Cytokine Dysregulation of
Circadian Rhythms: Potential Implications for Chronic Fatigue
Jian
M. Ding, MD, PhD, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, $79,947.
Many of the most common symptoms of
CFIDS, such as fatigue, daytime sleepiness, impaired memory and depression,
are related to brain function. Cytokines, protein molecules produced by the
immune system, can affect brain function, producing symptoms of fatigue and
changes in sleep patterns. Dr. Ding will work to develop an animal model to
study the potential mechanism(s) underlying the alteration of sleep and
circadian rhythm following infection. If he is successful, this animal model
may result in more knowledge about the etiology, pathophysiology and treatment
of CFIDS.
Dysregulation of the 2-5A Pathway
in CFS Patients
Sidney E. Grossberg, MD, Medical College of
Wisconsin, $79,120.
Over the past 10 years, increasing
evidence has linked a dysregulation of the antiviral defense system, the 2-5A
pathway, to CFIDS. An aberration in a key 2-5A protein has been cited as a
possible diagnostic marker for CFIDS. Dr. Grossberg will work to confirm the
existence of this protein using samples from two leading CFS centers.
He
also will try to discover other markers in hopes of identifying elements of
the abnormal physiology of CFS and developing simpler, less expensive,
diagnostic tests.
Dose-Response Effects of
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Infusion on Mood, Cognition, Hormonal and
Cytokine Rhythms, and Adipose Tissue Cytokine Production in Female Normal
Volunteers
Dimitris Papanicolaou, MD, Emory University,
$66,800.
Several studies have reported evidence
that people with CFIDS (PWCs) secrete lower-than-normal levels of the stress
hormone cortisol. How low cortisol production may relate to CFIDS symptoms
remains unknown. But there is evidence that all or part of those symptoms may
be triggered by interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine which causes systemic
inflammation, fatigue, malaise, sleep disturbances, fever and muscle
aches.
Dr. Papanicolaou's study will investigate
the role of corticotrophin-releasing hormone, which triggers the creation of
cortisol, as the stimulus for IL-6 secretion. The long-term goal of this
research is to develop a diagnostic test for CFS.
Do Patients with Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome Have Widespread Autonomic Dysfunction?
Ronald
Schondorf, PhD, MD, SMDB Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal,
Canada, $58,594.
About 40% of PWCs have abnormal heart
rate and blood pressure responses during a tilt table test, which measures
autonomic nervous system (ANS) performance. The causes of these abnormal
responses in CFIDS remain unknown. Dr. Schondorf will measure multiple facets
of the ANS, testing the theory that these responses are due to widespread ANS
dysfunction rather than a consequence of inactivity. He will also try to
validate a questionnaire to predict ANS dysfunction in CFIDS. This could help
replace tilt table tests, which usually worsen CFIDS
symptoms.
