title: Gene Expression in Response to Exercise in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disorder of unknown pathogenesis, characterized by fatigue, which is exacerbated after minimal exercise. We examined the effect of a single bout of aerobic exercise on leucocyte mRNA expression of genes putatively linked to exaggerated afferent signaling as an under-pinning of the fatigue state. A carefully-characterized sample of patients with CFS (N= 10) and healthy matched control participants (N= 12) were included. Participant ratings of fatigue and other symptoms, as well as blood samples, were obtained at baseline, and five other time-points up to 72 h after 25 min of moderate-intensity cycling exercise. Leucocyte mRNA of 19 metabolite-sensing, adrenergic, immune, and neurotransmission genes was examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Patients with CFS reported substantial fatigue, functional impairment, and poor sleep at baseline (allp< 0.02), and exercise immediately induced worsened patients' fatigue (effect size, ES = 1.17). There were no significant changes in gene expression after exercise and patients did not differ from control participants at any time point. Higher levels of expression of ficolin (FCN1) and a purinergic receptor (P2RX4) in patients with CFS were found when all time points were combined. Patients with CFS did not show significant exercise-induced changes in leucocyte mRNA of 19 metabolite-sensing, adrenergic, immune and neurotransmission genes despite a prominent exacerbation of fatigue.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keech
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vollmer-Conna
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South WalesSydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Infection Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lloyd
keywords: central sensitisation; mRNA; myalgic encephalomyelitis; pathogenesis; post-exertional malaise