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Immunologically mediated fatigue: A murine model

  • Chun C. Chao
  • , Michael DeLaHunt
  • , Shuxian Hu
  • , Karen Close
  • , Phillip K. Peterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an idiopathic disorder in which the chief symptom is profound fatigue. To explore the relationship between immune stimulation and fatigue, we developed a murine model for quantifying fatigue: reduction in voluntary running and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming. Inoculation of female BALB c mice with Corynebacterium parvum antigen or the relatively avirulent Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii induced fatigue: baseline running reduced to less than 50 and 30% for 8 and 14 days, respectively, and delayed initiation of grooming after swimming in both immunologically stimulated groups. A threefold evaluation of serum transforming growth factor-β levels, a cytokine increased in CFS patients, was found in fatigued C. parvum- and T. gondii-inoculated mice. This murine model appears promising for investigation of the pathogenesis of immunologically mediated fatigue.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-165
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume64
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1992

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank Monica Tsang of R&D Systems for providing TGF-9 and antibodies to TGF-l3, and James Kaufmann for editorial assistance. This study was partially supported by Hennepin Faculty Associates Grant M969G. M. DeLaHunt was the recipient of a student research award from the Minnesota Medical Foundation.

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