Tag: sleep deprivation

Exercise and sleep deprivation do not change cytokine expression levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

A major hypothesis regarding the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is immune dysregulation, thought to be reflected in upregulated proinflammatory cytokines leading to the symptoms that are characteristic of this illness. Because the symptoms worsen with physical exertion or sleep loss, we hypothesized that we could use these stressors to magnify the underlying potential pathogenic abnormalities in the cytokine systems of people with CFS.

We conducted repeat blood sampling for cytokine levels from healthy subjects and CFS patients during both postexercise and total sleep deprivation nights and assayed for protein levels in the blood samples, mRNA activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), and function in resting and stimulated PBLs. We found that these environmental manipulations did not produce clinically significant upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. These data do not support an important role of immune dysregulation in the genesis of stress-induced worsening of CFS.

 

Source: Nakamura T, Schwander S, Donnelly R, Cook DB, Ortega F, Togo F, Yamamoto Y, Cherniack NS, Klapholz M, Rapoport D, Natelson BH. Exercise and sleep deprivation do not change cytokine expression levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2013 Nov;20(11):1736-42. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00527-13. Epub 2013 Sep 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3837776/ (Full article)

 

Dissociation of body-temperature and melatonin secretion circadian rhythms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Many patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) display features of hypothalamic dysfunction. We have investigated aspects of circadian rhythmicity, an important hypothalamic function, in 20 CFS patients and in 17 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.

There were no differences between the two groups in the amplitude, mesor (mean value) or timing of the peak (acrophase) of the circadian rhythm of core temperature, or in the timing of the onset of melatonin secretion.

However, the CFS patients showed no significant correlation between the timing of the temperature acrophase and the melatonin onset (P < 0.5), whereas the normal significant correlation was observed in the controls (P < 0.05). Dissociation of circadian rhythms could be due to the sleep deprivation and social disruption, and/or the reduction in physical activity which typically accompany CFS.

By analogy with jet-lag and shift-working, circadian dysrhythmia could be an important factor in initiating and perpetuating the cardinal symptoms of CFS, notably tiredness, impaired concentration and intellectual impairment.

 

Source: Williams G, Pirmohamed J, Minors D, Waterhouse J, Buchan I, Arendt J, Edwards RH. Dissociation of body-temperature and melatonin secretion circadian rhythms in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Physiol. 1996 Jul;16(4):327-37. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8842569

 

Fibromyalgia, sleep disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Various research studies show that the amalgam of disordered sleep physiology, chronic fatigue, diffuse myalgia, and cognitive and behavioural symptoms constitutes a non-restorative sleep syndrome that may follow a febrile illness, as in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Where rheumatic complaints are prominent such a constellation of disturbed sleep physiology and symptoms also characterizes the fibromyalgia disorder.

In contrast to the chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia is associated with a variety of initiating or perpetuating factors such as psychologically distressing events, primary sleep disorders (e.g. sleep apnoea, periodic limb movement disorder) and inflammatory rheumatic disease, as well as an acute febrile illness.

The chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia have similar disordered sleep physiology, namely an alpha rhythm disturbance (7.5-11 Hz) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) within non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep that accompanies increased nocturnal vigilance and light, unrefreshing sleep. Aspects of cytokine and cellular immune functions are shown to be related to the sleep-wake system.

The evidence suggests a reciprocal relationship of the immune and sleep-wake systems. Interference either with the immune system (e.g. by a viral agent or by cytokines such as alpha-interferon or interleukin 2) or with the sleeping-waking brain system (e.g. by sleep deprivation) has effects on the other system and will be accompanied by the symptoms of the chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Moldofsky H. Fibromyalgia, sleep disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome. Ciba Found Symp. 1993;173:262-71; discussion 272-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8491102