Seton, Katharine A, Defernez, Marianne, Telatin, Andrea et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2023 · DOI
This study explored whether ME/CFS might be caused by a leaky gut that allows bacteria to escape into the bloodstream, triggering an abnormal immune response. Researchers compared antibody levels and immune reactions to gut bacteria in severely ill ME/CFS patients and healthy household members. They found that ME/CFS patients showed reduced immune responses to their gut bacteria, which was unexpected and suggests the immune system may not be working properly in ME/CFS.
This study addresses a critical gap in understanding ME/CFS by investigating the intersection of immune dysfunction and gut microbiome abnormalities observed in patients. The findings suggest that immune-microbiome interactions may play a role in ME/CFS pathogenesis, potentially opening new avenues for diagnosis and treatment. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to targeted interventions addressing gastrointestinal and immune dysfunction.
This feasibility study does not prove that leaky gut causes ME/CFS, nor does it establish causation between intestinal permeability and disease development. The small sample size (five patient pairs) limits generalizability, and the findings are preliminary and require validation in larger populations. The reduced antibody response observed does not definitively explain ME/CFS pathogenesis and may reflect only one aspect of complex immune dysregulation.
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
Seton, Katharine A, Defernez, Marianne, Telatin, Andrea, Tiwari, Sumeet K, Savva, George M, Hayhoe, Antonietta, et al. (2023). Investigating Antibody Reactivity to the Intestinal Microbiome in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Feasibility Study.. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015316
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-seton-2023-investigating-antibody,
author = {Seton, Katharine A and Defernez, Marianne and Telatin, Andrea and Tiwari, Sumeet K and Savva, George M and Hayhoe, Antonietta and Noble, Alistair and de Carvalho-KoK, Ana L S and James, Steve A and Bansal, Amolak and Wileman, Thomas and Carding, Simon R},
title = {Investigating Antibody Reactivity to the Intestinal Microbiome in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Feasibility Study.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.3390/ijms242015316},
note = {PubMed: 37895005},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/seton-2023-investigating-antibody},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/seton-2023-investigating-antibody
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