Lack of infection with XMRV or other MLV-related viruses in blood, post-mortem brains and paternal gametes of autistic individuals |
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Authors: | Lintas Carla Guidi Francesco Manzi Barbara Mancini Antonio Curatolo Paolo Persico Antonio M |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. |
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Abstract: | BackgroundAutistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired language,
communication and social skills, as well as by repetitive and stereotypic
patterns of behavior. Many autistic subjects display a dysregulation of the
immune system which is compatible with an unresolved viral infection with
prenatal onset, potentially due to vertical viral transmission. Recently,
the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been
implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and in prostate cancer by
several, though not all studies.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe assessed whether XMRV or other murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related viruses
are involved in autistic disorder. Using nested PCR targeted to
gag genomic sequences, we screened DNA samples from:
(i) peripheral blood of 102 ASD patients and 97 controls, (ii) post-mortem
brain samples of 20 ASD patients and 17 sex- and age-matched controls, (iii)
semen samples of 11 fathers of ASD children, 25 infertile individuals and 7
fertile controls. No XMRV gag DNA sequences were detected,
whereas peripheral blood samples of 3/97 (3.1%) controls were
positive for MLV.Conclusions|SignificanceNo MLV-related virus was detected in blood, brain, and semen samples of ASD
patients or fathers. Hence infection with XMRV or other MLV-related viruses
is unlikely to contribute to autism pathogenesis. |
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