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Updated: Jun 8, 2025
A Flow Cytometry-Based Cytotoxicity Assay for the Assessment of Human NK Cell Activity
Published on: August 9, 2017
Meta-analysis of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
James N Baraniuk1,2, Natalie Eaton-Fitch2, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik2
1Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
Abstract:
Reduced natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity is the most consistent immune finding in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Meta-analysis of the published literature determined the effect size of the decrement in ME/CFS. Databases were screened for papers comparing NK cell cytotoxicity in ME/CFS and healthy controls. A total of 28 papers and 55 effector:target cell ratio (E:T) data points were collected. Cytotoxicity in ME/CFS was significantly reduced to about half of healthy control levels, with an overall Hedges' g of 0.96 (0.75-1.18). Heterogeneity was high but was explained by the range of E:T ratios, different methods, and potential outliers. The outcomes confirm reproducible NK cell dysfunction in ME/CFS and will guide studies using the NK cell model system for pathomechanistic investigations.
Systematic Review Registration:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024542140.
