Acute phase phospholipids related to the cardiolipin of mitochondria in the sera of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic Ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), and other diseases attributed to chemicals, Gulf War, and marine toxins

Abstract:

This study examined 328 CFS sera in a study with 17 CCFP, 8 Gulf War Veterans (GWV), 24 Prostate Cancer (PC), and 52 normal sera in the modified Membrane Immunobead Assay (MIA) procedure for CTX. Three hundred and twenty-eight CFS patients’ sera were examined by the modified MIA with purified MAb-CTX and 91.2% gave a titre > or =1:40. 76% of the 17 CCFP sera samples and 100% of the 8 GWV sera samples also had a titre > or =1:40. 92.3% of 52 normal sera showed titres of 1:20 or less, while 4 gave titres of > or =1:40.

In addition, 41 sera were examined for Anti-Cardiolipin (aCL) by a commercial ELISA procedure with 87.8% demonstrating IgM, IgM+IgA, or IgM+IgG aCL antibodies. These results showed mostly the IgM aCL antibody alone in the sera samples. In addition, 41 serum samples were examined for aCL, with 37 showing positive for aCL, representing 90.2% positive for the three disease categories examined: CFS, CCFP and GWV. Examination for antiMitochondrial-M2 autoantibody (aM-M2) in 28 patients (CFS (18), CCFP (5), and GWV (5)) was negative for aM-M2.

Inhibition analysis with antigens, CTX, CFS “Acute Phase Lipids”, commercial Cardiolipin (CL) and 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-L-Serine] (PS) and antibodies, MAb-CTX and aCL from patients’ serum show that the phospholipids in CL and CTX are antigenically indistinguishable with antibodies MAb-CTX and CFS-aCL. Preliminary chemical analyses have shown the lipids to be phospholipids associated with CL of the mitochondria.

We designate this “Acute Phase Lipid” comparable to “Acute Phase Proteins” (C-reactive protein (CRP) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA)) in inflammatory conditions.

(Copyright ) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

 

Source: Hokama Y, Empey-Campora C, Hara C, Higa N, Siu N, Lau R, Kuribayashi T, Yabusaki K. Acute phase phospholipids related to the cardiolipin of mitochondria in the sera of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), chronic Ciguatera fish poisoning (CCFP), and other diseases attributed to chemicals, Gulf War, and marine toxins. J Clin Lab Anal. 2008;22(2):99-105. doi: 10.1002/jcla.20217. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18348309

 

Incidence and clinical relevance of antibodies to phospholipids, serotonin and ganglioside in patients with sudden deafness and progressive inner ear hearing loss

Abstract:

Immunoserological assays of patients with sudden deafness and progressive hearing losses have revealed the presence of different antibodies, leading to the assumption that immunological processes may be involved. Recent investigations have demonstrated that these patients have phospholipid antibodies that can cause venous or arterial vasculopathies.

In the present study we analyzed the incidence of these antibodies in patients with inner ear disorders. Sera of 55 patients with sudden deafness and 80 patients with progressive hearing loss were tested.

Phospholipid antibodies were demonstrable in 49% of the patients with sudden hearing loss and 50% of the patients with progressive hearing loss. Serotonin and ganglioside antibodies were found in 53% of the patients with sudden hearing loss and 63% of the patients with progressive hearing loss.

Since these three antibodies are also frequently found in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 28 of the patients studied displayed symptoms typical for these disorders, including fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, depressions, sicca symptoms and diarrhea.

We now recommend questioning patients suffering from inner ear disorders for symptoms typical for FMS or CFS, since these diseases are often closely related to inner ear disorders. If symptoms are present, antibodies should be tested against phospholipids, serotonin and gangliosides. If present, the antibodies are diagnostic for each syndrome. Additionally these immunologic and serologic findings show that these antibodies may play a role in the etiology of hearing loss disorders.

 

Source: Heller U, Becker EW, Zenner HP, Berg PA. Incidence and clinical relevance of antibodies to phospholipids, serotonin and ganglioside in patients with sudden deafness and progressive inner ear hearing loss. HNO. 1998 Jun;46(6):583-6. [Article in German] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9677490

 

High incidence of antibodies to 5-hydroxytryptamine, gangliosides and phospholipids in patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndrome and their relatives: evidence for a clinical entity of both disorders

Abstract:

The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is one of the most frequent rheumatic disorders showing a wide spectrum of different symptoms. An association with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been discussed. Recently, a defined autoantibody pattern consisting of antibodies to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), gangliosides and phospholipids was found in about 70% of the patients with FMS. We were therefore interested in seeing whether patients with CFS express similar humoral immunoreactivity.

Sera from 42 CFS patients were analysed by ELISA for these antibodies, and the results were compared with those previously observed in 100 FMS patients. 73% of the FMS and 62% of the CFS patients had antibodies to serotonin, and 71% or 43% to gangliosides, respectively. Antibodies to phospholipids could be detected in 54% of the FMS and 38% of the CFS patients. 49% of FMS and 17% of the CFS patients had all three antibodies in parallel, 70% and 55%, respectively had at least two of these antibody types. 21% of FMS and 29% of CFS patients were completely negative for these antibodies. Antibodies to 5-HT were closely related with FMS/CFS while antibodies to gangliosides and phospholipids could also be detected in other disorders.

The observation that family members of CFS and FMS patients also had these antibodies represents an argument in favour of a genetic predisposition. These data support the concept that FMS and CFS may belong to the same clinical entity and may manifest themselves as ‘psycho-neuro-endocrinological autoimmune diseases’.

 

Source: Klein R, Berg PA. High incidence of antibodies to 5-hydroxytryptamine, gangliosides and phospholipids in patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndrome and their relatives: evidence for a clinical entity of both disorders. Eur J Med Res. 1995 Oct 16;1(1):21-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9392689