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The Impact of Gulf War Illness on Cellular Metabolism and Immune Response
Location: 37
Mentor: Dr. Medhi Wangpaichitr
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disorder affecting veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. This illness is characterized by persistent symptoms of fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, musculoskeletal pain, and respiratory issues. Recent evidence suggests that GWI could contribute to immune dysfunction.
Our study integrates findings on immune cell alterations and natural killer (NK) cell activity to elucidate the immune dysregulation underlying GWI. Evaluation of NK function in GWI veterans indicates reduced and increased NK cell activity in comparison to healthy controls. These results show possible impaired or overextended innate immune surveillance. Decreased CD3-CD56+ NK cell percentages further suggest immune exhaustion. Given NK cells' role in clearing infected or damaged cells, their dysfunction may contribute to the persistence of immune activation and systemic inflammation in GWI.
Our study also determined the amino acid function of GWI veterans with high NK function and low NK functions. Through the analysis of plasma of these GWI veterans, there was significant difference in some of the proteins. Then, placed in comparison of healthy civilians, it can be seen if these discrepancies are significant enough to determine causation of immune function.
These findings support an immune dysfunction model of GWI, where persistent inflammation and immune cell dysfunction perpetuate symptomatology. Targeting these inflammatory pathways and restoring proper NK cell function may offer novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate disease burden in affected veterans. Further research is warranted to explore these personalized immunotherapeutic interventions and more specific impacts of the reduced or increased NK cell function.
