Antibodies to Human Herpesviruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients, by Jonas Blomberg, Muhammad Rizwan, Agnes Böhlin-Wiener, Amal Elfaitouri, Per Julin, Olof Zachrisson, Anders Rosén and Carl-Gerhard Gottfries in Front. Immunol., 14 August 2019, [https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01946]
Research abstract:
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease characterized by myalgia and a sometimes severe limitation of physical activity and cognition. It is exacerbated by physical and mental activity. Its cause is unknown, but frequently starts with an infection.
The eliciting infection (commonly infectious mononucleosis or an upper respiratory infection) can be more or less well diagnosed. Among the human herpesviruses (HHV-1-8), HHV-4 (Epstein-Barr virus; EBV), HHV-6 (including HHV-6A and HHV-6B), and HHV-7, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS.
It was therefore logical to search for serological evidence of past herpesvirus infection/ reactivation in several cohorts of ME/CFS patients (all diagnosed using the Canada criteria). Control samples were from Swedish blood donors. We used whole purified virus, recombinant proteins, and synthetic peptides as antigens in a suspension multiplex immunoassay (SMIA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG).
The study on herpesviral peptides based on antigenicity with human sera yielded novel epitope information. Overall, IgG anti-herpes-viral reactivities of ME/CFS patients and controls did not show significant differences. However, the high precision and internally controlled format allowed us to observe minor relative differences between antibody reactivities of some herpesviral antigens in ME/CFS versus controls.
ME/CFS samples reacted somewhat differently from controls with whole virus HHV-1 antigens and recombinant EBV EBNA6 and EA antigens. We conclude that ME/CFS samples had similar levels of IgG reactivity as blood donor samples with HHV-1-7 antigens. The subtle serological differences should not be over-interpreted, but they may indicate that the immune system of some ME/CFS patients interact with the ubiquitous herpesviruses in a way different from that of healthy controls.
Commentary by Maria Eugenia Ariza
Introduction:
Studies to ascertain a possible relationship between herpesviruses and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have relied heavily on classical approaches, specifically, serological examination for antibodies against virus proteins, primarily structural, and/or increases in viral load (1–21).
These data have been conflicting due in part to several features: the heterogeneity of the disease, high prevalence of the herpesviruses in the population since they can establish lifelong infections, and differences between laboratories. Two additional problems lead to conflicting data in serological studies: which viral antigens are to be used for detection, and what is the possible relationship, if any, of these viral antigens to ME/CFS?
These are important questions that must be addressed for any data to provide meaningful insight into the possible contribution of a virus to the pathophysiology of ME/CFS. Although the experimental techniques used in Blomberg’s serological study were appropriate, the selection of specific herpesviruses and viral antigens studied gives a limited view of the humoral response in ME/CFS.
