Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) firing, anti-apoptosis function, 91amp and insulin control, hypoxia regulation and glutamate metabolism. 2010 “(ME)CFS is a complex, multi-symptom illness with a multi-system pathogenesis involving alterations in the nervous, endocrine and immune systems….Plasma levels of NPY are reported to be elevated in other complex multi-symptom illnesses associated with immunologic dysfunction, including…systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)…. Given these reports, it seemed likely that plasma NPY would be elevated in (ME)CFS….We tested and confirmed that elevation of peripheral NPY occurs in (ME)CFS and that elevation of NPY is associated with severity of stress, negative mood and clinical symptoms….Immune activation and inflammation are postulated to be principle components in the pathophysiology of (ME)CFS….Normally cortisol induces a downregulation of inflammation. However, this mechanism is disrupted in the typically hypocortisolic (ME)CFS patient….Dysautonomic conditions…have been reported in (ME)CFS patients….A recent study from our group demonstrated reduced stroke volume and cardiac output in more severely afflicted (ME)CFS patients….Of interest is the finding…that NPY inhibits the production of cortisol in human adrenal H295R cells via the Y1 receptor….This study is the first in the (ME)CFS literature to report that plasma NPY is significantly elevated over healthy controls….Duration of this illness typically exceeds 10 years. Persistence is likely to involve complex interaction of immune, autonomic and neuroendocrine regulation” (Neuropeptide Y: a biomarker for symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome. Mary Ann Fletcher, Gordon Broderick, Nancy Klimas et al. Behavioural and Brain Functions 2010: 6:76 doi:10.1186/17449081-6-76). 2011 “Heterologous immunity is a common phenomenon present in all infections. Most of the time it is beneficial…but in some individuals that have the wrong crossreactive response it leads to a cascade of events that result in severe immunopathology. Infections have been Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) associated with autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and lupus erythematosus, but also with unusual autoimmune-like pathologies where the immune system appears dsyregulated, such as sarcoidosis, colitis…and (ME)CFS” (Selin LK et al. Autoimmunity 2010: Jan 20. Epub ahead of print). 2011 On 29th April 2011 Dr Daniel Peterson gave a presentation at Calgary, Alberta, to medical practitioners. He said that cytokines, low NK cell function, increased activation markers, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are a few of the possible markers found in ME/CFS patients, and that while there is no diagnostic test, there are definitive biomarkers for ME. He said that an association has been found between several critical human molecules such as the thyroid peroxidase protein and leucotropic human herpes viruses, which suggests a mechanism for the commonly reported finding of increased prevalence of autoantibodies in people with ME. Dr Peterson said he is involved with a large study being conducted at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia, that is looking at NK cell phenotype and function; he recommends measuring NK cell function for a diagnosis of ME, as it is the most reliable marker for ME (reported by Anne-Marie Woynillowicz Kemp: Co-Cure NOT: 12th May 2011). 2011 “Derangement of the interaction between the immune and neuroendocrine systems represents one of the major mechanisms in the development of (ME)CFS. Induction of (ME)CFS by i.p. administration of the synthetic double-stranded RNA poly I:C provides a suitable experimental model for studying these mechanisms…The results lead to the conclusion that impairments between the immune and neuroendocrine systems during the development of (ME)CFS, including changes in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system (HHACS) activity, are mediated both at the level of changes in immunocompetent cells and directly on brain cell membranes” (Rybakina EG et al; Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Neurosci Behav Physiol 2011: 41(2):198-205). www.investinme.org Page 91 of 108
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