Cytokines in the Cerebrospinal Fluids of Patients with Chronic Fatigue SyndromeMyalgic Encephalomyelitis

Abstract EN

Objectives.

Previous research has provided evidence for dysregulation in peripheral cytokines in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

To date only one study has examined cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of CFS/ME patients.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the role of cytokines in CSF of CFS/ME patients.

Methods.

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-) 1β, 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-γ, IP-10, MCP-1 (MCAF), MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF-BB, RANTES, TNF-α, and VEGF) using the Bio-Plex Human Cytokine 27-plex Assay.

Results.

Of the 27 cytokines examined, only IL-10 was significantly reduced in the CFS/ME patients in comparison to the controls.

Conclusions.

This preliminary investigation suggests that perturbations in inflammatory cytokines in the CSF of CFS/ME patients may contribute to the neurological discrepancies observed in CFS/ME.