Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans... (2021) Abou-Donia et al RETRACTED

RETRACTED - link to post
Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls

(note: Dr Klimas is a co-author, and ME/cfs was used as a control but it does not appear to highlight results at first glance)

Abstract:

Veterans from the 1991 Gulf War (GW) have suffered from Gulf War illness (GWI) for nearly 30 years.

This illness encompasses multiple body systems, including the central nervous system (CNS).

Diagnosis and treatment of GWI is difficult because there has not been an objective diagnostic biomarker.

Recently, we reported on a newly developed blood biomarker that discriminates GWI from GW healthy controls, and symptomatic controls with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The present study was designed to compare levels of these biomarkers between men and women with GWI, as well as sex-specific effects in comparison to healthy GW veterans and symptomatic controls (IBS, ME/CFS).

The results showed that men and women with GWI differ in 2 of 10 plasma autoantibodies, with men showing significantly elevated levels.

Men and women with GWI showed significantly different levels of autoantibodies in 8 of 10 biomarkers to neuronal and glial proteins in plasma relative to controls.

In summary, the present study addressed the utility of the use of plasma autoantibodies for CNS proteins to distinguish among both men and women veterans with GWI and other healthy and symptomatic control groups

Open access here

 

This paper has been retracted, 5 August 2024.

Retraction notice

"The Brain Sciences Editorial Office retracts the article, “Sex-Based Differences in Plasma Autoantibodies to Central Nervous System Proteins in Gulf War Veterans versus Healthy and Symptomatic Controls” [1], cited above.

Following its publication, concerns were brought to the attention of the Editorial Office by a representative from Duke University and the surviving co-authors regarding the validity of the findings of this publication [1], due to concerns related to the Western Blot images in a connected publication [2].

Adhering to our complaints procedure, an investigation was conducted by the Editorial Office and Editorial Board. Based on the review by Duke University of the article’s findings, the co-authors have requested a retraction due to concerns about their ability to rely on the Western Blot images and produce verified, reliable results. The Editorial Board evaluated the correspondence from the co-authors and the Institution and decided that the findings of this article were heavily reliant on [2], consequently deciding to retract this article [1] as per MDPI’s retraction policy (https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark30, accessed on 28 May 2024) and in line with the Committee on Publication Ethics retraction guidelines (https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines, accessed on 28 May 2024).

This retraction was approved by the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Brain Sciences.

The authors have agreed to this retraction."