A new theory based on interactions between the immune system and the brain may provide an explanation for the symptoms experienced by veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.   According to the theory special brain cells called 'microglia', which are actually a form of macrophage (white blood cell) and part of the body's first line immune defense, become sensitised and persistently release chemicals which affects the firing of neurons in the brain, causing chronic pain and other symptoms.

Following an announcement on February 26th made by the Veterans Affairs Department in the US, scientists from across the country were invited to Washington D.C. by the Federal Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses to present research related to the symptoms and illnesses suffered by veterans, collectively known as Gulf War Syndrome.

It was at this meeting that Dr. Linda Watkins of the University of Colorado reported on her work demonstrating that microglia play a key role in chronic pain and drug addiction. Conventional wisdom is that it it is only the nerve cells (neurons) themselves that cause chronic pain and tolerance to powerful painkilling drugs such as morphine. Dr Watkins explained that the new understanding of how microglia (essentially the same as macrophages found in the bloodstream but fixed in place in the brain) aggravate neurons after an injury by releasing substances that produce excruciating pain, led to the observation that the process may help to explain Gulf War Syndrome.

Gulf War syndrome has much in common with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FMS) and is characterised by a constellation of unexplained symptoms, many neurological, including chronic pain, chronic fatigue, depression, sleep disturbances, poor memory and concentration, chemical sensitivities, as well as digestive disorders and lung problems. A combination of factors are thought to contribute to its development including multiple vaccinations given to soliders prior to deployment (many containing potentially toxic adjuvants such as squalene), psychological stress, and particularly exposure to low-level neurotoxins including sarin gas, drugs such pyridostigmine bromide (PB) given to soldiers to protect them from chemical warfare agents, pesticides used to treat tents, uniforms and vehicles, insect repellents (e.g. DEET), fumes from oil fields set ablaze by retreating Iraqi soldiers, and depleted uranium (DU) used in armour-piercing munitions by the allied forces. 

Unlike normal pain, chronic pain does not subside after an injury has healed. The latest research based on the principles of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of the connections between the mind, brain and immune system) shows that chronic pain results from ongoing pathological interactions between the brain and immune system. When we are ill the immune system releases chemicals called 'cytokines' which tell the brain to trigger the 'sickness response', that familiar feeling everyone experiences when coming down with the flu, for example. This response forces us to rest and allow the body to use all available energy to fight the infection. Symptoms associated with the sickness response include painful joints and muscles, profound fatigue, headache, and sensitivity to light and sound - all very similar to the symptoms suffered chronically by veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.

Based on her research on microglia in chronic pain that she presented to the Federal Advisory Committee, Dr. Watkins believes an initial exposure to some stressor such as the numerous chemical toxins present in the Gulf �primes� the microglia in the brain to make them hyper sensitive. Then when a second toxin, infection, injury, or highly stressful situation is experienced, the brain's immune cells over-react, triggering excessive secretion of the cytokines cause the sickness response. In Gulf War Syndrome, and perhaps chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and other unexplained chronic illnesses, it seems the sickness response is not switched off once the body has healed thus leading to chronic symptoms.

In the case of Gulf War veterans, the initial trigger could have been a reaction to vaccines, psychological stress, or exposure to low-level neurotoxins. A second insult could have then been experienced during the war or once the soldiers were back home. Research from various labs on microglia in chronic pain has identified numerous stages in this neuro-immune signaling process that become disrupted. Several drugs have been found to effectively reverse the process in animals and human trials are now getting underway.

It may be that there is also a role for alternative mind-body therapies such as meditation, breathing techniques, acupuncture, and reflexology in aiding healing from Gulf War Syndrome since evidence suggests they also influence interactions between the immune system and brain.

Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Comments (3)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

...
written by Alvin Pritchard, March 08, 2010

It seems to me that there is a new theory emerging every other month on this subject!
Look, its been 20 years now since the 1st Gulf War, and all we have had from the Governments of Great Britain and the United States are..... Automatic daniels, Long winded promises and plenty lots of Political bull!
Suffice to say that this subject stinks to high heaven of a international "cover up" at the very highest level.
Many third party organisations have and still are jumping on the bandwagon of "GULF WAR SYNDROME" with a soul purpose of generating finance for themselves and their companies.
The sad fact is that Government on both sides of the Atlantic have NO intention whatsoever in "making good" to victimsveterans of G.W.S.
With hindsight, it was like if this giant "experiment" was all planed out, even before Saddam invaded Kuwait!!
If in 20 years you have not figured this out by now then you never will!

• 
• +5
• 
• 

...
written by Spinneyhorse, March 31, 2010

http://www.es-uk.info/forums/t...readID=119

Soldiers being forced to have injections, immune system taking a hit, then going into the field with high powered radios and radar equipment.
And now microwave weapons ummm! Let us think about this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War_syndrome

http://www.viewzone.com/microwave.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/v-mads.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Denial_System
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x58qnm_army-demo-microwave-weapons_news
http://www.klimaforschung.net/Dr._Reinhard_Munzert/index.htm
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327185.600-microwave-weapon-will-rain-pain-from-the-sky.html

http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/environmental-illnesses/gulf-war-syndrome/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UpLuXFXJCc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syOWcnhlNXM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-482560/Run-away-ray-gun-coming--We-test-US-armys-new-secret-weapon.html

The US Navy reportedly used a new class of highly secret, non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse warheads during the opening hours of the Persian Gulf War to disrupt and destroy Iraqi electronics systems. The warheads converted the energy of a conventional explosion into a pulse of radio energy. The effect of the microwave attacks on Iraqi air defense and headquarters was difficult to determine because the effects of the HPM blasts were obscured by continuous jamming, the use of stealthy F-117 aircraft, and the destruction of Iraq's electrical grid. The warheads used during the Gulf War were experimental warheads, not standard weapons deployed with fielded forces.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/hpm.htm

http://www.ei-resource.org/news/gulf-war-syndrome-news/immune-cells-of-the-brain-linked-to-gulf-war-syndrome-symptoms/

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by sparky, June 17, 2010

I think the microgalia theory above is not really a theory in its own right, but just another piece in the puzzle.

As to whether I trust our governments explanations, will if they still cant give us a good account of Dr David kelly then they will never give us a cogent explanation for the gulf wars.

I just hope scientists will have enough freedom to publish their findings, as some findings may be too uncomfortable for our governments to square.

Perhaps the public should start fundraising to fund middle eastern scientists to investigate the effects of depleted uranium.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment