Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated ME/CFS, Kerr, 2020

John Mac · Oct 26, 2020

Full title:
Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Abstract
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Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic multisystem disease exhibiting a variety of symptoms and affecting multiple systems.

Psychological stress and virus infection are important.

Virus infection may trigger the onset, and psychological stress may reactivate latent viruses, for example, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV).

It has recently been reported that EBV induced gene 2 (EBI2) was upregulated in blood in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the pattern of expression of early growth response (EGR) genes, important in EBV infection and which have also been found to be upregulated in blood of ME/CFS patients, paralleled that of EBI2.

EGR gene upregulation was found to be closely associated with that of EBI2 in ME/CFS, providing further evidence in support of ongoing EBV reactivation in a subset of ME/CFS patients.

EGR1, EGR2, and EGR3 are part of the cellular immediate early gene response and are important in EBV transcription, reactivation, and B lymphocyte transformation.

EGR1 is a regulator of immune function, and is important in vascular homeostasis, psychological stress, connective tissue disease, mitochondrial function, all of which are relevant to ME/CFS. EGR2 and EGR3 are negative regulators of T lymphocytes and are important in systemic autoimmunity.
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https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/11/1484

Milo · Oct 27, 2020

Nice to see that Jonathan Kerr is still in the field.
I worry about the focus on psychological stress.

Andy · Oct 27, 2020

My bolding

Psychological stress is common in ME/CFS, as it is in other autoimmune diseases, for example, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma, etc. Such emotional aspects are believed to also underlie relapses and flare-ups which may precipitate hospital admission and the use of immune-modifying treatments in a variety of autoimmune diseases.
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Who is it believed by? I thought claims in research papers had to be referenced?

In ME/CFS, psychological stress is a prominent feature, which may facilitate virus acquisition, development of symptomatic as opposed to asymptomatic infection, and in reactivation of EBV
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Well certainly reading unevidenced claims such as this raise my psychological stress, so perhaps this is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Amw66 · Oct 27, 2020

I have no doubt psychological stress can play a role, but THE role ?
PEM inducing stresses would seem more likely, especially if in a state of rolling PEM.

Snowdrop · Oct 27, 2020

Or flare ups of symptoms in illness cause people to be stressed since that means they can no longer function at their usual base level.

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Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated ME/CFS, Kerr, 2020

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Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated ME/CFS, Kerr, 2020

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Milo Senior Member (Voting Rights)

Andy Committee Member

Amw66 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

Snowdrop Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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