Deregulation of the 2.5A synthetase RNase L antiviral pathway by Mycoplasma spp. in subsets of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The deregulation of the 2.5A synthetase RNase L antiviral pathway and the prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in subsets of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [CFS] have been separately reported in the scientific literature. We hypothesised that a co-morbid pathophysiological mechanism involving infection by Mycoplasma spp. and the deregulation of the 2,5A synthetase / RNase L antiviral pathway may exist in CFS. Therefore, 186 consecutive CFS patients were enrolled. Mycoplasma detection was performed using forensic polymerase chain reaction. For RNase L determination, a radioactive probe was used to label 2,5A binding proteins in unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cell extracts. Mycoplasmainfected CFS patients presented with significantly elevated RNase L-ratio, compared to noninfected ageand sex-matched patients [p = 0.016]. These results suggest that Mycoplasma infections may cause deregulation of the 2,5A synthetase RNase L antiviral pathway in