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Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, and Soluble Interleukin-1 Receptor Type II Secretion in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that affects women in disproportionate numbers, and that is often exacerbated in the premenstrual period and following physical exertion. The signs and symptoms, which include fatigue, myalgia, and low-grade fever, are similar to those experienced by patients infused with cytokines such as interleukin-1. The present study was carried out to test the hypotheses that (1) cellular secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and soluble interleukin-1 receptor type II (IL-1sRII) is abnormal in female CFS patients compared to age- and activity-matched controls; (2) that these abnormalities may be evident only at certain times in the menstrual cycle; and (3) that physical exertion (stepping up and down on a platform for 15 min) may accentuate differences between these groups. Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy women, but not CFS patients, exhibited significant menstrual cycle-related differences in IL-1β secretion that were related to estradiol and progesterone levels (R 2 = 0.65, P < 0.01). IL-1Ra secretion for CFS patients was twofold higher than controls during the follicular phase (P = 0.023), but luteal-phase levels were similar between groups. In both phases of the menstrual cycle, IL-1sRII release was significantly higher for CFS patients compared to controls (P = 0.0002). The only changes that might be attributable to exertion occurred in the control subjects during the follicular phase, who exhibited an increase in IL-1β secretion 48 hr after the stress (P = 0.020). These results suggest that an abnormality exists in IL-1β secretion in CFS patients that may be related to altered sensitivity to estradiol and progesterone. Furthermore, the increased release of IL-1Ra and sIL-1RII by cells from CFS patients is consistent with the hypothesis that CFS is associated with chronic, low-level activation of the immune system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Tufts University–New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111

    Joseph G. Cannon, Jonathan B. Angel, Leslie W. Abad, Edouard Vannier, Maria D. Mileno & Sheldon M. Wolff

  2. Division of General Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

    Laura Fagioli & Anthony L. Komaroff

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  1. Joseph G. Cannon
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  2. Jonathan B. Angel
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  3. Leslie W. Abad
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  4. Edouard Vannier
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  5. Maria D. Mileno
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  6. Laura Fagioli
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  7. Sheldon M. Wolff
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  8. Anthony L. Komaroff
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Cannon, J.G., Angel, J.B., Abad, L.W. et al. Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, and Soluble Interleukin-1 Receptor Type II Secretion in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J Clin Immunol 17, 253–261 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027314713231

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