title: The in vitro immunomodulatory effects of glyconutrients on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: In humans, eight monosaccharides are required for the synthesis of glycoproteins. Dietary supplements that supply these crucial sugars are known as glyconutrients. A glyconutrient compound was added to Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) isolated from normal controls and patients with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a disease associated with immune dysregulation. The in vitro immunomodulatory effects were investigated. Cell surface expression of the glycoproteins CD5, CD8, and CD11a were significantly lower in patients with CFS compared to normal controls. Addition of glyconutrient homogenate to PBMC from patients with CFS stimulated with phytohemagglutinin significantly increased the expression of each glycoprotein. Furthermore, natural killer (NK) cell function was reduced in CFS patients. The glyconutrient preparation significantly enhanced NK cell activity versus human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6)-infected H9 cells in an 8 h 51Cr release assay compared to placebo for PBMC from patients with CFS (p< .01). Finally, apoptosis was significantly higher in patients with CFS. The percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in PBMC from patients with CFS that had been incubated for 48 h with glyconutrients. Thus, glyconutrients improved abnormal immune parameters in vitro in patients with CFS.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, Department of Medicine, Orange 92668, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cimoch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tilles
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes