title: Gulf War syndrome: is it due to a systemic shift in cytokine balance towards a Th2 profile?
abstract: The symptoms of Gulf War syndrome are compatible with the hypothesis that the immune system of affected individuals is biased towards a Th2-cytokine pattern. Factors that could lead to a Th2 shift among Gulf War veterans include exposure to multiple Th2-inducing vaccinations under stressful circumstances and the way in which such vaccinations were administered, which would be expected to maximise Th2 immunogenicity. These factors may have led to a long-term systemic shift towards a Th2-cytokine balance and to mood changes related to the immunoendocrine state. Other vaccines that lead to similar long-term, non-specific shifts in cytokine balance are well-established. If our hypothesis is proven, treatment may be possible with regimens that induce a systemic Th1 bias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rook
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zumla
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014612:Vaccines; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone