Viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6 and varicella-zoster virus, all of which establish latent (persistent) infections in their host, can be periodically reactivated over a person’s lifetime.
Researchers led by cancer biology and genetics professors Marshall Williams, PhD, and Maria Ariza, PhD, at The Ohio State University College of Medicine have looked at the association between these viruses and ME/CFS. They have identified the protein deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) as a key modulator of the immune response that contributes to the immunological and neurological abnormalities in some individuals. Their work suggests that the dUTPase protein can be used as a biomarker to identify evidence of the disease observed in a subset of patients, paving the way for early detection and prevention of ME/CFS and related illnesses.
“The impact value of our findings is enormous, when you think about the fact that there is currently no commercially available test to measure the concentration of antibodies against the herpesviruses dUTPase proteins present in patients’ sera,” says Dr. Ariza.
So @Hip, in ME / CFS is it that we (or a subset) have high levels of the dUTPase protein AND antibodies to that protein? I’m just wondering why they decided to develop a test to look for antibodies instead of the protein itself...The presence of dUTPase protein in ME/CFS patients was first brought to our attention by Dr Martin Lerner in a 2012 study.
Dr Martin Lerner theorized that herpesvirus ME/CFS is due to an abortive herpesvirus infection. An abortive infection is one which does not produce viral particles, but smolders away inside cells on a long-term basis.
One protein made in herpesvirus abortive viral infections, as well as in regular productive herpesvirus infections, is deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase), and this protein can be transmitted cell to cell via exosome transport. The dUTPase protein is known to induce ME/CFS-like symptoms. More info in this post.
Ohio State found around 31% to 53% of ME/CFS patients have high levels of antibodies to the dUTPase protein produced by EBV, HHV-6 and VZV. Ref: here and here. Ohio State believe dUTPase may be a biomarker in a subset of ME/CFS patients (presumably the herpesvirus subset).
So @Hip, in ME / CFS is it that we (or a subset) have high levels of the dUTPase protein AND antibodies to that protein?
I’m just wondering why they decided to develop a test to look for antibodies instead of the protein itself...
If re-activation (or partial re-activation) of herpesviruses is a possible occurrence in chronic conditions such as Alzheimers, Gulf War Illness, and ME... then possibly, why not?