Increased neutrophil apoptosis in chronic fatigue syndrome, 2004, Kennedy et al.

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Increased neutrophil apoptosis in chronic fatigue syndrome
G Kennedy; V Spence; C Underwood; J J F Belch

BACKGROUND / AIMS
Many patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have symptoms that are consistent with an underlying viral or toxic illness. Because increased neutrophil apoptosis occurs in patients with infection, this study examined whether this phenomenon also occurs in patients with CFS.

METHODS
Apoptosis was assessed in patients with CFS in conjunction with concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1).

RESULTS
The 47 patients with CFS had higher numbers of apoptotic neutrophils, lower numbers of viable neutrophils, increased annexin V binding, and increased expression of the death receptor, tumour necrosis factor receptor-I, on their neutrophils than did the 34 healthy controls. Patients with CFS also had raised concentrations of active TGFβ1 (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide new evidence that patients with CFS have an underlying detectable abnormality in their immune cells.

Link | PDF | Journal of Clinical Pathology [Open Access]

 

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Short report from 2004, using Fukuda criteria.

Forty seven patients selected by clinical examination to fulfil the Centres for Disease Control classification of CFS 7 and 34 sex and aged matched healthy subjects

Staining for annexin V and PI showed that patients with CFS had significantly more apoptotic (p = 0.002) and significantly fewer viable neutrophils (p = 0.002) than did healthy controls.

The patients’ neutrophils also showed increased annexin V binding (p = 0.001; 37.4% compared with 22.8% in the control group).

There were significantly greater amounts of activated TGFb1 in the PPP of patients with CFS than in the healthy matched control subjects (p = 0.005).

 

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