title: Immunological abnormalities as potential biomarkers in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is characterised by severe prolonged fatigue, and decreases in cognition and other physiological functions, resulting in severe loss of quality of life, difficult clinical management and high costs to the health care system. To date there is no proven pathomechanism to satisfactorily explain this disorder. Studies have identified abnormalities in immune function but these data are inconsistent. We investigated the profile of markers of immune function (including novel markers) in CFS/ME patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 95 CFS/ME patients and 50 healthy controls. All participants were assessed on natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cell cytotoxic activities, Th1 and Th2 cytokine profile of CD4(+) T cells, expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VPACR2), levels of NK phenotypes (CD56(bright) and CD56(dim)) and regulatory T cells expressing FoxP3 transcription factor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy individuals, CFS/ME patients displayed significant increases in IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells, FoxP3 and VPACR2 expression. Cytotoxic activity of NK and CD8(+) T cells and NK phenotypes, in particular the CD56(bright) NK cells were significantly decreased in CFS/ME patients. Additionally granzyme A and granzyme K expression were reduced while expression levels of perforin were significantly increased in the CFS/ME population relative to the control population. These data suggest significant dysregulation of the immune system in CFS/ME patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study found immunological abnormalities which may serve as biomarkers in CFS/ME patients with potential for an application as a diagnostic tool.
authors: Population Health and Neuroimmunology Unit, Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Ekua W
authors: EW
authors: Brenu
authors: Mieke L
authors: ML
authors: van Driel
authors: Don R
authors: DR
authors: Staines
authors: Kevin J
authors: KJ
authors: Ashton
authors: Sandra B
authors: SB
authors: Ramos
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Keane
authors: Nancy G
authors: NG
authors: Klimas
authors: Sonya M
authors: SM
authors: Marshall-Gradisnik
references: Clin Exp Immunol. 2005 Dec;142(3):505-11
references: 16297163
references: Nihon Rinsho. 2007 Jun;65(6):983-90
references: 17561686
references: Annu Rev Immunol. 2008;26:389-420
references: 18304003
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 Oct;105(10):2235-43
references: 20407431
references: Brief Funct Genomic Proteomic. 2008 Jan;7(1):8-16
references: 18208863
references: Blood. 2001 May 15;97(10):3146-51
references: 11342442
references: PLoS One. 2010 May 25;5(5):e10817
references: 20520837
references: J Neurol Sci. 2011 Feb 15;301(1-2):9-11
references: 21167506
references: Autoimmun Rev. 2008 Oct;8(1):41-3
references: 18706528
references: PLoS One. 2011 Feb 23;6(2):e17287
references: 21383843
references: Autoimmun Rev. 2008 Oct;8(1):52-5
references: 18725327
references: Int Immunol. 2006 Dec;18(12):1691-700
references: 17077178
references: J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(7):985-96
references: 20104421
references: J Immunol. 1999 Feb 1;162(3):1707-16
references: 9973433
references: J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010;2010:901564
references: 20445748
references: J Immunol. 2008 Jun 1;180(11):7423-30
references: 18490742
references: Blood. 2007 May 1;109(9):3873-80
references: 17192392
references: Clin Cancer Res. 2009 Mar 15;15(6):1931-9
references: 19240164
references: Brain Behav Immun. 2007 Aug;21(6):721-6
references: 17428636
references: Immunol Today. 2000 Jan;21(1):7-11
references: 10637552
references: Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2008 Dec;10(6):482-91
references: 19007540
references: J Immunol. 2007 May 1;178(9):5429-33
references: 17442923
references: J Transl Med. 2010 Jan 11;8:1
references: 20064266
references: Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2005 Jan;12(1):52-5
references: 15642984
references: Autoimmun Rev. 2009 Feb;8(4):287-91
references: 18801465
references: Med Hypotheses. 2008 Aug;71(2):270-4
references: 18440157
references: J Immunol. 2008 May 1;180(9):5771-7
references: 18424693
references: Blood. 2008 Sep 1;112(5):1557-69
references: 18725574
references: Mol Med. 2008 Sep-Oct;14(9-10):599-607
references: 18596870
references: Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Oct 12;7:79
references: 20939923
references: J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 May;20(5):969-79
references: 19339380
references: Mol Med. 2009 Jan-Feb;15(1-2):34-42
references: 19015737
references: Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2010 Apr;17(4):582-7
references: 20181767
references: Trends Mol Med. 2007 Jun;13(6):241-51
references: 17467339
references: Ann Intern Med. 1994 Dec 15;121(12):953-9
references: 7978722
references: J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Oct 30;215(1-2):90-5
references: 19695714
references: Med Hypotheses. 2004;62(5):646-52
references: 15082083
references: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul;1070:51-74
references: 16888149
references: Clin Exp Immunol. 2004 Feb;135(2):294-302
references: 14738459
references: Cytometry. 1998 Oct 1;33(2):249-55
references: 9773887
references: Med Hypotheses. 2011 Jul;77(1):77-83
references: 21474251
references: AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2006 Aug;22(8):757-62
references: 16910831
references: J Clin Pathol. 2005 Aug;58(8):826-32
references: 16049284
references: Cytometry. 1999 Nov 1;37(3):197-204
references: 10520200
references: FASEB J. 2004 Sep;18(12):1325-34
references: 15333575
references: J Infect Dis. 1996 Feb;173(2):460-3
references: 8568312
references: J Clin Microbiol. 1990 Jun;28(6):1403-10
references: 2166084
references: Dyn Med. 2008 Apr 08;7:6
references: 18397528
references: Brain Behav Immun. 2010 Oct;24(7):1209-17
references: 20447453
references: J Infect Dis. 2009 Aug 1;200(3):361-9
references: 19563258
references: J Clin Virol. 2006 Nov;37(3):139-50
references: 16978917