Age of Autism Article: Immunization Provokes XMRV reactivation in Monkeys

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http://www.ageofautism.com/2011/02/immunization-provokes-xmrv-reactivation-in-mo\

nkey-model.html

 

Immunization Provokes XMRV Activation in Monkey Model

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

A new study from scientists at Emory University, the Cleveland Clinic, Yerkes

National Primate Research Center, and Abbott Diagnositics and featuring such

medical luminaries as Drs. Klein and Silverman is providing

information on the path of XMRV infection in primates, and surprisingly the

possible triggers for activation of the retrovirus.  The work was recently

published in the Journal of Virology.

I have a long-standing interest in XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia-related

virus) as my daughter with autism/seizures and my wife have both tested positive

for the retrovirus.  I have tested negative.  While  most of the recent

commentary on XMRV has focused on its possible connection to chronic fatigue

syndrome/ME, children with autism share many common clinical symptoms with the

CFS/ME population, including immune disregulation, increased oxidative stress,

expression of proinflammatory cytokines, low natural killer cell functionality,

and active microbial infections.

A poster presentation entitled " Detection of Infectious XMRV in Peripheral Blood

of Children "  was made at the 1st International Workshop on XMRV in September of

2010 at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, land.  In a small

sample it was found that 14 of 17 children (82%) of the children were positive

for XMRV infection.

I was also intrigued to see that in the new book, The Myth of Autism by Dr.

Goldberg he marshalls abundant evidence of the commonalities between

these two conditions, as well as receiving critical praise for his work from Dr.

Klimas, one of the world's best known (and apparently beloved) experts on

chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.

From the abstract of the study entitled, Infection, Viral Dissemination and

antibody Response of Rhesus Macaques Exposed to the Human Gammaretrovirus XMRV,

the authors explained, " XMRV was identified in association with human prostate

cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.  To examine the infection potential,

kinetics, and tissue distribution of XMRV in an animal model, we innoculated 5

macaques with XMRV intravenously.  XMRV establised a persistent chronic

disseminated infection, with low transient viremia and provirus in lymphocytes

during acute infection.  Although undetectable in blood after a month, XMRV

viremia was reactivated at 9 month confirming the chronicity of the infection. "

HERE

The authors also noted in their abstract that, " Surprisingly, XMRV infection

showed organ specific cell tropism: CD4 T cells in lymphoid organs including the

gastrointestinal lamina propia, alveloar macrophages in lung, and

epithelial,inerstitial cells in other organs, including the reproductive tract. "

In an article for The Wall Street Journal by Amy Dockser Marcus she wrote, " The

new monkey study illustrated some of the challenges that continue to perplex

scientists.  The animals showed signs of the virus in their blood right after

being infected, but very soon afterward, those signs disappeared, making

detection very tough.  When monkeys were autopsied, however, organs including

the spleen, lungs, and prostate contained XMRV-infected cells. "   Dr. Klein,

one of the coauthors and a Cleveland-Clinic prostate cancer surgeon said the

virus appeared to set up a " genuine chronic infection " within a week, and

although this did not prove causation of prostate cancer, the study did " raise

important questions about the long-term consequences of XMRV infection. " HERE

In their study the authors noted that, " In contrast, antibody responses were

clearly elicited after the initial infection (Figure 5), boosted following

reinfection, as well as after immunization. "   (p. 10)  This finding caused Dr.

Racaniello, a Columbia University professor on virology to note in his

weekly blog, " One animal produced virus after immunization; perhaps immune

activation results in cycles of virus production. " HERE

Much research needs to be done before these questions can be answered, but they

are vital questions.  How many mothers out there were plagued by mysterious

health problems, like my wife was, in the years prior to the birth of their

children?

I commend the researchers for their ground-breaking work and encourage them to

continue their pursuit.  Millions of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME and

possibly millions of families who deal with autism wait on the results of your

findings. 

Kent Heckenlively is Contributing Editor to Age of Autism