Konstantinov, K, von Mikecz, A, Buchwald, D et al. · The Journal of clinical investigation · 1996 · DOI
Researchers found that about half of ME/CFS patients had antibodies (immune proteins) in their blood that attack a protein called lamin B1 found in the nucleus of cells. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve the immune system mistakenly attacking the body's own cells. This discovery provides evidence that autoimmunity—when the body's defense system malfunctions—may play a role in ME/CFS.
This study offers objective laboratory evidence that autoimmunity may be involved in ME/CFS pathophysiology, supporting the biological basis of the disease and potentially opening avenues for autoimmune-targeted diagnostics or therapies. Identifying specific autoantibodies could eventually help distinguish ME/CFS from other fatigue-related conditions and stratify patients for targeted treatment approaches.
This study does not prove that lamin B1 autoantibodies cause ME/CFS—it demonstrates only an association. It does not establish whether these autoantibodies are a cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon of disease. The study also does not address whether these autoantibodies are present in other illnesses or healthy individuals, limiting conclusions about disease specificity.
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
Konstantinov, K, von Mikecz, A, Buchwald, D, Jones, J, Gerace, L, & Tan, E M (1996). Autoantibodies to nuclear envelope antigens in chronic fatigue syndrome.. The Journal of clinical investigation. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI118990
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-konstantinov-1996-autoantibodies-nuclear,
author = {Konstantinov, K and von Mikecz, A and Buchwald, D and Jones, J and Gerace, L and Tan, E M},
title = {Autoantibodies to nuclear envelope antigens in chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {The Journal of clinical investigation},
year = {1996},
doi = {10.1172/JCI118990},
note = {PubMed: 8878441},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/konstantinov-1996-autoantibodies-nuclear},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/konstantinov-1996-autoantibodies-nuclear
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