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
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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