Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong, Alsøe, Lene, Lindvall, Jessica M et al. · Journal of translational medicine · 2017 · DOI
This study looked at blood samples from 29 teenagers with ME/CFS and compared them to 18 healthy teens to see if their genes were working differently. The researchers found that certain immune cells involved in fighting infection were not developing or surviving normally in the ME/CFS group, and that signs of inflammation and antiviral activity were higher. These gene changes were connected to nervous system problems and symptoms like post-exertional malaise (feeling much worse after activity).
This study provides molecular evidence that ME/CFS involves measurable immune and neuroendocrine dysfunction in adolescents, supporting the biological basis of the condition. The association between gene expression patterns and post-exertional malaise—a hallmark symptom—offers potential biomarkers for diagnosis and objective measures to track disease mechanisms.
This study does not prove that altered gene expression causes ME/CFS, only that differences exist between groups. The small sample size and cross-sectional design cannot establish whether these expression changes are primary drivers of disease or secondary consequences. Additionally, findings in adolescents may not generalize to adult ME/CFS populations.
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
Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong, Alsøe, Lene, Lindvall, Jessica M, Sulheim, Dag, Fagermoen, Even, Winger, Anette, et al. (2017). Whole blood gene expression in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory cross-sectional study suggesting altered B cell differentiation and survival.. Journal of translational medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-017-1201-0
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-nguyen-2017-whole-blood,
author = {Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong and Alsøe, Lene and Lindvall, Jessica M and Sulheim, Dag and Fagermoen, Even and Winger, Anette and Kaarbø, Mari and Nilsen, Hilde and Wyller, Vegard Bruun},
title = {Whole blood gene expression in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: an exploratory cross-sectional study suggesting altered B cell differentiation and survival.},
journal = {Journal of translational medicine},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1186/s12967-017-1201-0},
note = {PubMed: 28494812},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nguyen-2017-whole-blood},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/nguyen-2017-whole-blood
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