Clues of link between neurodegeneration and herpes virus infections

Martin aka paused||M.E.

Martin aka paused||M.E.

Senior Member
#2
Messages
2,287
Likes
7,597
Wishful said:
https://newatlas.com/science/alzheimers-neurodegeneration-herpes-virus-optn/

Those of you who feel that ME is somehow virus related might find this research interesting.
Click to expand...
This is very interesting:

“ This new study, led by researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago, initially set out to investigate why acute HSV-1 infections can be fatal in some immunocompromised people and harmless in many others. The answer came in the form of a protein called optineurin (OPTN).
(...)
“OPTN stops the virus from growing and it stops it by autophagy – engulfing the virus particles inside tiny vesicles called autophagosomes,” says Deepak Shukla, lead researcher on the project. “The autophagy that happens is very selective."
(...)
In mice lacking OPTN the viral infection rapidly spread into the brain and significant neurodegeneration was subsequently observed.
Click to expand...


There are more and more studies that link chronic diseases to persistent pathogens. But why persistent pathogens are problematic for some and without any consequences for health for others still remains unclear so this is one explanation that might be transferable to other diseases as well (for example the same was observed in ALS).

You say that it might be interesting for those who think that ME is somehow related to a viral infection. I think a body doesn't become severely ill for no reason. It doesn't need to be a virus but something that disturbs the normal functioning of the body. And that's very probably one or more pathogens.
 
heapsreal

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
#3
Messages
9,869
Likes
10,218
Location
australia (brisbane)
Martin aka paused||M.E. said:
This is very interesting:



There are more and more studies that link chronic diseases to persistent pathogens. But why persistent pathogens are problematic for some and without any consequences for health for others still remains unclear so this is one explanation that might be transferable to other diseases as well (for example the same was observed in ALS).

You say that it might be interesting for those who think that ME is somehow related to a viral infection. I think a body doesn't become severely ill for no reason. It doesn't need to be a virus but something that disturbs the normal functioning of the body. And that's very probably one or more pathogens.
Click to expand...
I cant recall if it was Lerner or Montoya that said herpes viruses can avoid the immune system by turning down the patients interferon levels somehow and this lowers nk function. This may have just been a theory as im relying on my memory recall from yrs ago.
 
Martin aka paused||M.E.

Martin aka paused||M.E.

Senior Member
#4
Messages
2,287
Likes
7,597
heapsreal said:
herpes viruses can avoid the immune system by turning down the patients interferon levels somehow and this lowers nk function.
Click to expand...
Retro/enteroviruses can do this as well. Just think of HIV. But there is evidence that many pathogens can do this. PolyBio does a great job investigating the immune dysregulation as a consequence of multiple pathogenic “hits”.
 
heapsreal

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
#5
Messages
9,869
Likes
10,218
Location
australia (brisbane)
Martin aka paused||M.E. said:
Retro/enteroviruses can do this as well. Just think of HIV. But there is evidence that many pathogens can do this. PolyBio does a great job investigating the immune dysregulation as a consequence of multiple pathogenic “hits”.
Click to expand...
I was going to write its like hiv where its not hiv that makes them sick but its the bugs they pick up.

The double hit hypothesis seems common and was the case with me, varicella, cmv then ebv. But have done a few long courses of antibiotics that have helped alot. Maybe mycoplasma or similar, getting accurate testing for these things is an issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.