Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Translational Medicine
Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research

Immune and hemorheological changes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Authors: Ekua W Brenu, Donald R Staines, Oguz K Baskurt, Kevin J Ashton, Sandra B Ramos, Rhys M Christy, Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik

Published in: Journal of Translational Medicine | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a multifactorial disorder that affects various physiological systems including immune and neurological systems. The immune system has been substantially examined in CFS with equivocal results, however, little is known about the role of neutrophils and natural killer (NK) phenotypes in the pathomechanism of this disorder. Additionally the role of erythrocyte rheological characteristics in CFS has not been fully expounded. The objective of this present study was to determine deficiencies in lymphocyte function and erythrocyte rheology in CFS patients.

Methods

Flow cytometric measurements were performed for neutrophil function, lymphocyte numbers, NK phenotypes (CD56dimCD16+ and CD56brightCD16-) and NK cytotoxic activity. Erythrocyte aggregation, deformability and fibrinogen levels were also assessed.

Results

CFS patients (n = 10) had significant decreases in neutrophil respiratory burst, NK cytotoxic activity and CD56brightCD16- NK phenotypes in comparison to healthy controls (n = 10). However, hemorheological characteristic, aggregation, deformability, fibrinogen, lymphocyte numbers and CD56dimCD16+ NK cells were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion

