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Immunological Response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Following a Graded Exercise Test to Exhaustion

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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunological response to an exhaustive treadmill exercise test in 20 female chronic fatigue syndrome patients compared to 14 matched sedentary controls. Venipuncture was performed at baseline and 4 min, 1 hr, and 24 hr postexercise. White blood cells were labeled for monoclonal antibody combinations and were quantified by FACsan. Cytokines were assayed utilizing quantitative RT/PCR. No group difference was seen in \(\dot VO_{2_{peak} } \) (28.6 ± 1.6 vs 30.9 ± 1.2 ml · kg−1 · min−1; P > 0.05). However, 24 hr after exercise the patients' fatigue levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The counts of WBC, CD3+CD8+ cells, CD3+CD4+ cells, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and IFN-γ changed across time (P's < 0.01). No group differences were seen for any of the immune variables at baseline or after exercise (P's > 0.05). The immune response of chronic fatigue syndrome patients to exhaustive exercise is not significantly different from that of healthy nonphysically active controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School, NJ CFS Cooperative Research Center, Newark, New Jersey, 07103

    John J. LaManca, Sue Ann Sisto, John E. Ottenweller, Sean Cook, Arnold Peckerman, Quanwu Zhang, Thomas N. Denny & Benjamin H. Natelson

  2. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, New Jersey

    Sue Ann Sisto

  3. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

    William C. Gause

  4. DVA NJ Health Care System, East Orange, New Jersey

    Xia-di Zhou & Benjamin H. Natelson

Authors
  1. John J. LaManca
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  2. Sue Ann Sisto
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  3. Xia-di Zhou
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  4. John E. Ottenweller
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  5. Sean Cook
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  6. Arnold Peckerman
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  7. Quanwu Zhang
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  8. Thomas N. Denny
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  9. William C. Gause
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  10. Benjamin H. Natelson
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LaManca, J.J., Sisto, S.A., Zhou, Xd. et al. Immunological Response in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Following a Graded Exercise Test to Exhaustion. J Clin Immunol 19, 135–142 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020510718013

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