Is XMRV a secondary retroviral infection in the HHV-6 Spectrum? Does XMRV cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or does HHV-6 triggered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome cause the expression of XMRV? does XMRV make it clearer that AIDS and CFS are part of the same epidemic?
XMRV Seems to show up when the RNase L pathway is defective, which happens in both AIDS and CFS. Therefore, one would expect to find XMRV in AIDS patrients.
Neenyah Ostrom On the RNase L Pathway in CFS and AIDS:
Basically, the pathway works like this: When a virus is detected by the immune system, interferon is produced. Interferon stimulates the inactive chemical 2'5'A synthetase; it interacts with other chemicals and produces a biologically active substance called 2'-5'A. "Biologically active" means that the 2'-5'A is capable of acting on other molecules and making them active, too.
And that is what 2'-5'A does; it activates another immune system substance, RNase L. Activated RNase L is then able to stop the invading virus from reproducing itself and spreading the infection.
When this pathway works correctly, interferon production results, through the steps outlined, in stopping viruses from spreading throughout the body. But in CFS patients -- and AIDS patients -- the pathway doesn't work properly.
http://www.fms-help.com/aids.htm