Cytokine profiles of chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis patients  — ASN Events
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  2. Poster Session 2
  3. Cytokine profiles of chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis patients 

Cytokine profiles of chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis patients  (#199)

Naomi Wong 1 , Ekua Brenu 1 , Sharni Hardcastle 1 , Samantha Johnston 1 , Thao Nguyen 1 , Teilah Huth 1 , Ally Hawthorn 1 , Rachel Passmore 1 , Sandra Ramos 1 , Simon Broadley 2 3 , Don Staines 1 , Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik 1
  1. National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University , Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
  2. Medical Science, Griffith University , Gold Coast , QLD, Australia
  3. Department of Neurology , Gold Coast Hospital , Gold Coast , Qld , Australia

Aims: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) both exhibit neuroimmune symptoms, including cognitive impairment, immune dysfunction and abnormal cytokine expression. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the T helper (Th) 1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine profiles of CFS and MS patients.

Methods: This study measured the cytokine profiles of CFS patients (n=16; mean age 49.88±9.54), MS patients (n=11; mean age 52.75±12.81) and healthy controls (n=16; mean age 50.06±11.85). The International Consensus Criteria was used to identify CFS patients, while MS patients were selected using in the McDonald Criteria. Cytokines were measured from serum using a Bio-Plex Pro™ kit for Th1 (IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13) and Th17 (IL-17) cell cytokines. Significance was accepted at P≤005.

Results: When the three groups were compared, it was found that IL-4 (p=0.000, p=0.000), IL-13 (p=0.000, p=0.000) and IL-17 (p=0.004, p=0.038) were all significantly higher in MS patients compared with CFS patients and controls respectively. IL-6 (p=0.049) was significantly higher in MS compared to control, but not compared to CFS. However, in the MS patients and CFS patients, serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ were significantly higher (p≤0.001) compared with the controls. IFN-γ was significantly different between MS and CFS (p=0.001), with MS exhibiting higher IFN-γ serum levels.

Conclusion: Both CFS and MS patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ. MS patients also had elevated levels of IL-4, IL-13, IL-17 and IL-6. Cytokine patterns supported both Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles in CFS and MS. Similarities in the cytokine profiles of MS and CFS, combined with known immunological similarities in immune cell function and symptoms, suggests a neuroimmune pathology for CFS. Additional studies into the cytokine profiles of both CFS and MS are now required, with larger sample sizes, to further authenticate these findings.