Cytokine networks analysis uncovers further differences between those who develop myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome following infectious mononucleosis. Issue 1 (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jason, Leonard A.; Cotler, Joseph; Islam, Mohammed F.; Furst, Jacob; Sorenson, Matthew; Katz, Ben Z.
• Is Part Of: Fatigue. Volume 9:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Networks -- cytokines -- infectious mononucleosis -- chronic fatigue syndrome -- myalgic encephalomyelitis; Chronic fatigue syndrome -- Periodicals; Myalgic encephalomyelitis -- Periodicals; 616.047805
• DOI: 10.1080/21641846.2021.1915131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2164-1846

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: We followed college students before, during, and after infectious mononucleosis (IM) for the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Aim: We used network analysis to study relationships between pre-illness cytokine data amongst three groups of participants: those 30 who went on to develop ME/CFS following IM (and met one case definition), those 18 who went on to develop severe ME/CFS (S-ME-CFS) following IM (and met greater than one case definition), and those 58 who recovered following IM (controls). Methods: We recruited 4501 college students; approximately 5% developed IM during their enrollment at university. Those who developed IM were evaluated at a 6-month follow-up to determine whether they recovered or met criteria for ME/CFS; those who met >1 set of criteria for ME/CFS were termed S-ME/CFS. Patterns of pre-illness cytokine networks were then classified according to the following characteristics: membership, modularity, Eigen centrality, Total centrality, and mean degree. Network statistics were compared across groups using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Those with S-ME/CFS had a more interconnected network of cytokines, whereas recovered controls had more differentiated networks and more subgroupings of cytokine connections. Those with ME/CFS had a network that was denser than the controls, but less dense than those with severe ME/CFS. Conclusions: The distinct network differences between these three groups implies that there may be biological differences between our three groups of study participants at baseline.