XMRV is a gammaretrovirus that infects humans and has been linked to prostate cancer and fibromyalgia. Gammaretroviruses are viruses containing RNA genetic material and have the propensity to insert genetic sequences into the host’s DNA.[2][3]
XMRV (Conceptual)
XMRV is only the third human infectious retrovirus shown. Human t-cell leukemia virus, and HIV are the other two.
Dr. Donnica Moore, "Editor-in-Chief, Women's Health for Life"
XMRV And Innate Immune Response
Medical Hypothesis
The current working hypothesis is that XMRV infection of B, T, NK and other cells of the innate immune response causes the chronic inflammation and immune deficiency resulting in an inability to mount an effective immune response to opportunistic infections.[2][4]
Studying peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CFS patients, we identified DNA from a human gammaretrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV), in
68 of 101 patients (67%),
as compared to 8 of 218 (3.7%) healthy controls.
Cell culture experiments revealed that patient-derived XMRV is infectious and that both cell-associated and cell-free transmission of the virus are possible. Secondary viral infections were established in uninfected primary lymphocytes and indicator cell lines after their exposure to activated PBMCs, B cells, T cells, or plasma derived from CFS patients. These findings raise the possibility that XMRV may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of CFS.[4]
Virus Lifecycle and Anti-viral Therapies
Nancy Klimas, M.D. - Virus Lifecyle and Anti-viral Therapies
Viral Lifecycle
Target Therapy
Medications
Attachment step
Entry inhibitors
Co-receptor binding
Fusion
Fusion inhibitors
Enters cell
RNA is turned into DNA by an enzyme called reverse transcriptase (also known as RNA-dependent DNA polymerase)
AZT or zidovudine - If XMRV becomes established as an etiological agent for prostate cancer or other diseases, AZT may be useful for preventing or treating XMRV infections in humans.[5]
Viral DNA is integrated into the nucleus of the cell
Nancy Klimas, M.D. (Video Lecture)
Dr. Klimas is board certified in internal medicine and diagnostic laboratory immunology. She is also the director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, and is a licensed laboratory director in Florida. Dr. Klimas is Director of Research for the Clinical AIDS/HIV Research at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center.[6]
INTRO, OVERLAPPING CONDITIONS, VIRUSES
VIRUSES & CFS/ME, WPI, AND XMRV
XMRV, NK CELLS, LATENT & RETRO VIRUSES
RETRO VIRUSES, BIOMARKER
ANTIBODIES, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, CANCER
VIRUS LIFE CYCLE, IMMUNE MODULATION DRUGS
WHAT'S NEXT IN RESEARCH
RESEARCH FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
TESTING FOR XMRV, Q&A: ANTIBODIES
Q&A: DRUG TIMELINE, U OF M CLINIC AND STUDIES
Q&A: MORTON FUND, TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
Q&A: MIAMI CFS CLINIC
Dr. Micovits, Ph.D. with Annette Whittemore, President of Whittemore Peterson Institute
XAND (XMRV Associated Neuroimmune Disorder)
What is XAND (Pronounced "Zand")
XAND means XMRV Associated Neuroimmune Disorder, and XAND is to XMRV as AIDS is to HIV.[1]
XMRV is a retrovirus like HIV which works by inserting a copy of its own DNA into the chromosomes of a cell they infect.[7]
HOUSTON -- (January 27, 2010) -- A vaccine designed to protect infants against rotavirus, the leading cause of childhood diarrhea, can actually cause the disease in infants born with severe combined immunodeficiency, said experts at Baylor College of Medicine in a study that appears in the current edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.[8]
↑ Katherine Harmon, Retrovirus Linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Could Aid in Diagnosis Recently implicated in some severe prostate cancer patients, the retrovirus XMRV has now been found in many with chronic fatigue--changing the landscape for diagnosis and possible treatment, Scientific American, October 8, 2009
↑ 4.04.1Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vincent C. Lombardi, Francis W. Ruscetti, Jaydip Das Gupta, Max A. Pfost, Kathryn S. Hagen, Daniel L. Peterson, Sandra K. Ruscetti, Rachel K. Bagni, Cari Petrow-Sadowski, Bert Gold, Michael Dean, Robert H. Silverman, Judy A. Mikovits,
↑ Virology. 2010 Feb 5;397(1):1-6. Epub 2009 Dec 2., Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus is susceptible to AZT., Sakuma R, Sakuma T, Ohmine S, Silverman RH, Ikeda Y., Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55906, USA.
