Intracellular Dysfunctions

Another bit of research proving that CFS is physical, not psychological:

Unravelling intracellular immune dysfunctions in chronic fatigue
syndrome: interactions between protein kinase R activity, RNase L
cleavage and elastase activity, and their clinical relevance.

Journal: In Vivo. 2008 Jan-Feb;22(1):115-21.

Author: Meeus M, Nijs J, McGregor N, Meeusen R, De Schutter G,
Truijen S, Frémont M, Van Hoof E, De Meirleir K.

Affiliation: Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Physical
Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.

NLM Citation: PMID: 18396793


This study examined possible interactions between immunological
abnormalities and symptoms in CFS.

Sixteen CFS patients filled in a battery of questionnaires,
evaluating daily functioning, and underwent venous blood sampling, in
order to analyse immunological abnormalities.

Ribonuclease (RNase) L cleavage was associated with RNase L activity
(rs=0.570; p=0.021), protein kinase R (PKR) (rs=0.716; p=0.002) and
elastase activity (rs=0.500; p=0.049). RNase L activity was related
to elastase (rs=0.547; p=0.028) and PKR activity (rs=0.625; p=0.010).
RNase L activity (rs=0.535; p=0.033), elastase activity (rs=0.585;
p=0.017) and RNase L cleavage (rs=0.521; p=0.038) correlated with
daily functioning.

This study suggests that in CFS patients an increase in elastase
activity and subsequent RNase L cleavage is accompanied by increased
activity of both the PKR and RNase L enzymes. RNase L and elastase
activity are related to daily functioning, thus evidence supporting
the clinical importance of these immune dysfunctions in CFS patients was provided.