These results indicate immune dysfunction as potential contributors to the mechanism of CFS, as indicated by decreases in neutrophil respiratory burst, NK cell activity and NK phenotypes. Thus, immune cell function and phenotypes may be important diagnostic markers for CFS. The absence of rheological changes may indicate no abnormalities in erythrocytes of CFS patients.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Afari N, Buchwald D: Chronic fatigue syndrome: a review. Am J Psychiatry. 2003, 160: 221-236. 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.2.221.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Salit IE: Precipitating factors for the chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychiatr Res. 1997, 31: 59-65. 10.1016/S0022-3956(96)00050-7.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, Sharpe MC, Dobbins JG, Komaroff A: The chronic fatigue syndrome: A comprehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Intern Med. 1994, 121: 953-959.PubMedCrossRef
4.
Klimas N, Salvato F, Morgain R, Fletcher MA: Immunologic abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Microbiol. 1990, 28: 1403-1410.PubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Ojo-Amaise EA, Conley EJ, Peters JB: Decreased natural killer cell activity is associated with severity of chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Infect Dis. 1994, 18 (Suppl 1): 157-159.CrossRef
6.
Maher KJ, Klimas NG, Fletcher MA: Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with diminished intracellular perforin. Clin Exp Immunol. 2005, 142: 505-511.PubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Masuda A, Nozoe SI, Matsuyama T, Tanaka H: Psychobehavioral and immunological characteristics of adult people with chronic fatigue and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychosom Med. 1994, 56: 512-518.PubMedCrossRef
8.
Saiki T, Kawai T, Morita K, Ohta M, Saito T, Rokutan K, Ban N: Identification of marker genes for differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Mol Med. 2008, 14: 599-607. 10.2119/2007-00059.Saiki.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
9.
Tirelli U, Marotta G, Improta S, Pinto A: Immunological abnormalities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Scand J Immunol. 1994, 40: 601-608. 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1994.tb03511.x.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Robertson MJ, Schacterle RS, Mackin GA, Wilson SN, Bloomingdale , Ritz J, Komaroff AL: Lymphocyte subset differences in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and major depression. Clin Exp Immunol. 2005, 141: 326-332. 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02833.x.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
11.
Vivier E, Tomasello E, Baratin M, Walzer T, Uqolini S: Functions of natural killer cells. Nat Immunol. 2008, 9: 503-10. 10.1038/ni1582.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Bryceson YT, March ME, Ljunggren HG, Long EO: Activation, coactivation and costimulation of resting human natural killer cells. Immunol Rev. 2006, 214: 73-91. 10.1111/j.1600-065X.2006.00457.x.PubMedCrossRef
13.
Kennedy G, Spence V, Underwood C, Belch JJF: Increased neutrophil apoptosis in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Pathol. 2004, 57: 891-893. 10.1136/jcp.2003.015511.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
14.
Streeten DHP, Bell DS: Circulating blood volume in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. 1998, 4: 3-11. 10.1300/J092v04n01_02.CrossRef
15.
Yoshiuchi K, Farkas J, Natelson BH: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have reduced absolute cortical blood flow. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2006, 26: 83-86. 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2006.00649.x.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Richards RS, Roberts TK, McGregor NR, Dunstan RH, Butt HL: Blood parameters indicative of oxidative stress are associated with symptom expression in chronic fatigue syndrome. Redox Rep. 2000, 5: 35-41. 10.1179/135100000101535519.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Niblett SH, King KE, Dunstan RH, Clift-Bligh P, Hoskin AL, Roberts TK, Fulcher GR, McGregor NR, Dunsmore JC, Butt HL, Klineberg I, Rothkirch TB: Hematologic and urinary excretion anomalies in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Exp Biol Med. 2007, 232: 1041-1049. 10.3181/0702-RM-44.CrossRef
18.
Simpson LO, Shand BI, Olds RJ: Blood rheology and myalgic encephalomyelitis: a pilot study. Pathol. 1986, 18: 190-192. 10.3109/00313028609059457.CrossRef
19.
Simpson LO, O'Neill DJ: Red blood cell shape, symptoms and reportedly helpful treatments in Americans with Chronic Disorder. J Orthomol Med. 2001, 16: 157-165.
20.
Kennedy G, Norris G, Spence V, McLaren M, Belch JJF: Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Associated with Platelet activation?. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2006, 17: 89-92. 10.1097/01.mbc.0000214705.80997.73.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Berg D, Berg LH, Couvaras J: Is CFS/FMS due to an undefined hypercoagulable state brought on by immune activation of coagulation? Does adding anticoagulant therapy improve CFS/FMS Patient symptoms?. AACFS Proceedings: Cambridge. 1998, 62-
22.
Jentsch-Ullrich K, Koenigsmann M, Mohren M, Franke A: Lymphocytes subsets' reference ranges in an age-and gender-balanced population 100 healthy adults-a monocentric German study. Clin Immunol. 2005, 116: 192-7. 10.1016/j.clim.2005.03.020.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Aubry JP, Blaeck A, Lecoanet-Henchoz S, Jeannin P, Herbault N, Caron G, Moine V, Bonnefoy JY: Annexin V used in measuring apoptosis in the early events of cellular cytotoxicity. Cytometry. 1999, 37: 197-204. 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0320(19991101)37:3<197::AID-CYTO6>3.0.CO;2-L.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Rothe G, Oser A, Valet G: Dihydrohodamine 123: a new flow cytometric indicator for respiratory burst activity in neutrophil granulcoytes. Naturwissenschaften. 1988, 75: 354-5. 10.1007/BF00368326.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Vaya A, Falco C, Fernandez P, Contreras T, Valls M, Aznar J: Erythrocyte aggregation determined with the Myrenne aggregometer at two modes (M0, M1) and at two times (5 and 10 sec). Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2003, 29: 119-127.PubMed
26.
Baskurt OK, Temiz A, Meiselman HJ: Red blood cell aggregation in experimental sepsis. J Lab Clin. 1997, 130: 183-109. 10.1016/S0022-2143(97)90094-9.CrossRef
27.
Clauss A: Gerinnung-physiologische schnell-method zur bestimung des fibrinogens. Acta Haematol. 1957, 17: 237-246. 10.1159/000205234.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Shin S, Ku Y, Park MS, Suh JS: Slit-flow ektacytometry: laser diffraction in a rheometer. Cytometry Part B: Clin Cytom. 2005, 65: 6-13. 10.1002/cyto.b.20048.CrossRef
29.
Kim CH, Pelus LM, Appelbaum E, Johanson K, Anzai N, Broxmeyer HE: CCR7 ligands, SLC/6Ckine/Exodus2/TCA4 and CK-11/MIP-3/ELC, are chemoattractants for CD56+CD16- NK cells and late stage lymphoid progenitors. Cell Immunol. 1999, 193: 226-235. 10.1006/cimm.1999.1483.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Wald O, Weiss ID, Wald H, Shoham H, Bar-Shavit Y, Beider K, Galun E, Weiss L, Flaishon L, Shachar I, Nagler A, Lu B, Gerard C, Gao J-L, Mishan E, Farber J, Peled A: IFN-gamma acts on T cells to induce NK cell mobilization and accumulation in target organs. J Immunol. 2006, 176: 4716-29.PubMedCrossRef
31.
Kerr JR, Petty R, Burke B, Gough J, Fear D, Sinclair LI, Mattey Dl, Richards SC, Montgomery J, Baldwin DA, Kellam P, Harrison TJ, Griffin GE, Main J, Enlander D, Nutt DJ, Holgate ST: Gene expression subtypes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. J Infect Dis. 2008, 197: 1171-1184. 10.1086/533453.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Inngjerdingen M, Damaj B, Maghaz AA: Expression and regulation of chemokine receptors in human natural killer cells. Blood. 2001, 97: 367-75. 10.1182/blood.V97.2.367.PubMedCrossRef
33.
Taub DD, Sayers TJ, Carter CR, Ortaldo JR: Alpha and beta chemokines induce NK cell migration and enhance NK-mediated cytolysis. J Immunol. 1995, 155: 3877-88.PubMed
34.
Nieto M, Navarro F, Perez-Villar JJ, de Pozo MA, Gonzalez-Amaro R, Mellado M, Frade JMR, Martinez-A C, Lopez-Botet M, Sanchez-Madrid F: Roles of chemokines and receptor polarization in NK-target cell interactions. J Immunol. 1998, 161: 3330-9.PubMed
35.
Hedrick JA, Zlotnik A: Identification and characterization of a novel beta chemokine containing six conserved cysteines. J Immunol. 1997, 159: 1589-1593.PubMed
36.
Robertson MJ: Role of chemokines in the biology of natural killer cells. J Leukoc Biol. 2002, 71: 173-183.PubMed
37.
Fehniger TA, Cooper MA, Nuovo GJ, Facchetti F, Colonna M, Caligiuri MA: CD56bright natural killer cells are present in human lymph nodes and are activated by T cell-derived IL-2: a potential new link between adaptive and innate immunity. Blood. 2003, 101: 3052-3057. 10.1182/blood-2002-09-2876.PubMedCrossRef
38.
Cooper MA, Fehniger TA, Turner SC, Chen KS, Ghaheri BA, Ghayur T, Carson We, Caligiur MA: Human natural killer cells; a unique innate immunoregulatory role for the CD56bright subset. Blood. 2001, 97: 3146-3151. 10.1182/blood.V97.10.3146.PubMedCrossRef
39.
Cretney E, Takeda K, Yagita H, Glaccum M, Peschon JJ, Smyth MJ: Increased susceptibility to tumor initiation and metastasis in TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-deficient mice. J Immunol. 2002, 168: 1356-1361.PubMedCrossRef
40.
Takeda K, Smyth MJ, Cretney E, Hayakawa Y, Yamaguchi N, Yagita H, Okumura K: Involvement of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand in NK cell-mediated and IFN-gamma-dependent suppression of subcutaneous tumor growth. Cell Immunol. 2001, 214: 194-200. 10.1006/cimm.2001.1896.PubMedCrossRef
41.
Scordamaglia F, Balsamo M, Scordamaglia A, Moretta A, Cristina MM, Canonica GW, Moretta L: Perturbations of natural killer cell regulatory functions in respiratory allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008, 121: 479-485. 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.09.047.PubMedCrossRef
42.
Villanueva J, Lee S, Giannini EH, Graham TB, Passo MH, Filipovich A, Grom AA: Natural killer cell dysfunction is a distinguishing feature of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and macrophage activation syndrome. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005, 7: R30-37. 10.1186/ar1453.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
43.
Lee Y-M, Miyahara N, Takeda K, Prprich J, Oh A, Balhorn A, Joetham A, Gelfand EW, Darkhama A: IFN-γ production during initial infection determines the outcome of reinfection with respiratory syncytial virus. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008, 177: 208-218. 10.1164/rccm.200612-1890OC.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
44.
Dalbeth N, Grundle R, Davies RJO, Lee YCG, McMichael AJ, Callan MFC: CD56bright NK cells are enriched at inflammatory sites and can engage with monocytes in reciprocal programme of activation. J Immunol. 2004, 173: 6418-6426.PubMedCrossRef
45.
Robinson JM, Ohira T, Badwey JA: Regulation of NADPH-oxidase complex of phagocytic leukocytes. Recent insights from structural biology, molecular genetics and microscopy. Histochem Cell Biol. 2004, 122: 293-304. 10.1007/s00418-004-0672-2.PubMedCrossRef
46.
Sakka NE, Galley HF, Sharaki O, Helmy M, Marzouk S, Azmy S, Sedrak M, Webster NR: Delayed neutrophil apoptosis in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Crit Care Shock. 2006, 9: 9-15.
47.
Lombardi VC, Ruscetti FW, Gupta JD, Pfost MA, Hagen KS, Peterson DL, Ruscetti SK, Bagni RK, Petrow-Sadowski C, Gold B, Dean M, Silverman RH, Mikovits JA: Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Science. 2009, 326: 585-589. 10.1126/science.1179052.PubMedCrossRef
48.
Nancy AL, Shoenfeld Y: Chronic fatigue syndrome with autoantibodies-- the result of an augmented adjuvant effect of hepatitis-B vaccine and silicone implant. Autoimmun Rev. 2008, 8: 52-55. 10.1016/j.autrev.2008.07.026.PubMedCrossRef
49.
Buskila D, Atzeni F, Sarzi-Puttini P: Etiology of fibromyalgia: the possible role of infection and vaccination. Autoimmun Rev. 2008, 8: 41-43. 10.1016/j.autrev.2008.07.023.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Ortega-Hernandez OD, Cuccia MC, Bozzini S, Bassi N, Moscavitdh S, Diaz-Gallo LM, Blank M, Agmon-Levin N, Shoenfeld Y: Autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen glass II alleles in chronic fatige syndrome. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2009, 1173: 589-599. 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04802.x.PubMedCrossRef
51.
Suzuki K, Hino M, Hato F, Tatsumi N, Kitagawa S: Cytokine-specific activation of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase subtype cascades in human neutrophils stimulated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Blood. 1999, 93: 341-349.PubMed
52.
Richards R, Wang L, Jelink H: Erythrocyte oxidative damage in chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Med Res. 2007, 38: 94-98. 10.1016/j.arcmed.2006.06.008.PubMedCrossRef
53.
Enstrom AM, Onore CE, Gregg JP, Hansen RL, Pessah IN, Hertz-Picciotto I, Water van de JA, Sharp FR, Ashwood P: Altered gene expression and function of peripheral blood natural killer cells in children with autism. Brain Behav Immun. 2009, 23: 124-43. 10.1016/j.bbi.2008.08.001.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
54.
Majumder B, Venkatachari NJ, O'Leary S, Ayyavoo V: Infection with Vpr-positive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 impairs NK cell function indirectly through cytokine dysregulation of infected target cells. J Virol. 2008, 82: 7189-7200. 10.1128/JVI.01979-07.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Immune and hemorheological changes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors
Ekua W Brenu
Donald R Staines
Oguz K Baskurt
Kevin J Ashton
Sandra B Ramos
Rhys M Christy
Sonya M Marshall-Gradisnik
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Translational Medicine / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1479-5876
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-8-1

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

Journal of Translational Medicine 1/2010 Go to the issue

Research

Vaccination with a plasmid DNA encoding HER-2/neu together with low doses of GM-CSF and IL-2 in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma: a pilot clinical trial

Research

Mass spectrometry-based analysis of therapy-related changes in serum proteome patterns of patients with early-stage breast cancer

Review

Biomedical informatics and translational medicine

Research

Phase I clinical trial of the vaccination for the patients with metastatic melanoma using gp100-derived epitope peptide restricted to HLA-A*2402

Research

The effect of an autologous cellular gel-matrix integrated implant system on wound healing

Research

Prognostic impact of clinical course-specific mRNA expression profiles in the serum of perioperative patients with esophageal cancer in the ICU: a case control study
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits