Autoantibodies to Arginine-rich Sequences Mimicking Epstein-Barr Virus in Post-COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[bad1080]

Abstract​

Background
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a known trigger and risk factor for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID syndrome (PCS). In previous studies, we found enhanced IgG reactivity to EBV EBNA4 and EBNA6 arginine-rich sequences in postinfectious ME/CFS (piME/CFS).

Objective
This study aims to investigate IgG responses to arginine-rich (poly-R) EBNA4 and EBNA6 sequences and homologous human sequences in PCS and ME/CFS.

Methods
The IgG responses against poly-R EBNA4 and EBNA6 and corresponding homologous human 15-mer peptides and respective full-length proteins were analyzed using a cytometric bead array (CBA) and a multiplex dot-blot assay. Sera of 45 PCS patients diagnosed according to WHO criteria, with 26 patients fulfilling the Canadian Consensus criteria for ME/CFS (pcME/CFS), 36 patients with non-COVID post-infectious ME/CFS (piME/CFS), and 34 healthy controls (HC) were investigated.

Results
Autoantibodies to poly-R peptide sequences of the neuronal antigen SRRM3, the ion channel SLC24A3, TGF-β signaling regulator TSPLY2, angiogenic regulator TSPYL5, as well as to full-length α-adrenergic receptor (ADRA) proteins were more frequent in patients. Several autoantibodies were positively associated with key symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, fatigue, cognition, and pain.

Conclusion
Collectively, we identified autoantibodies with new antigen specificities with a potential role in PCS and ME/CFS.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.30.24319800v1
https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.30.24319800

 

[cfs since 1998]

It was 37 years ago Stephen Straus "disproved" Epstein-Barr virus as the cause of what might today be called "long mono" based on a 37-day trial of acyclovir, and successfully rebranded the disease "chronic fatigue syndrome." A political sleight of hand we're all still paying for. Fortunately there are still real scientists interested in solving the disease rather than disappearing it (seemingly most of them are in Germany). Eventually we'll undo the damage.

 

[Bobby Peru]

I am struggling to understand "we identified autoantibodies with new antigen specificities." In layman's terms, does that mean they are onto a new strain of EBV? Honest question - Thanks in advance.
Like many others, my Mono Panels have always been through the roof.

 

[cfs since 1998]

I am struggling to understand "we identified autoantibodies with new antigen specificities." In layman's terms, does that mean they are onto a new strain of EBV?

No. They're saying they're a new kind of autoantibody. Looks like they also newly identified cross reactivity between EBV DNA sequences and human DNA sequences.

 

[bad1080]

I am struggling to understand "we identified autoantibodies with new antigen specificities." In layman's terms, does that mean they are onto a new strain of EBV? Honest question - Thanks in advance.
Like many others, my Mono Panels have always been through the roof.

somebody on reddit summarized it like this:

we might have just been very unfortunate to have had our immune system make antibodies to a section of protein in ebv which is so similar to proteins in our own body that it causes an autoimmune disease

from: reddit.com/r/cfs/comments/1hrulna/autoantibodies_to_argininerich_sequences/m528ptn/

but idk how accurate this is so take it with a grain of salt

 

[cfs since 1998]

somebody on reddit summarized it like this:

from: reddit.com/r/cfs/comments/1hrulna/autoantibodies_to_argininerich_sequences/m528ptn/

but idk how accurate this is so take it with a grain of salt

That's right but in that regard we're not special. It's speculated to be the way many or even most autoimmune diseases develop, e.g. MS, Sjogren's, Lupus, etc.

"CD8+ T-Cell Deficiency, Epstein-Barr Virus Infection, Vitamin D Deficiency, and Steps to Autoimmunity: A Unifying Hypothesis" (Pender 2012).

"Epstein-Barr Virus in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases" (Draborg 2013).

"Epstein-Barr virus as a potentiator of autoimmune diseases" (Robinson 2024).

Though we are special in the sense that evidence of this has historically been swept under the rug.