The Autumn 1997 issue of Emerge, page 39, reported on research done at the Temple University School of Medicine into a novel enzyme found in people with CFS. On May 16, 1997, Dr Robert Suhadolnik, Professor of Biochemistry at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, USA, briefed Congress on his work. The important points appear below.

Biochemical changes in an antiviral pathway called 2-5A synthetase/RNaseL have been observed in the white blood cells of the immune system of people with CFS. Professor Suhadolnik's research shows that several components of this pathway are not functioning properly, specifically, this antiviral pathway is upregulated (or overactive) in people with CFS.

The molecule that drives this pathway (nicknamed 2-5A) activates RNaseL, the enzyme that degrades viral RNA (the genetic material inside a virus which allows it to live and replicate). When RNaseL works properly, the viral infection can be overcome, however, problems arise if RNaseL is defective.

RNaseL activity can be measured in biochemical assays of lymphocytes isolated from whole blood. In Professor Suhadolnik's first study done with Dr Peterson, 13 of 15 people with CFS had this overactive RNaseL. Professor Suhadolnik stated that "RNaseL was overactive, unlike anything we had ever seen before, and we have studied RNaseL activity in people with AIDS, multiple sclerosis, lupus, human T-cell leukemia and kidney cancer."

When RNaseL was studied in people with CFS, a new form of this enzyme was discovered. The researchers speculate that the presence and activity of the new form of RNaseL may correlate with the severity of clinical symptoms in people with CFS, however, this must still be confirmed with future research. Professor Suhadolnik also announced that an independent research group has confirmed the findings of an abnormal RNaseL enzyme in CFS. Studies into this research are continuing with the help of funds obtained from the National Institutes of Health in the USA. The research done so far has been accepted for publication and will be reported in a future issue of Emerge.

Reprinted from Emerge, June 1997.