and humoral immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Borenstein
- The S. Daniel Abraham Institute of Molecular Virology and Department of Cell Research and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 361390, Israel
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Ikuta K, Yamada T, Shimomura T, Kuratsune H, Kawahara R, Ikawa S, Ohnishi E, Sokawa Y, Fukushi H, Hirai K, Watanabe Y, Kurata T, Kitani T, Sairenji T. Diagnostic evaluation of 2′, 5′-oligoadenylate synthetase activities and antibodies against Epstein–Barr virus and Coxiella burnetii in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in Japan. Microbes Infect 2003; 5:1096-102. [PMID: 14554250 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2003.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the association of viral infections with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we assayed 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activities in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CFS patients in Japan. These patients were diagnosed in two hospitals, H1 and H2, located in different areas of the country. The activities were detected in 19 (86%) and 7 (32%) of each of the 22 patients in H1 and H2, respectively, while they were detected in only four (11%) out of the 38 healthy controls. IFN-alpha was similarly detected in a few CFS patients and healthy controls. We also assayed the antibody titers against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Coxiella burnetii in these patients. The EBV anti-EA-IgG antibodies were detected in two (9%) and seven (32%) of each of the 22 patients in H1 and H2, respectively. Anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies were detected in six (27%) out of 22 patients in H1 but not in 22 patients in H2, while they were detected in one (11%) of the nine healthy controls. Some CFS patients may be associated with EBV or C. burnetii infection. There were some statistical correlations between the 2-5AS activities and antibody titers of EA-IgG (P < 0.05, Student's t-test) but not to the antibody titers of C. burnetii. The up-regulation of 2-5AS activities suggests immunological dysfunctions with some virus infections in the CFS patients. Our results indicate that 2-5AS activities are useful for a diagnostic marker of CFS and for exploring the complicated pathogenesis of CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazufumi Ikuta
- Division of Biosignaling, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, School of Life Science, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
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Koelle DM, Barcy S, Huang ML, Ashley RL, Corey L, Zeh J, Ashton S, Buchwald D. Markers of viral infection in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Infect Dis 2002; 35:518-25. [PMID: 12173124 DOI: 10.1086/341774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2001] [Revised: 03/19/2001] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
To estimate the prevalence of viruses associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to control for genetic and environmental factors, we conducted a co-twin control study of 22 monozygotic twin pairs, of which one twin met criteria for CFS and the other twin was healthy. Levels of antibodies to human herpesvirus (HHV)-8, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, and hepatitis C virus were measured. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for viral DNA were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens to detect infection with HHV-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, JC virus, BK virus, and parvovirus B19. To detect lytic infection, plasma was tested by PCR for HHV-6, HHV-8, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and saliva was examined for HHV-8 DNA. For all assays, results did not differ between the group of twins with CFS and the healthy twins.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Cytomegalovirus/isolation & purification
- Cytomegalovirus/physiology
- DNA, Viral/analysis
- DNA, Viral/blood
- Diseases in Twins
- Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/blood
- Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/physiopathology
- Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/virology
- Female
- Hepacivirus/isolation & purification
- Hepacivirus/physiology
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology
- Herpesvirus 2, Human/isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 2, Human/physiology
- Herpesvirus 8, Human/isolation & purification
- Herpesvirus 8, Human/physiology
- Humans
- Male
- Patient Selection
- Saliva/virology
- Twin Studies as Topic
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Koelle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Reeves WC, Stamey FR, Black JB, Mawle AC, Stewart JA, Pellett PE. Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study. Clin Infect Dis 2000; 31:48-52. [PMID: 10913395 DOI: 10.1086/313908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/1999] [Revised: 12/10/1999] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted this study to determine whether infection with human herpesvirus (HHV) 6A, HHV-6B, or HHV-7 differed between patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and control subjects. We recruited 26 patients and 52 nonfatigued matched control subjects from Atlanta. Serum samples were tested by enzyme immunoassay for seroreactivity to HHV-6, and all were seropositive. Lymphocyte specimens were cocultivated with cord blood lymphocytes and assayed for HHV-6 and HHV-7; neither virus was isolated. Finally, lymphocytes were tested by use of 3 polymerase chain reaction methods for HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7 DNA. HHV-6A or HHV-6B DNA was detected in 17 (22.4%) of 76 samples, and there were no significant differences (by matched analyses) between patients (3 [11.5%] of 26) and control subjects (14 [28%] of 50). HHV-7 DNA was detected in 14 subjects, and although control subjects (12 [24%]) were more likely than patients (2 [7.7%]) to be positive, the difference was not statistically significant. We found no evidence that active or latent infection with HHV-6A, HHV-6B, HHV-7, or any combination these 3 HHVs is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- W C Reeves
- Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA.
