Lysozyme

Lysozyme or muramidase is a protein and enzyme present in tears, saliva and other bodily fluids.

Lysozyme is found in certain types of white blood cells (neutrophils and macrophages.

Function
Lysozyme helps block or restrict the growth of bacteria by damaging their cell walls.

ME/CFS
Maes et al. (2012) found that levels of lysozyme and neopterin were significantly higher in patients with ME/CFS compared to patients with chronic fatigue and healthy controls.

Notable studies

 * 2012, Evidence for inflammation and activation of cell-mediated immunity in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): increased interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, PMN-elastase, lysozyme and neopterin. - (Abstract)
 * 2021, The Reification of the Clinical Diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) as an Immune and Oxidative Stress Disorder: Construction of a Data-Driven Nomothethic Network and Exposure of ME/CFS Subgroups - (Full text)

Learn more

 * Lysozyme - Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics (2013)