Date sent:      	Thu, 29 Mar 2001

Altered glucocorticoid regulation of the immune response in the chronic
fatigue syndrome.

Ann N Y Acad Sci 2000; 917:868-75

Visser JT, De Kloet ER, Nagelkerken L

TNO Prevention and Health, Division of Immunological and
Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands.

PMID: 11268418

It is increasingly recognized that glucocortiocoids (GCs) can have subtle
modulatory effects in immunoregulation rather than having generalized
immunosuppressive effects. GCs suppress Th1 cells and cellular immunity,
but may favor Th2 responses and humoral immunity.

The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) appears to be associated with a
disturbed HPA-axis. Moreover, CFS patients show several immunological
changes suggestive of decreased cellular immunity. It is postulated
herein that in CFS patients a decreased Th1/Th2 balance may be the result
of selective effects of GC on the IL-10/IL-12 regulatory circuit.