title: High levels of type 2 cytokine-producing cells in chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: The aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not known. However, it has been suggested that CFS may be associated with underlying immune activation resulting in a Th2-type response. We measured intracellular production of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2; type 1 cytokines), IL-4 (type 2) and IL-10 (regulatory) by both polyclonally stimulated and non-stimulated CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes from patients with CFS and control subjects by flow cytometry. After polyclonal activation we found evidence of a significant bias towards Th2- and Tc2-type immune responses in CFS compared to controls. In contrast, levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-10-producing cells were similar in both study groups. Non-stimulated cultures revealed significantly higher levels of T cells producing IFN-gamma or IL-4 in CFS patients. Concluding, we show evidence for an effector memory cell bias towards type 2 responsiveness in patients with CFS, as well as ongoing type 0 immune activation in unstimulated cultures of peripheral blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Guy's, King's & St Thomas's School of Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skowera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cleare
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bevis
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wessely
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peakman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma