[CFS-L] FW: [CO-CURE] NOT, RES, ACT: Funding of Biomedical Research into ME
Tom Kindlon
have a few researchers looking for money than nobody interested!)
-----Original Message-----
From: ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Information Exchange Forum
[mailto:CO-...@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU] On Behalf Of info
Sent: 18 December 2009 15:39
To: CO-...@LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU
Subject: [CO-CURE] NOT, RES, ACT: Funding of Biomedical Research into ME
Two UK charities are joining forces to fund research into ME/CFS.
ME Solutions and Invest in ME are working together to maximise the
opportunities to fund research into ME/CFS.
The first collaborative research project for which we intend to raise funds
is -
The role of XMRV in modulation of NK cell cytotoxicity and NK cell gene
abnormalities in ME/CFS patients and normal blood donors
The project will be carried out by Dr Jonathan Kerr and his team from St.
George's University, London, and Dr Amolak Bansal of the Department of
Immunology, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Background to the project
A newly discovered gamma-retrovirus, Xenotropic Murine Leukaemia Virus -
like virus (XMRV) has recently been found to be present in the blood of 68
of 101 (67%) ME/CFS patients as compared with 8 of 218 (3.7%) normal healthy
controls (Lombardi et al, 2009). XMRV has been cultured from T, B and NK
cells, but primarily targets NK cells. NK cell dysfunction has previously
been reported in ME/CFS, despite their numbers often being largely
unaffected.
Defects in the innate immune system are thought to play a key role in the
pathogenesis of ME/CFS and these abnormalities may leave individuals
susceptible to XMRV infection. This study will relate the presence of XMRV
in NK cells with ME/CFS-associated abnormalities previously demonstrated in
NK cells and ME/CFS-associated gene abnormalities.
Plan of Investigation
A sample of clinically-diagnosed ME/CFS patients and age-and-sex matched
normal controls will be recruited.
The selected patients will be diagnosed according to the Fukuda and Canadian
criteria.
XMRV status will be determined and NK cells obtained and tested for
ME/CFS-associated gene abnormalities in NK cells.
XMRV status will be related to ME/CFS gene expression changes.
Donations
ME Solutions and Invest in ME welcome sponsorship and donations for this two
year project which we hope will begin as soon as possible.
The links below will allow online donations to be made.
For further information about making donations to this project please
contact Invest in ME (in...@investinme.org) or ME Solutions
(in...@mesolutions.org.uk)
Invest in ME (www.investinme.org)
ME Solutions (www.mesolutions.org.uk)
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