This month, a DNA analysis service did two things that may be important for CFS patients:

• They increased the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms  (SNP) detected to almost one million. SNP are the name for DNA changes that can be associated with diseases…
• They drop the cost to $99.00
• The lab that actually does it is LabCorp which is a standard certified medical lab.

The firm is 23AndMe.com A few years ago, they offered only 100,000 SNPs for $999. This is an effective 99% decrease in the price per SNP. These SNP are important if you are into genealogy because they indicate heritage. They are also important for health. The SNP indicate increased (or decreased) risk of certain diseases. For a list of what is covered see this page.

CFS and You

The SNP above is about 10% of your DNA, so it is not all of your DNA. Early in this onset of CFS, my DNA was tested by a MD for methylation issues. If you check PubMed, you will find about ten articles with interesting results.

• Convergent genomic studies identify association of GRIK2 and NPAS2 with chronic fatigue syndrome. 2011 “Sixty-five SNPs were nominally associated with CFS”
  
• Meta analysis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome through integration of clinical, gene expression, SNP and proteomic data. 2011 ” the gene WASF3 (aka WAVE3) possibly regulates brain cytokines involved in the mechanism of fatigue through the p38 MAPK regulatory pathway.”
• Serotonin receptor (5-HT 2A) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphisms: triggers of fibromyalgia? 2010 ” study of the rs4680 SNP of the COMT gene may be helpful to the identification of susceptible individuals.”
• Polymorphisms of adrenergic cardiovascular control genes are associated with adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome. 2011
• A functional polymorphism in the disrupted-in schizophrenia 1 gene is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. 2010
• Integrated weighted gene co-expression network analysis with an application to chronic fatigue syndrome. 2008
• Combinations of single nucleotide polymorphisms in neuroendocrine effector and receptor genes predict chronic fatigue syndrome. 2006
• Pathogenesis of parvovirus B19 infection: host gene variability, and possible means and effects of virus persistence. 2005

The SNP will not dictate if you have a condition, just if you are more likely or less likely, for example for Sjögren’s Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease (if you have IBS, this may be important).

When I get my results back, I will track down the SNP cited (and there will likely be new articles soon — there are more and more research in this area), and post a summary of how to use the 23andMe results with CFS and FM markers…