More Info On The XMRV and Fibromyalgia | physicalwreck's Blog

Fibromyalgia & CFS Blog XMRV: Retrovirus Linked to Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Monday October 12, 2009

The XMRV Discovery Series

The discovery of a retrovirus in a major portion of people with either fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) has made big news. (Click here for the story.) But this particular infectious agent has made headlines before -- just last month, when it was linked to some cases of prostate cancer.

The retrovirus is called XMRV. To begin understanding this discovery, let's look at a few key definitions.

XMRV stands for:

• Xenotropic
• Murine leukemia virus
• Related
• Virus

So, essentially, it's a virus related to a virus that causes a type of leukemia.

The term xenotropic means: xeno=foreign, tropic=growth. Basically, these viruses don't replicate or cause problems in their original source, but are a problem in other sources. Some species are naturally resistant, but others are not. This particular virus apparently originated in mice.

A retrovirus is one that inserts its DNA right into your cell's genetic makeup. In cancer, researchers believe tumors result when retrovirus DNA is put next to a gene that regulates cell growth. I don't see anything in the published ME/CFS paper to suggest that scientists know exactly where the DNA is inserted in this condition, but I imagine that will be a major area of exploration as this research continues.

So what does all this mean for people with FMS & ME/CFS? We'll look into that topic tomorrow.