Altered functional B cell subset populations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to h

[Firestormm]

Altered functional B cell subset populations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome compared to healthy controls.


Bradley AS, et al. Show all
Journal

Clin Exp Immunol. 2013 Apr;172(1):73-80. doi: 10.1111/cei.12043.
Affiliation

Department of Immunology, St Helier University Hospital NHS Trust, Carshalton, Surrey, UK.
Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a heterogeneous disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by disabling fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance and several other symptoms. The onset of CFS may follow a viral infection or period of stress.

Patients with CFS do not have hypogammaglobulinaemia, predisposition to recurrent bacterial infections or symptoms of autoimmunity.

To date, defects in B cell numbers or function have not been shown in the literature. However, treatment with anti-B cell therapy using Rituximab has recently shown benefit to CFS patients. We therefore postulated that patients with CFS had a subtle humoral immune dysfunction, and performed extended B cell immunophenotyping.

We undertook a detailed characterization of the proportions of the different B cell subsets in 33 patients with CFS fulfilling the Canadian and Fukada criteria for CFS and compared these with 24 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC).

CFS patients had greater numbers of naive B cells as a percentage of lymphocytes: 6·3 versus 3·9% in HC (P = 0·034), greater numbers of naive B cells as a percentage of B cells: 65 versus 47% in controls (P = 0·003), greater numbers of transitional B cells: 1·8 versus 0·8% in controls (P = 0·025) and reduced numbers of plasmablasts: 0·5 versus 0·9% in controls (P = 0·013).

While the cause of these changes is unclear, we speculate whether they may suggest a subtle tendency to autoimmunity.

© 2012 British Society for Immunology.

 

[Firestormm]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cei.12043/abstract

 

[Ema]

"Patients with CFS do not have hypogammaglobulinaemia, predisposition to recurrent bacterial infections or symptoms of autoimmunity."

How did they determine this, I wonder?

It certainly doesn't fit my profile at all considering I have all three.

Ema

 

[Mark]

To date, defects in B cell numbers or function have not been shown in the literature.

Really?

1988

A variety of immunological abnormalities were detected, including...abnormal proliferation of B cells and decreased igG concentrations.

(PO Behan, WMH Behan. Crit Rev Neurobiol 1988: 4:2:157-178)

On immunological testing, we and others...have found...increased IgE-positive T and B cells...

(Anthony L. Komaroff. Chronic Fatigue Syndromes: Relationship to Chronic Viral Infections. In: Persistent Herpes Infections: Current Techniques for Diagnosis; Ed: Gerhardt RF Krueger, Dharham Ablashi and Robert C Gallo, Pub: Elsevier Press 1988)

1989

The San Francisco (ME)CFS Conference was held on 15th April 1989...At that Conference, Drs Anthony Komaroff and Paul Cheney outlined some of the laboratory findings in people with CFIDS; these include...elevated B cell numbers...

(The CFIDS Chronicle, Spring 1988)

1992

CFIDS patients have diminished T and B cell function in response to cell activators (mitogens) in culture.

(Professor Nancy Klimas, A Physician's Forum - CFIDS: The Diagnosis of a Distinct Illness: The CFIDS Association, September 1992)

...etc etc...

2011

Abnormal B-cell activity has long been suspected as playing a key role in [ME]CFS...Evidence of altered status in the B-lymphocytes of [ME]CFS patients was found in a study of gene expression conducted by our group...Further work, conducted with Drs Nancy Klimas and Mary Ann Fletcher of the University of Miami documented immune signalling patterns suggestive of an over-active Th2 or B-cell mediated immune response.

(Dr Gordon Broderick. http://www.research1st.com/2011/10/21/broderick)

 

[lansbergen]

For who wants to know more about Bcell populations

http://biosiva.50webs.org/plasmacell.htm

 

[Gemini]

Really?

1988

(PO Behan, WMH Behan. Crit Rev Neurobiol 1988: 4:2:157-178)


(Anthony L. Komaroff. Chronic Fatigue Syndromes: Relationship to Chronic Viral Infections. In: Persistent Herpes Infections: Current Techniques for Diagnosis; Ed: Gerhardt RF Krueger, Dharham Ablashi and Robert C Gallo, Pub: Elsevier Press 1988)

1989

(The CFIDS Chronicle, Spring 1988)

1992

(Professor Nancy Klimas, A Physician's Forum - CFIDS: The Diagnosis of a Distinct Illness: The CFIDS Association, September 1992)

...etc etc...

2011

(Dr Gordon Broderick. http://www.research1st.com/2011/10/21/broderick)

Mark, like your historical references & would add:

1990

"Alterations in the humoral response of patients with CFS have been found...These aberrations might represent polyclonal B-cell activation, as EBV is a potent polyclonal stimulator of B-cells(2). We found elevated B-cells, including B-cells that expressed the T1(CD5) marker, a subset that has been reported to be elevated in patients with autoimmune disorders(19). B-cell activity is regulated by an intricate balance between T-helper and T-supressor lymphocytes, as well as by NK cells. The depletion of the CD4+CD45RA+ Tinf cell subset in our patients may favor an alteration of B-cell regulation as a result of inactive suppressor cells. The NK cell deficiency observed in most subjects would also contribute to B-cell regulatory disturbance, since a primary physiologic role of the NK cell is thought to be B-cell regulation(1).

(Immunologic Abnormalities in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Klimas N, Salvato F, Morgan, R, Fletcher, M, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 1990.)