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35
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Enbom M, Linde A, Evengård B. No evidence of active infection with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) or HHV-8 in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Microbiol 2000; 38:2457. [PMID: 10917774 PMCID: PMC86845 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.38.6.2457-2457.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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36
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Ablashi DV, Eastman HB, Owen CB, Roman MM, Friedman J, Zabriskie JB, Peterson DL, Pearson GR, Whitman JE. Frequent HHV-6 reactivation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients. J Clin Virol 2000; 16:179-91. [PMID: 10738137 DOI: 10.1016/s1386-6532(99)00079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HHV-6 is a ubiquitous virus and its infection usually occurs in childhood and then becomes a latent infection. HHV-6 reactivation has been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of AIDS and several other diseases. OBJECTIVES To determine what role HHV-6 infection or reactivation plays in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). RESULTS Twenty-one MS and 35 CFS patients were studied and followed clinically. In these patients, we measured HHV-6 IgG and IgM antibody levels and also analyzed their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for the presence of HHV-6, using a short term culture assay. In both MS and CFS patients, we found higher levels of HHV-6 IgM antibody and elevated levels of IgG antibody when compared to healthy controls. Seventy percent of the MS patients studied contained IgM antibodies for HHV-6 late antigens (capsid), while only 15% of the healthy donors (HD) and 20% of the patients with other neurological disorders (OND) had HHV-6 IgM antibodies. Higher frequency of IgM antibody was also detected in CFS patients (57.1%) compared to HD (16%). Moreover, 54% of CFS patients exhibited antibody to HHV-6 early protein (p41/38) compared to only 8.0% of the HD. Elevated IgG antibody titers were detected in both the MS and the CFS patients. PBMCs from MS, CFS and HD were analyzed in a short term culture assay in order to detect HHV-6 antigen expressing cells and to characterize the viral isolates obtained as either Variant A or B. Fifty-four percent of MS patients contained HHV-6 early and late antigen producing cells and 87% of HHV-6 isolates were Variant B. Isolates from CFS, patients were predominately Variant A (70%) and isolates from HD were predominately Variant B (67%). Moreover, one isolate from OND was also Variant B. Persistent HHV-6 infection was found in two CFS patients over a period of 2.5 years and HHV-6 specific cellular immune responses were detected in PBMCs from ten CFS patients. CONCLUSION In both MS and CFS patients, we found increased levels of HHV-6 antibody and HHV-6 DNA. A decrease in cellular immune responses was also detected in CFS patients. These data suggest that HHV-6 reactivation plays a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Ablashi
- Department of Microbiology, Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
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Abstract
Human herpesvirus 7, reported in 1990 is a lymphotropic member of the betaherpesvirus subfamily of herpesviruses. The virus is highly seroprevalent, primary infection usually occurs during childhood, and it has been associated with cases of exanthem subitum, pityriasis rosea, neurological manifestations and transplant complications. The latter two may warrant antiviral intervention, in vitro studies have shown that HHV-7 is susceptible to several nucleoside phosphonate compounds. In vitro, the virus has approximately a 5 day growth cycle in cultured lymphocytes; in vivo, latency is established in peripheral blood T-cells and a persistent infection is established in salivary gland tissue from which infectious virus is constitutively shed in saliva. The HHV-7 genome is approximately 145 kb and encodes at least 84 different proteins. Studies characterising HHV-7 gene products and the required interactions between viral and cellular genes necessary for virus replication, persistence and latency are in their infancy. HHV-7 infection has a variety of effects on host cells including upregulation of interleukin 15 and down-modulation of the cell surface molecule CD4; the latter serves as the cellular membrane receptor for HHV-7. Since HIV also infects T-cells via the CD4 molecule, the interactions of these viruses within T-cells during the course of AIDS are important areas of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Black
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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38
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Pozo F, Tenorio A. Detection and typing of lymphotropic herpesviruses by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. J Virol Methods 1999; 79:9-19. [PMID: 10328531 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-0934(98)00164-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A multiplex nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for the simultaneous detection and typing of all human lymphotropic herpesviruses described to date, including Ebstein Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6, variants A and B (HHV6-A, HHV6-B), human herpesvirus 7 (HHV7) and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). Oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a highly conserved region within the DNA polymerase gene. Each reaction component and thermal cycling parameters were thoroughly standardized to achieve optimal specificity and sensitivity for the PCR assay, which was estimated at about 10-100 molecules for each virus. An internal control, consisting of 100 molecules of a cloned fragment of the porcine pseudorabies herpesvirus (PrV) genome, was included to detect false negative results. To assess suitability and clinical application of the multiplex PCR method, a total of 35 well-characterized specimens, including Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva and urine samples, were tested. Results obtained suggest this technique could be applied as a sole diagnostic tool in several clinical settings in which herpesviral infection is suspected and differential diagnosis required, avoiding the need to test specimens by separate PCR methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Pozo
- Servicio de Microbiología Diagnóstica, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Glaser R, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Stress-associated immune modulation: relevance to viral infections and chronic fatigue syndrome. Am J Med 1998; 105:35S-42S. [PMID: 9790480 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9343(98)00160-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The frequent association of an active viral infection with the symptoms of CFS led researchers to hypothesize that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is induced by a virus. Results of these studies indicated that despite clinical support for this hypothesis, there were no clear data linking viruses to CFS. In this overview, we will explore the interrelation of the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems, and the possibility that stress and/or the reactivation/replication of a latent virus (such as Epstein Barr virus) could modulate the immune system to induce CFS. Relevant research conducted in the developing field of psychoneuroimmunology will be reviewed, with a particular focus on cytokine synthesis, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and T-lymphocyte function, as they relate to CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Glaser
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210, USA
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40
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Abstract
Human herpesvirus 6 variant A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 6 variant B (HHV-6B) are two closely related yet distinct viruses. These visuses belong to the Roseolovirus genus of the betaherpesvirus subfamily; they are most closely related to human herpesvirus 7 and then to human cytomegalovirus. Over 95% of people older than 2 years of age are seropositive for either or both HHV-6 variants, and current serologic methods are incapable of discriminating infection with one variant from infection with the other. HHV-6A has not been etiologically linked to any human disease, but such an association will probably be found soon. HHV-6B is the etiologic agent of the common childhood illness exanthem subitum (roseola infantum or sixth disease) and related febrile illnesses. These viruses are frequently active and associated with illness in immunocompromised patients and may play a role in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease and other malignancies. HHV-6 is a commensal inhabitant of brains; various neurologic manifestations, including convulsions and encephalitis, can occur during primary HHV-6 infection or in immunocompromised patients. HHV-6 and distribution in the central nervous system are altered in patients with multiple sclerosis; the significance of this is under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Braun
- Eli Lilly, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA
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