title: Regulatory T, natural killer T and γδ T cells in multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may share some similarities in relation to reduced NK cell activity. It is likely that other cells such as regulatory T (Tregs), invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) and gamma delta T (γδ T) cells may also be dysregulated in CFS/ME and MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare specific immune regulatory cells of patients with CFS/ME, patients with MS and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty three volunteers were included in this study: 24 were CFS/ME patients, 11 were MS patients and 27 were healthy controls. Blood samples were obtained from all participants for flow cytometry analysis of iNKT cells, Tregs and γδ T cell phenotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant increase in Tregs in the CFS/ME group (p≤0.05) compared to the healthy control group. Total γδ and γδ2 T cells were significantly reduced in MS patients in comparison with the healthy control group. Conversely, CD4+iNKT percentage of iNKT, was significantly increased in the CFS/ME group compared with healthy controls and the double-negative iNKT percentage of iNKT significantly decreased compared with the healthy control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has not identified any immunological disturbances that are common in both MS and CFS/ME patients. However, the differential expression of cell types between the conditions investigated suggests different pathways of disease. These differences need to be explored in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Ekua
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brenu
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broadley
authors.affiliation: Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kwiatek
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Thao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute - Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marshall-Gradisnik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta