Comprehensive Analysis of Peripheral B Cell Phenotypes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: B cells are key adaptive immune cells which are subdivided into phenotypes, each of which has a specialised effector immune function. Perturbations in the levels of one or more of the subtypes may lead to immune dysregulation. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a multifactorial illness which has an unknown cause and no current clinical biomarker. Immune dysregulation has come to be associated with CFS/ME however the precise role that B cells play in the illness pathogenesis remains unclear. Hence, this study aims to further elucidate the role of B cells in CFS/ME via the comprehensive analysis of multiple peripheral B cells phenotypes. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from CFS/ME patients and non-fatigued healthy controls (HC). Cells were then incubated with the appropriate B cell antibody panels, prior to red blood cell lysing. Cells were analysed via flow cytometry, with the lymphocyte gate specific for CD19+ B cells. Results: Differential levels of multiple B cell subsets were observed in CFS/ME patients when compared to HCs. Conclusion: Results from the current study further confirm a potential involvement of B cells in CFS/ME. Thus, further studies should be conducted to confirm whether these observed alterations contribute to the symptom profile that is characteristic of CFS/ME.