01.12.2012 Views

MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

1994<br />

159<br />

“The chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) is a major subgroup of the chronic fatigue<br />

syndrome (CFS). We and other <strong>in</strong>vestigators have reported a strong association between immune<br />

dysfunction and a serological viral activation pattern among patients <strong>in</strong> this group. This f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g appeared<br />

similar to that for a variety of conditions, such as chronic active hepatitis and systemic lupus<br />

erythematosus, <strong>in</strong> which a def<strong>in</strong>ite association between a particular HLA‐DR/DQ haplotype and <strong>in</strong>creased disease<br />

frequency has been reported. We thus elected to exam<strong>in</strong>e a cohort of patients with CFIDS, with use of HLA‐<br />

DR/DQ typ<strong>in</strong>g. A significant association between CFIDS and the presence of HLA‐DQ3 was noted. The<br />

association with HLA‐DQ3 could represent an additive effect for patients who also have HLA‐DR4 and/or HLA‐DR5.<br />

(Our) results are <strong>in</strong>trigu<strong>in</strong>g. DQ3 was significantly more prevalent <strong>in</strong> patients than controls. It is possible that DR4<br />

and DR5 are also associated with an <strong>in</strong>creased risk of develop<strong>in</strong>g CFIDS. These f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs strongly suggest that<br />

further evaluation of persons with CFIDS, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>vestigation of an HLA Class I l<strong>in</strong>kage<br />

dysequilibrium, are warranted. The data presented here<strong>in</strong> suggest that CFIDS, together with a variety of immune‐<br />

mediated diseases, may share similar sequences of pathogenic mechanisms (and) <strong>in</strong> a subpopulation (of CFIDS), a<br />

genetic predisposition may be triggered immunologically by any number of potential stimuli, result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a state of<br />

chronic immune dysequilibrium. This model could easily expla<strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs with regard to viral <strong>in</strong>fection (and)<br />

allergies” (RH Keller, N Klimas et al. Cl<strong>in</strong> Inf Dis 1994:18: (Suppl 1): S154‐156).<br />

1994<br />

“These data suggest a correlation between low levels of NK cell activity and severity of CFIDS.<br />

Compromised or absent natural immunity is associated with acute and chronic viral <strong>in</strong>fections such as<br />

AIDS, CFIDS and various immunodeficiency syndromes. Stratification of patients with CFIDS <strong>in</strong>to dist<strong>in</strong>ct<br />

groups accord<strong>in</strong>g to the severity or duration of physical abnormalities might allow identification of laboratory<br />

abnormalities that are associated with severity. The fact that NK cell activity decreases with <strong>in</strong>creased severity<br />

and duration of certa<strong>in</strong> cl<strong>in</strong>ical variables suggests that measurement of NK cell function could be useful for<br />

stratification of patients and possibly for monitor<strong>in</strong>g therapy for and / or the progression of CFIDS” (EA<br />

Ojo‐Amaize et al. Cl<strong>in</strong> Inf Dis 1994:18: (Suppl 1):S157‐159).<br />

1994<br />

“The immune system is a readily accessible, sensitive <strong>in</strong>dicator of environmental or <strong>in</strong>ternal changes, and studies<br />

conducted by different groups over the past few years have provided valuable evidence for changes <strong>in</strong> immune status<br />

among <strong>in</strong>dividuals with (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. To ga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>sight <strong>in</strong>to the nosology and aetiology of (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS, we assessed patterns<br />

of soluble immune mediator expression at the prote<strong>in</strong> and mRNA levels <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividuals with (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. The data<br />

presented <strong>in</strong> this report are consistent with previous evidence of immune dysregulation among patients<br />

with (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS and po<strong>in</strong>t to a dysregulation of TNF (tumour necrosis factor) expression as a dist<strong>in</strong>ctive<br />

feature of this condition. Imbalances <strong>in</strong> TNF and associated changes <strong>in</strong> levels of other cytok<strong>in</strong>es may underlie many<br />

of the characteristic features of (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. In addition, TNF‐α can have deleterious effects on the central nervous<br />

system” (Roberto Patarca, Nancy G Klimas et al. Cl<strong>in</strong> Inf Dis 1994:18: (Suppl 1):S147‐153).<br />

Tumour necrosis factor is a cytok<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> systemic <strong>in</strong>flammation. Its primary role is <strong>in</strong> the regulation<br />

of immune cells. Increased TNF causes apoptosis, <strong>in</strong>flammation and tumorigenesis.<br />

1994<br />

“The up‐regulated 2‐5A pathway <strong>in</strong> (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS is consistent with an activated immune state and a role for persistent<br />

viral <strong>in</strong>fection <strong>in</strong> the pathogenesis of (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. The object of this study was to measure key parameters of the 2‐5A<br />

synthetase/RNase‐L antiviral pathway <strong>in</strong> order to evaluate possible viral <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. The data presented<br />

suggest that 2‐5A synthetase/RNase L pathway is an important biochemical <strong>in</strong>dicator of the anti‐viral state <strong>in</strong><br />

(<strong>ME</strong>)CFS. Evidence that this pathway is activated <strong>in</strong> (<strong>ME</strong>)CFS was identified <strong>in</strong> this subset of severely<br />

disabled <strong>in</strong>dividuals as related to virological and immunologic status. This pathway phenotype could

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!