Disentangling the Effects of PTSD from GWI via a Network Analysis of Cell-Cytokine-Symptom Interactions for Improved Diagnostics and Treatments
Abstract
A third of the veterans returning from Operation Desert Storm/Shield in the 1990-91 Gulf War reported cognitive dysfunction, skin rashes, musculoskeletal discomfort, and fatigue. This led to the designation of the unique stress-mediated condition Gulf War Illness (GWI). GWI is similar to other known stressmediated illnesses such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in clinical presentation, but as yet we know no concrete understanding of the underlying mechanisms mediating the disease. As such, there are no biological diagnostic to predict the presentation of GWI. Confounding this is the high prevalence of co-morbidity with another war related condition, namely post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To identify more effective treatments and accuracy in correctly identifying illness states, it is imperative that we illuminate the differentiable aspects of such stress-mediated illnesses. This research aims to elucidate the complex interplay existing between immune cells, cytokine signaling and symptom presentations. After self-report symptom questionnaires subjects underwent a graded exercise test to stimulate the stress response. Blood was drawn before, during and after the exercise challenge from healthy controls, GWI subjects without PTSD symptoms, and GWI subjects with PTSD symptoms. Blood was analyzed via flow cytometry, and ELISA cytokine assays. Undirected dependency networks were generated via calculating rank correlation between measures, and compared across conditions via the graph edit distance to assess similarity. The resulting coefficients representing the similarities and dissimilarities between groups can be used to identify potential immune cell signaling pathways related to symptoms that are unique to both GWI alone, and comorbid with PTSD.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Nancy G. Klimas, Dr. Travis J.A. Craddock
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Shermany Library
Start Date
4-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2019 5:00 PM
Disentangling the Effects of PTSD from GWI via a Network Analysis of Cell-Cytokine-Symptom Interactions for Improved Diagnostics and Treatments
Alvin Shermany Library
A third of the veterans returning from Operation Desert Storm/Shield in the 1990-91 Gulf War reported cognitive dysfunction, skin rashes, musculoskeletal discomfort, and fatigue. This led to the designation of the unique stress-mediated condition Gulf War Illness (GWI). GWI is similar to other known stressmediated illnesses such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in clinical presentation, but as yet we know no concrete understanding of the underlying mechanisms mediating the disease. As such, there are no biological diagnostic to predict the presentation of GWI. Confounding this is the high prevalence of co-morbidity with another war related condition, namely post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To identify more effective treatments and accuracy in correctly identifying illness states, it is imperative that we illuminate the differentiable aspects of such stress-mediated illnesses. This research aims to elucidate the complex interplay existing between immune cells, cytokine signaling and symptom presentations. After self-report symptom questionnaires subjects underwent a graded exercise test to stimulate the stress response. Blood was drawn before, during and after the exercise challenge from healthy controls, GWI subjects without PTSD symptoms, and GWI subjects with PTSD symptoms. Blood was analyzed via flow cytometry, and ELISA cytokine assays. Undirected dependency networks were generated via calculating rank correlation between measures, and compared across conditions via the graph edit distance to assess similarity. The resulting coefficients representing the similarities and dissimilarities between groups can be used to identify potential immune cell signaling pathways related to symptoms that are unique to both GWI alone, and comorbid with PTSD.
