Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Huth, Teilah, Chacko, Anu et al. · The application of clinical genetics · 2016 · DOI
This study looked at immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy controls. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had weaker natural killer cell function and carried genetic variations in genes related to calcium regulation and nerve signal transmission. These genetic differences were not found in the healthy control group, suggesting they may play a role in ME/CFS.
This research provides genetic evidence suggesting ME/CFS may involve dysregulation of calcium signaling and neuromuscular transmission, potentially explaining the immune dysfunction observed in many patients. Identifying specific genetic variants associated with reduced NK cell function could eventually lead to diagnostic biomarkers or targeted therapeutic interventions for ME/CFS.
This study does not prove that these genetic variants cause ME/CFS—it only shows an association in this particular group. The findings do not establish whether these genetic differences are a cause, consequence, or coincidental feature of ME/CFS. Functional studies would be needed to determine whether these variants actually impair NK cell activity or if other mechanisms are responsible.
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
Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya, Huth, Teilah, Chacko, Anu, Johnston, Samantha, Smith, Pete, & Staines, Donald (2016). Natural killer cells and single nucleotide polymorphisms of specific ion channels and receptor genes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.. The application of clinical genetics. https://doi.org/10.2147/TACG.S99405
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-marshall-gradisnik-2016-natural-killer,
author = {Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya and Huth, Teilah and Chacko, Anu and Johnston, Samantha and Smith, Pete and Staines, Donald},
title = {Natural killer cells and single nucleotide polymorphisms of specific ion channels and receptor genes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {The application of clinical genetics},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.2147/TACG.S99405},
note = {PubMed: 27099524},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/marshall-gradisnik-2016-natural-killer},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/marshall-gradisnik-2016-natural-killer
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