Fig. 2

Multiple linear regression models in a subgroup of CFS patients (n = 29). a Previous established associations between blood monocyte count and plasma cortisol, and the expression in whole blood of the genes TNFRSF13C (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 13C) and CXCR5 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 5) (Nguyen et al. [13]). b The associations after introducing TGF-β3 as a mediating variable in the regression model. Significant associations are indicated with a continuous arrow, associations close to the level of significance are indicated with a dotted arrow. B-Mono blood monocyte count, P-Cortisol plasma cortisol, P-TGF plasma transforming growth factor