Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) patients with this syndrome, patients with clinically defined (ME)CFS were studied. All the subjects were found to have multiple abnormalities in these markers. The pattern of immune marker abnormalities observed was compatible with a chronic viral reactivation syndrome. A substantial difference in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets of patients with (ME)CFS was found when compared with normal controls. Lymphocyte proliferation after PHA and PWM stimulation was significantly decreased in patients (by 47% and 67% respectively) compared with normal controls. Depression of cell-mediated immunity was noted in our study population, with over 80% of patients having values below the normal mean. The present report confirms that a qualitative defect is present in these patients’ NK cells (which) might represent cellular exhaustion as a consequence of persistent viral stimulus. Results from the present study indicate that there is an elevation in activated T cells. A strikingly similar elevation in CD2+ CDw26+ cells has been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis. In summary, the results of the present study suggest that (ME)CFS is a form of acquired immunodeficiency. This deficiency of cellular immune function was present in all the subjects we studied” (Nancy G Klimas et al. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1990:28:6:1403-1410). 1990 “It is also clear that acquisition of T cell deficiency, particularly of the CD8 subset, can itself impair immune regulation and predispose to atopy not previously experienced by the patient. Three of the criteria are sufficiently frequent to suggest they should become part of the routine screening of such patients, and these are a subnormal level of CD8 lymphoctyes, a raised serum IgE level and a positive VP1 antigen…. In the present ME study, patients show a 40% incidence of both clinical and laboratory evidence of atopy…. It has been shown that T cell deficiency, particularly of the suppressor subset, can predispose to atopy, which can indeed be acquired by patients without a genetic family history. We have undertaken extensive T cell subset measurements in normal subjects subjected to psychological stress and would point out in none of these did we see CD8 levels as low as in some 40% of our ME patients” Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) (JR Hobbs, JA Mowbray et al. Protides of Biological Fluids 1990:36:391-398). 1990 The CFIDS Association of America held a Research Conference on 17th-18th November 1990 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Amongst the notable presentations were the following: Dr Irina Rozovsky (speaking on “Levels of Lymphocytes, Soluble Receptors & IL-2 Inhibitors in Sera from CFIDS Patients”) said: “Chronic fatigue syndrome can be described as an immune dysregulative state, characterised by global immune upregulation with discrete immune defects….Normally T-helper cell activation is mediated by two intracellular signals. The first signal is the activation of protein kinase C….The second major signal for Tcell activation is the mobilisation of both cytotoxic and extracellular calcium. This activation finally leads to the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the expression of IL2 receptors on the surface of T cells….Soluble IL-2 receptors have been found in…sera from patients with multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases, AIDS, different types of lymphomas and leukaemias and in cancer patients who use IL-2 therapy. It is well-known that patients in IL-2 treatment have the same kind of symptomatology as our chronic fatigue syndrome patients….We have measured the levels of these soluble IL-2 receptors and T8 receptors in chronic fatigue syndrome patients….We have found that our patients have an elevated level of IL-2 receptor compared to healthy controls. Their level of soluble T8 receptor will also be significantly higher than for the control group….These two soluble receptors (IL-2 and T8 receptors), which reflect certain T-cell responses, could be very good markers for the disease and may even reflect the degree of severity of the illness”. Dr Anthony Komaroff said: “Our model for CFIDS is…that fundamentally, the illness involves a compromised immunity….This www.investinme.org Page 38 of 108
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