Assessment of natural killer receptors
and activity in severe and moderate
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
S. L. Hardcastle1, E. W. Brenu1, D.
Staines2, S. Marshall-Gradisnik1
1 National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging
Diseases, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith
University, Gold Coast, Australia,
2 Queensland Health, Gold Coast Public Health Unit,
Gold Coast, Australia.
Abnormalities in the immune system are a
common finding within sufferers of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Research has consistently found compromised
Natural Killer (NK) cell function in CFS subjects.
The mechanism of the reduced NK function is
unknown and however this may potentially be
related to the presence of NK receptors.
It is also unknown whether reduced NK function is
further compromised within CFS subjects who are
very severely affected by the disease.
The purpose of this study was to examine NK
activity and Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors
(KIRs) in moderate (MFS) and severely affected
CFS (SFS) subjects in comparison to controls.
CFS subjects were characterised as either moderate
or severely affected based on health and quality of
life questionnaires
Severe subjects were housebound.
Blood samples were collected s from controls (n=9;
50.9 + 2.5 years), MFS (n=9; 49.9+ 3.7years) and
SFS subjects (n=9; 42.3 + 3.9 years).
Using flow cytometry NK cells were measured for
their activity based on their ability to lyse K562
cells and cell surface expression of KIRs.
ANOVA was the statistical method used to assess
all data collected.
Preliminary data from CFS subjects showed
significant reductions NK cell activity and an
increase in KIR3DL1 in CFS subjects when
compared to the controls.
Results suggest that CFS patients have further
compromised immune function, particularly reduced
NK cell activity, when compared to controls
Additionally, increased levels of KIR, particularly
KIR3DL1 in CFS patients, may potentially explain
why these patients have a decrease in NK lysis.
