title: Chronic fatigue syndrome: acute infection and history of physical activity affect resting levels and response to exercise of plasma oxidant/antioxidant status and heat shock proteins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A history of high-level physical activity and/or acute infection might constitute stress factors affecting the plasma oxidant-antioxidant status and levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study compared data from 43 CFS patients to results from a matched control group of 23 healthy sedentary subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients had no relevant previous history (group I). Eighteen had practised high-level sport (group II), and severe acute infection had been diagnosed in nine patients (group III). A combination of sport practice and infection was noted in 11 patients (group IV).
  
  
  METHODS
  After examination at rest, all subjects performed a maximal cycling exercise test. Plasma levels of two markers of oxidative stress [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced ascorbic acid (RAA)] and both HSP27 and HSP70 were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At rest, compared with the control group, the TBARS level was higher in groups II, III and IV patients, and the RAA level was lower in groups III and IV. In addition, HSP70 levels were significantly lower in all CFS groups, compared with controls, but negative correlations were found between resting HSP27 and HSP70 levels and the history of physical activity. After exercise, the peak level of TBARS significantly increased in groups II, III and IV, and the variations in HSP27 and HSP70 were attenuated or suppressed, with the greatest effects in groups III and IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of stress factors in the history of CFS patients is associated with severe oxidative stress and the suppression of protective HSP27 and HSP70 responses to exercise.
authors: UMR MD2 P2COE, Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University and Clinical Respiratory Physiology and Exercise Testing Laboratory, Thorax Pole, National Assistance - Hospitals in Marseille, Marseille, France. yves.jammes@univmed.fr
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Jammes
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Steinberg
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Delliaux
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015444:Exercise; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012146:Rest; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D016877:Oxidants