title: Immunologically mediated fatigue: a murine model.
abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an idiopathic disorder in which the chief symptoms is profound fatigue. To explore the relationship between immune stimulation and fatigue, we developed a murine model for quantifying fatigue: reduction in voluntary running and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming. Inoculation of female BALB/c mice with Corynebacterium parvum antigen or the relatively avirulent Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii induced fatigue: baseline running reduced to less than 50 and 30% for 8 and 14 days, respectively, and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming in both immunologically stimulated groups. A threefold evaluation of serum transforming growth factor-beta levels, a cytokine increased in CFS patients, was found in fatigued C. parvum- and T. gondii-inoculated mice. This murine model appears promising for investigation of the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunobiology and Host Defense Laboratory, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minnesota 55404.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DeLaHunt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Close
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta