Whole-Genome (33,000 genes) Affymetrix DNA Microarray Analysis Gene Exp. in CFS

[Guest guest]

Dr Enlander emailed back someone in a previous post and said in

March is when these trials may occur, and he usually is highly

involved in trials, but they may be in the UK only , but he said in

the previous email in a few posts above that the doners will be able

to participate preferabally, as i interpreted it. I will be one of

those doners!

Also , here, again is all we know about the first full genome study.

Waiting publication in the journals.

Whole-Genome (33,000 genes) Affymetrix DNA Microarray Analysis of

Gene Expression in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Gow JW, Cannon C, Behan WMH, Herzyk P, Keir S, Riboldi-Tunnicliffe

G, Behan PO & Chaudhuri A.

University of Glasgow Department of Neurology, Southern General

Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow G51 4TF, Scotland, UK. email:

j...@...

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder

characterised by persistent fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and post-

exertional malaise. The mechanism of fatigue in CFS is not known and

as no reliable diagnostic test is available, misdiagnosis is common

and treatment regimes vary. As CFS symptoms are multi-systemic and

are often preceded by infections, gene expression in peripheral

blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was examined. The study was carried

out to determine if any characteristic changes in biochemical

pathways could be identified. This would identify biomarkers and

provide a rational basis for targeted pharmacotherapy.

Methods: Whole human genome DNA microarray analysis was performed on

RNA isolated from PBMC. Affymetrix HG-U133 (A+ DNA chips which

include probe sequences for the entire human genome, 33,000 genes,

were used. Eight male patients with CFS (18-54 years, mean 36 years)

and seven age-matched male healthy controls (22-58 years, mean 34

years) were included in the initial microarray study. An additional

twenty patients with CFS and twenty age and sex matched controls

were recruited for RT-PCR and western blot assays in order to verify

the microarray data for a number of putative biomarkers.

Findings: Iterative group analysis of the differentially expressed

genes indicate that in CFS: (a) there is a shift of immune response

with preferential antigen presentation to MHC class II receptors,

downregulation of the MHC class I system with a consequential

suppression of Natural Killer cells and ĄT-cell receptors, (

increased cell membrane prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase activity

with downstream changes in oxygen transport and © macrophage

activation with phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils.

Interpretation: A comprehensive map of gene expression has been

generated by whole-genome DNA microarray assay for patients with

CFS. Several biomarkers have been identified by the microarray assay

and confirmed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Functional

changes affected by altered gene regulation offer an explanation of

the fatigue experienced by patients with CFS. Western blot/ELISA

assays of key biomarker genes can be used to support the clinical

diagnosis and identify candidates for treatment trials in CFS.

>

> > Re: Anyone from Dr Enlanders gene

> >studies and tests, ...

> >

> >

> >Dr Enlander told you that we can see the gene study test

> >results? I am sure we can see all the other viruses ones and

stuff...

> >

> >That would be awesome if Dr Enlander is one of the people

> >testing the triple drug treatment! I would totally be in on that!

> >

> >JL

>

> Doubt you'll be getting the triple drug treatment mentioned in the

Patent

> you posted.

> That patent was, as far as I know, done by Dr. Gow who is

being

> supported by

> the ME Association's Research Fund

> http://www.meassociation.org.uk

> and, to a lesser extent, MERGE

> http://www.meresearch.org.uk

>

> Dr. Enlander is involved with the research being done by the CFS

Research

> Foundation

> http://www.cfsrf.com

> (can't donate online at the site but if one wants to do so, one

can do so

> at

> the page for the CFS Research Foundation on givenow.org:

> http://tinyurl.com/cld93 )

> with a little support from the NCF http://www.ncf-net.org

>

> But they do seem to be planning to start trials soon. Whether

they will

> just be in the UK initially, I don't know, although Dr. Enlander

might of

> course try to do something himself.

>

> Tom

>