Katsu, Yoshinao, Zhang, Jiawen, Ao, Ya et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2026 · DOI
This study examined how a common genetic variation in the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)—a protein that helps the body respond to stress hormones—works differently than the standard version. Researchers tested whether existing medications (spironolactone and progesterone) could block this variant receptor in brain cells. The findings suggest these medications might help regulate overactive stress responses that could contribute to chronic fatigue symptoms.
Since ME/CFS involves dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and abnormal stress hormone responses, understanding how genetic variants affect stress hormone receptors in the brain could illuminate disease mechanisms. Identifying effective antagonists for this MR variant may offer a therapeutic avenue for managing hyperactivity and stress-related symptoms in ME/CFS patients.
This study does not establish that the MR rs5522 variant actually causes ME/CFS or contributes to disease in patients—it is an in vitro mechanistic study in cell culture, not human clinical research. The authors' suggestion about treating 'hyperactivity that contributes to chronic fatigue syndrome' is speculative and not directly supported by patient data in this study. Demonstrating that antagonists can block the receptor in cells does not prove they would be effective, safe, or beneficial in living ME/CFS patients.
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
Katsu, Yoshinao, Zhang, Jiawen, Ao, Ya, Donnellan, Patricia, & Baker, Michael E (2026). Comparison of transcriptional activation by corticosteroids of human MR (Ile-180) and haplotype (Val-180).. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2026.153689
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-katsu-2026-comparison-transcriptional,
author = {Katsu, Yoshinao and Zhang, Jiawen and Ao, Ya and Donnellan, Patricia and Baker, Michael E},
title = {Comparison of transcriptional activation by corticosteroids of human MR (Ile-180) and haplotype (Val-180).},
journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2026.153689},
note = {PubMed: 41932113},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/katsu-2026-comparison-transcriptional},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/katsu-2026-comparison-transcriptional
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