Narita, Masaaki, Nishigami, Naoko, Narita, Naoko et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2003 · DOI
This study looked at a specific gene that controls serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. Researchers compared the genetic versions of this gene in 78 ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. They found that ME/CFS patients were more likely to have a genetic variant that may reduce how much serotonin stays active in the brain, which could make people more vulnerable to developing ME/CFS.
Understanding genetic factors that may contribute to ME/CFS susceptibility could help identify at-risk individuals and lead to better screening or prevention strategies. This study adds biological evidence to support the hypothesis that dysregulation of stress and mood-regulating systems plays a role in ME/CFS pathophysiology.
This study shows an association between a genetic variant and ME/CFS but does not prove the variant causes the disease—many people with this genetic variant may never develop ME/CFS. The study does not demonstrate that this genetic difference actually produces the functional serotonin changes proposed, nor does it establish whether the genetic variant is a primary cause or a secondary effect of the illness.
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
Narita, Masaaki, Nishigami, Naoko, Narita, Naoko, Yamaguti, Kouzi, Okado, Nobuo, Watanabe, Yasuyoshi, et al. (2003). Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.207
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-narita-2003-association-between,
author = {Narita, Masaaki and Nishigami, Naoko and Narita, Naoko and Yamaguti, Kouzi and Okado, Nobuo and Watanabe, Yasuyoshi and Kuratsune, Hirohiko},
title = {Association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.207},
note = {PubMed: 14592408},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/narita-2003-association-between},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/narita-2003-association-between
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