Longitudinal investigation of natural killer cells and cytokines in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
Ekua W Brenu, Mieke L van Driel, Donald R Staines, Kevin J Ashton, Sharni L Hardcastle, James Keane, Lotti Tajouri, Daniel Peterson, Sandra B Ramos and Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik
Journal of Translational Medicine 2012, 10:88 doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-88
Published: 9 May 2012
Abstract
Background
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is an etiologically unexplained disorder characterised by irregularities in various aspects of the immunological function.
Presently, it is unknown whether these immunological changes remain consistent over time.
This study investigates Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activity, NK cell subsets (CD56brightCD16- and CD56dimCD16+) and cytokines, over the course of a12 month period in patients with CFS/ME.
Methods
The participants in the study comprised 65 (47.2+/-11.5 years) CFS/ME participants and 21 (45.2 +/-9.3 years) non-fatigued controls.
Flow cytometry protocols were used to assess NK subsets and NK cytotoxic activity at various time points that included baseline (T1), 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3).
Cytokine secretions were measured following mitogenic stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Results
NK cytotoxic activity was significantly decreased in the CFS/ME patients at T1, T2 and T3 compared to the non-fatigued group.
Additionally, in comparison to the non-fatigued controls, the CFS/ME group had significantly lower numbers of CD56brightCD16- NK cells at both T1 and T2.
Interestingly, following mitogenic stimulation, cytokine secretion revealed significant increases in IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha at T1 in the CFS/ME group.
A significant decrease was observed at T2 in the CFS/ME group for IL-10 and IL-17A while at T3, IL-2 was increased in the CFS/ME group in comparison to the non- fatigued controls.
Overall cytotoxic activity was significantly decreased at T3 compared to T1 and T2.
CD56brightCD16- NK cells were much lower at T2 compared to the T1 and T3.
IL-10 and IL-17A secretion was elevated at T2 in comparison to the T1 and T3.
Conclusion
These results confirm decreases in immune function in CFS/ME patients, suggesting an increased susceptibility to viral and other infections.
Furthermore NK cytotoxic activity may be a suitable biomarker for diagnosing CFS/ME as it was consistently decreased during the course of the 12 months study.
Now that at least looks like a proper longitudinal study with the participation of Dan Peterseon – unlike the cytokine BS from Mikovits/WPI. How close this study is to the reality of ME/CFS and how useful it will prove for research, diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS is another question…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are most welcome! But please:
- No SPAM whatsoever, no supplements, no pharmaceuticals, no herbs or any other advertisements
- Absolutely no quack-doctors pushing their quack-BS websites (and if you are a quack, I will call you out)
- Be critical if you want to, but try to be coherent
Comments are moderated, because I am tired of Gerwyn-V99-The-Idiot and his moronic sockpuppets, and tired of the story of the two dogs, but I will try to publish everything else.
If you are not Gerwyn (and want to tell me something other than the story of the two dogs), then relax and write something! :-)