Cytokine production by adherent and non-adherent mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome.
It has been suggested that cytokines play a role in certain clinical manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In this study adherent (monocytes) and non-adherent (lymphocytes) mononuclear cells were stimulated in the presence or absence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively, and supernatants were assayed for IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 by ELISA. IL-6 was also measured at the mRNA level by polymerase chain reaction. The levels of spontaneously (unstimulated) produced TNF-alpha by non-adherent lymphocytes and spontaneously produced IL-6 by both adherent monocytes and non-adherent lymphocytes were significantly increased as compared to simultaneously studied matched controls. The abnormality of IL-6 was also observed at mRNA level. In contrast, spontaneously produced IL-10 by both adherent and non-adherent cells and by PHA-activated non-adherent cells were decreased. This preliminary study suggests that an aberrant production of cytokines in CFS may play a role in the pathogenesis and in some of the clinical manifestations of CFS.
Gupta
S
S
Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717, USA.
Aggarwal
S
S
See
D
D
Starr
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger