The two patient groups (CFS and FM) had significantly lower circulating levels compared to healthy controls for the following nine cytokines: IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, IL-10 and IL-17A, and the two patient groups could not be distinguished from each other. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and myalgic encephalomeyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.