Brenu, Ekua W, Broadley, Simon, Nguyen, Thao et al. · Journal of immunology research · 2016 · DOI
This study looked at specific immune cells called CD8+ T cells in people with ME/CFS and compared them to people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had lower levels of certain proteins on their CD8+ T cells that help these immune cells function properly. These findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve problems with how immune cells are working, similar to but different from what happens in multiple sclerosis.
Understanding differences in CD8+ T cell function between ME/CFS and other conditions like MS may help explain the unique pathophysiology of ME/CFS and could eventually guide development of targeted immune therapies. This study provides early evidence that ME/CFS involves measurable immune dysfunction, supporting the biological basis of the condition and potentially helping to differentiate it from other diseases.
This small preliminary study does not prove that CD8+ T cell abnormalities cause ME/CFS, only that they are associated with it. It cannot explain why these immune changes occur or what role they play in ME/CFS symptoms. The findings require confirmation in larger, well-powered studies before clinical significance can be established.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Brenu, Ekua W, Broadley, Simon, Nguyen, Thao, Johnston, Samantha, Ramos, Sandra, Staines, Don, et al. (2016). A Preliminary Comparative Assessment of the Role of CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.. Journal of immunology research. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9064529
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-brenu-2016-preliminary-comparative,
author = {Brenu, Ekua W and Broadley, Simon and Nguyen, Thao and Johnston, Samantha and Ramos, Sandra and Staines, Don and Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya},
title = {A Preliminary Comparative Assessment of the Role of CD8+ T Cells in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.},
journal = {Journal of immunology research},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1155/2016/9064529},
note = {PubMed: 26881265},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/brenu-2016-preliminary-comparative},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/brenu-2016-preliminary-comparative
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