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Current research priorities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: Disease mechanisms, a diagnostic test and specific treatments

Current research priorities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: Disease mechanisms, a diagnostic test and specific treatments
Current research priorities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: Disease mechanisms, a diagnostic test and specific treatments
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterised by disabling fatigue of at least 6 months duration, which is accompanied by various rheumatological, infectious and neuropsychiatric symptoms. A collaborative study group has been formed to deal with the current areas for development in CFS research—namely, to develop an understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of CFS, to develop a diagnostic test and to develop specific and curative treatments. Various groups have studied the gene expression in peripheral blood of patients with CFS, and from those studies that have been confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), clearly, the most predominant functional theme is that of immunity and defence. However, we do not yet know the precise gene signature and metabolic pathways involved. Currently, this is being dealt with using a microarray representing 47 000 human genes and variants, massive parallel signature sequencing and real-time PCR. It will be important to ensure that once a gene signature has been identified, it is specific to CFS and does not occur in other diseases and infections. A diagnostic test is being developed using surface-enhanced, laser-desorption and ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry based on a pilot study in which putative biomarkers were identified. Finally, clinical trials are being planned; novel treatments that we believe are important to trial in patients with CFS are interferon-ß and one of the anti-tumour necrosis factor- drugs.
treatment, fatigue, review, research, CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, IFN, interferon, MPSS, massive parallel signature sequencing, PCR, polymerase chain reaction
0021-9746
113-116
Kerr, J.R.
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Christian, P.
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Hodgetts, A.
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Langford, P.R.
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Devanur, L.D.
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Petty, R.
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Burke, B.
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Sinclair, L.I.
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Richards, S.C.M.
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Montgomery, J.
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McDermott, C.R.
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Harrison, T.J.
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Kellam, P.
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Nutt, D.J.
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Holgate, S.T.
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Honeybourne, D.
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Smith, A.P.
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Thomas, M.
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Ayres, J.G.
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Main, J.
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Daymond, T.
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Bansal, A.
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Puri, B.K.
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Morgan, R.
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Peveler, R.C.
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Axford, J.S.
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Weir, W.
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Enlander, D.
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Chia, J.K.
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Collaborative Clinical Study Group
Kerr, J.R.
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Christian, P.
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Hodgetts, A.
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Langford, P.R.
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Devanur, L.D.
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Petty, R.
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Burke, B.
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Sinclair, L.I.
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Richards, S.C.M.
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Montgomery, J.
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McDermott, C.R.
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Harrison, T.J.
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Kellam, P.
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Nutt, D.J.
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Holgate, S.T.
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Honeybourne, D.
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Smith, A.P.
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Thomas, M.
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Ayres, J.G.
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Main, J.
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Daymond, T.
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Bansal, A.
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Puri, B.K.
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Morgan, R.
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Peveler, R.C.
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Axford, J.S.
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Weir, W.
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Enlander, D.
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Chia, J.K.
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Christian, P., Hodgetts, A., Langford, P.R., Devanur, L.D., Petty, R., Burke, B., Sinclair, L.I., Richards, S.C.M., Montgomery, J., McDermott, C.R., Harrison, T.J., Kellam, P., Nutt, D.J. and Holgate, S.T. , Collaborative Clinical Study Group (2007) Current research priorities in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: Disease mechanisms, a diagnostic test and specific treatments. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 60 (2), 113-116. (doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.042374).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness characterised by disabling fatigue of at least 6 months duration, which is accompanied by various rheumatological, infectious and neuropsychiatric symptoms. A collaborative study group has been formed to deal with the current areas for development in CFS research—namely, to develop an understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of CFS, to develop a diagnostic test and to develop specific and curative treatments. Various groups have studied the gene expression in peripheral blood of patients with CFS, and from those studies that have been confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), clearly, the most predominant functional theme is that of immunity and defence. However, we do not yet know the precise gene signature and metabolic pathways involved. Currently, this is being dealt with using a microarray representing 47 000 human genes and variants, massive parallel signature sequencing and real-time PCR. It will be important to ensure that once a gene signature has been identified, it is specific to CFS and does not occur in other diseases and infections. A diagnostic test is being developed using surface-enhanced, laser-desorption and ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry based on a pilot study in which putative biomarkers were identified. Finally, clinical trials are being planned; novel treatments that we believe are important to trial in patients with CFS are interferon-ß and one of the anti-tumour necrosis factor- drugs.

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More information

Published date: 25 August 2007
Keywords: treatment, fatigue, review, research, CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, IFN, interferon, MPSS, massive parallel signature sequencing, PCR, polymerase chain reaction

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 62448
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/62448
ISSN: 0021-9746
PURE UUID: 450e7764-b9c6-48d7-8ec1-988c84caee9d
ORCID for R.C. Peveler: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5596-9394

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Sep 2008
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:38

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Contributors

Author: J.R. Kerr
Author: P. Christian
Author: A. Hodgetts
Author: P.R. Langford
Author: L.D. Devanur
Author: R. Petty
Author: B. Burke
Author: L.I. Sinclair
Author: S.C.M. Richards
Author: J. Montgomery
Author: C.R. McDermott
Author: T.J. Harrison
Author: P. Kellam
Author: D.J. Nutt
Author: S.T. Holgate
Author: D. Honeybourne
Author: A.P. Smith
Author: M. Thomas
Author: J.G. Ayres
Author: J. Main
Author: T. Daymond
Author: A. Bansal
Author: B.K. Puri
Author: R. Morgan
Author: R.C. Peveler ORCID iD
Author: J.S. Axford
Author: W. Weir
Author: D. Enlander
Author: J.K. Chia
Corporate Author: Collaborative Clinical Study Group

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