Biochemistry of CFS
“Biochemistry tells us how we live,” says Robert Suhadolnik, Ph.D., of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. It’s about enzymes, chemical reactions, proteins, ATP (the body’s fuel molecule), and many other processes. Suhadolnik has uncovered a biochemical glitch in patients with CFS that could be a source of problems in the peripheral tissues. This finding alone could explain profound fatigue in patients and there are many other biochemical processes related to this defect that could theoretically be responsible for the multitude of CFS and FM symptoms. So before describing the Anti-Viral Pathway defect, Suhadolnik ran through a series of biochemical processes that may be linked to it.
It all seems to start with a precipitating event. Perhaps you came into contact with a seemingly harmless germ or incurred a minor injury, or maybe something more serious in nature. At this point, your body’s automatic immune response would be to increase production of various proinflammatory cytokines. These cytokines would then lead to the production of nitric oxide (NO). “Nitric oxide plays a very deleterious function in the body by inactivating various enzymes, processes in mitochondrial function, and the use of ATP,” claims Suhadolnik. Mitochondria are considered the “powerhouse” within each cell and they are responsible for making the energy-rich ATP molecules. There is speculation that elevated NO levels are linked with blood flow abnormalities in the brain, causing a disruption in brain function. Suhadolnik indicated that a cascade of other biochemical problems exist as well, including oxidative stress in the tissues and immunologic imbalances.
3. Suhadolnik RJ, et. al. J Interferon Cytokine Res 1997; 17 (7):377-385.
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