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| CFS are natural killer cells. These cells cruise the body seeking invaders or irregular cell activity, especially viruses and cancer. A healthy immune system regulates killer cells by turning them on or off so they don't injure the body, yet many people with CFS have too few or too many natural killer cells. Obviously, in their case the immune system is not regulating these cells properly. This may also indicate that an infection is present. |
| Other immune system irregularities recently observed in CFS patients were previously overlooked because they relate to areas of immunology just now being explored. Of concern are the immune antibodies, cells that remember characteristics of previous infections so they can quickly eliminate them if encountered again. These are destroyed far too rapidly in CFS patients. Normally breaking down in 20 minutes, they typically disappear in a rapid 20 seconds in CFS patients; that is 60 times faster than normal. On the other hand, autoantibodies, confused cells that attack the body itself, appear far too numerous. They are also seen in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. One theory suggests that these autoantibodies injure parts of the brain. |
| Dr. Cheney points out another immune system problem in CFS patients. The body produces interferon to fend off viral infections. Interferon's specific job is to prevent RNA (coded messages that tell cells how to work) in infected cells from spreading to healthy ones. However, it can also block messages of healthy cells if not held in check. Dr. Cheney theorizes that in CFS, something goes wrong with the system that transports RNA from one cell to the next (RNAse-L) and it rapidly spreads disease to healthy cells by mistake. This same problem is seen with the |
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