Exercise-induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid miRNAs in Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sedentary control subjects, 2017, Baraniuk

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Exercise – induced changes in cerebrospinal fluid miRNAs in Gulf War Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and sedentary control subjects

Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have similar profiles of pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and exertional exhaustion. Post-exertional malaise suggests exercise alters central nervous system functions. Lumbar punctures were performed in GWI, CFS and control subjects after (i) overnight rest (nonexercise) or (ii) submaximal bicycle exercise. Exercise induced postural tachycardia in one third of GWI subjects (Stress Test Activated Reversible Tachycardia, START). The remainder were Stress Test Originated Phantom Perception (STOPP) subjects. MicroRNAs (miRNA) in cerebrospinal fluid were amplified by quantitative PCR. Levels were equivalent between nonexercise GWI (n = 22), CFS (n = 43) and control (n = 22) groups. After exercise, START (n = 22) had significantly lower miR-22-3p than control (n = 15) and STOPP (n = 42), but higher miR-9-3p than STOPP. All post-exercise groups had significantly reduced miR-328 and miR-608 compared to nonexercise groups; these may be markers of exercise effects on the brain. Six miRNAs were significantly elevated and 12 diminished in post-exercise START, STOPP and control compared to nonexercise groups. CFS had 12 diminished miRNAs after exercise. Despite symptom overlap of CFS, GWI and other illnesses in their differential diagnosis, exercise-induced miRNA patterns in cerebrospinal fluid indicated distinct mechanisms for post-exertional malaise in CFS and START and STOPP phenotypes of GWI.
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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15383-9

By James Baraniuk and Narayan Shivapurkar.
 
Can someone comment as to the relevance of the results in relation to the potential patophysiology of ME?

They mention neurotoxicity in relation to GWI, but do not delve into any conclusions regarding ME.
 
Brain Chemistry Profiles Shows Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Gulf War Illness as Unique Disorders
https://gumc.georgetown.edu/news/Br...rome_and_Gulf_War_Illness_as_Unique_Disorders

Researchers find distinct molecular signatures in chronic fatigue syndrome and Gulf War Illness
https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...ic-fatigue-syndrome-and-Gulf-War-Illness.aspx

ETA:
Scientists have shown that «syndrome of the war in Iraq» is a real disease
https://chelorg.com/2017/11/10/scie...yndrome-of-the-war-in-iraq-is-a-real-disease/
 
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"The miRNA changes in the two GWI subtypes add to other differences caused by exercise. One subgroup developed jumps in heart rate of over 30 beats when standing up that lasted for two to three days after exercise. Magnetic resonance imaging showed they had smaller brainstems in regions that control heart rate, and did not activate their brains when doing a cognitive task. In contrast, the other subgroup did not have any heart rate or brainstem changes, but did recruit additional brain regions to complete a memory test. The two groups were as different from each other as they were from the control group."

https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...ic-fatigue-syndrome-and-Gulf-War-Illness.aspx
 
Valentijn said:
Not sure why they excluded neurological and GI symptoms from the CFS group, however. Are they using Fukuda still?
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True. Are they actually deemed to be part of diagnostic criteria? (Not a disguised statement, I genuinely don't know). Or are they simply peripheral things that PwME are known to exhibit. Possibly a subtle distinction? The diagram is specifically about diagnostic criteria.
 
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Barry said:
True. Are they actually deemed to be part of diagnostic criteria? (Not a disguised statement, I genuinely don't know). Or are they simply peripheral things that PwME are known to exhibit. Possibly a subtle distinction? The diagram is specifically about diagnistic criteria.
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Good point. Just shows the dangers of continuing use of CDC criteria. Neurological and GI symptoms are part and parcel of many people's presentations. IBS and food intolerances seem extremely common. Dysautonomia (which is a neurological symptom) seems almost universal.
 
Jonathan Edwards said:
I am in the middle of packing to go away but from what I can see this looks like a very nice study. It is particularly interesting that ME/CFS and the two GWI types are distinct.
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When you have time, I would like to hear what makes this study nice. Is it nice because of good methodology or because it answers an important question? It seems to tell us that in the brain too, the abnormalities may only appear with exertion. Does this study make it more or less likely that the origin of the problem is in the brain, rather than somewhere else?
 
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The methodology and the general style of writing look professional to me. It reads like a scientist writing for other scientists rather than for referees. It is interesting that there are only two authors with Baraniuk as the first. If a senior scientist is the first author on data paper like this it means he has rolled up his sleeves and done it himself. That means a lot.

And if these findings are repeatable they are just the sort of thing we are looking for - different patterns of response to exercise. I also like the idea that everyone did the same exercise and then differences were looked for that could not be due to trying harder or not. It all seems well thought out.
 
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