Research abstract

Objectives: Previous research has provided evidence for a dysregulation in cytokine levels in the periphery of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). To date few studies have examined cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid. The purpose of this research is to examine the role of cytokines in the symptom presentation of CFS/ME patients.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from 18 CFS/ME patients and 5 healthy controls. The CSF samples were examined for the expression of 27 cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1ββ, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, basic FGF, eotaxin, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γγ, IP-10, MCP-1 (MCAF), MIP-1αα, MIP-1ββ, PDGF-BB, RANTES, TNF-αα and VEGF] using the bio-plex human cytokine 27-plex assay.

Results: Of the cytokines examined, only four were significantly reduced in the CFS/ME patients in comparison to the controls.

Conclusions: The results show a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CSF of CFS/ME patients and this may contribute to the clinical disease progression.

The role of cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluids of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), by Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Gunnar Gottschalk, Sandra Ramos, Ekua Brenu, Don Staines, Dan Peterson