No evidence for XMRV association in pediatric idiopathic diseases in France

Abstract

Retroviruses have been linked to a variety of diseases such as neoplastic and immunodeficiency disorders and neurologic and respiratory diseases. Recently, a novel infectious human retrovirus, the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), has been identified in cohorts of patients with either a familial type of prostate cancer or chronic fatigue syndrome. The apparent unrelatedness of these diseases raised the question of the potential involvement of XMRV in other diseases.Here, we investigated the presence of XMRV in a selection of pediatric idiopathic infectious diseases with symptoms that are suggestive of a retroviral infection, as well as in children with respiratory diseases and in adult patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Using a XMRV env-nested PCR, we screened 72 DNA samples obtained from 62 children hospitalized in the Montpellier university hospital (France) for hematological, neurological or inflammatory pathologies, 80 DNA samples from nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with respiratory diseases and 19 DNA samples from SpA. None of the samples tested was positive for XMRV or MLV-like env sequences, indicating that XMRV is not involved in these pathologies.

Infection of Xenotransplanted Human Cell Lines by Murine Retroviruses: A Lesson Brought Back to Light by XMRV

“…Despite this, the possibility of a viral cause to PCa proved to be an exciting prospect, prompting follow-up studies in PCa as well as other diseases. Studies exploring the possibility of XMRV involvement in different cancers, autoimmune diseases, HIV, and even autism were reported, with differing results (McCormick et al, 2008; Barnes et al, 2010; Cornelissen et al, 2010; Jeziorski et al, 2010; Satterfield et al, 2010; Balada et al, 2011; Gray et al, 2011; Lintas et al, 2011; Schmitt et al, 2011; Tang et al, 2011; Waugh et al, 2011; Maggi et al, 2012). Of particular concern was the detection of XMRV in sera collected from patients with CFS (a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by persistent fatigue) as well as several healthy controls (Lombardi et al, 2009) (the Lombardi et al reference appeared in an October 2009 issue of Science , and was fully retracted by the editors in December 2011).…”

Recombinant origin, contamination, and de-discovery of XMRV

“…Although a few reports cited frequent or rare associations between XMRV and PC or CFS [6–10], far more papers (>30) failed to find any association at all [9–43]. XMRV was also found to not be associated with immunocompromised HIV- or HCV-infected patients [44–52] or linked to breast cancer, lupus, lymphomas, autism, multiple sclerosis, or human vaccines [53–62]. The failure to detect XMRV in PC and CFS patients was first reported from Germany [40], UK [39, 43], and the Netherlands [38].…”

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from chronic fatigue syndrome patients for multiple human ubiquitous viruses and xenotropic murine leukemia‐related virus

“…Since the first reports by Lombardi et al,2 there have been several other publications with varying results related to the presence of XMRV or MRV in the peripheral blood cells or plasma in patients with CFS 3, 13–17. Very recent studies are emerging that support detection of viral sequences, but relate this to a laboratory contamination from mouse nucleic acid 4–6.…”