Gupta, S, Aggarwal, S, See, D et al. · Journal of psychiatric research · 1997 · DOI
Researchers tested immune cells from people with ME/CFS to measure inflammation-related proteins called cytokines. They found that certain immune cells from ME/CFS patients produced higher levels of inflammatory proteins (TNF-alpha and IL-6) without any stimulation, but produced lower levels of a protective protein (IL-10) compared to healthy people. These imbalances might explain some of the symptoms people with ME/CFS experience.
Cytokine dysregulation has been proposed as a mechanism underlying ME/CFS symptoms including fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction. Identifying specific patterns of immune activation may eventually lead to biomarkers for diagnosis or therapeutic targets, though this early work requires replication and expansion.
This study does not prove that cytokine imbalance causes ME/CFS symptoms—it shows an association only. It cannot determine whether the altered cytokine profile is a primary cause, a secondary consequence of other pathological processes, or influenced by other factors like infections or stress. The small sample size and preliminary nature mean findings require validation in larger, well-controlled studies.
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
Gupta, S, Aggarwal, S, See, D, & Starr, A (1997). Cytokine production by adherent and non-adherent mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome.. Journal of psychiatric research. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3956(96)00063-5
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-gupta-1997-cytokine-production,
author = {Gupta, S and Aggarwal, S and See, D and Starr, A},
title = {Cytokine production by adherent and non-adherent mononuclear cells in chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of psychiatric research},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1016/s0022-3956(96)00063-5},
note = {PubMed: 9201656},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/gupta-1997-cytokine-production},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/gupta-1997-cytokine-production
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