Tanaka, Susumu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Hidaka, Yoh et al. · International journal of molecular medicine · 2003
This study found that about half of ME/CFS patients have unusual antibodies (immune proteins) that target a specific brain receptor involved in muscle control and nervous system function. Patients with these antibodies reported more muscle weakness and cognitive problems than those without them. This suggests that in some ME/CFS patients, the immune system may be mistakenly attacking the body's own nerve receptors.
This research provides evidence that autoimmune mechanisms may underlie ME/CFS symptoms in a subset of patients, potentially explaining the neurological and muscular manifestations of the disease. Identifying patients with anti-CHRM1 antibodies could eventually lead to biomarker-based diagnosis and targeted treatments for this autoimmune subgroup.
This study does not prove that anti-CHRM1 antibodies cause ME/CFS symptoms; it only shows association. The cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal relationships or whether antibodies precede symptom onset. It also does not determine whether these antibodies are pathogenic, secondary markers, or incidental findings.
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
Tanaka, Susumu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Hidaka, Yoh, Hakariya, Yukiko, Tatsumi, Ke-Ita, Takano, Toru, et al. (2003). Autoantibodies against muscarinic cholinergic receptor in chronic fatigue syndrome.. International journal of molecular medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12851722/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-tanaka-2003-autoantibodies-against,
author = {Tanaka, Susumu and Kuratsune, Hirohiko and Hidaka, Yoh and Hakariya, Yukiko and Tatsumi, Ke-Ita and Takano, Toru and Kanakura, Yuzuru and Amino, Nobuyuki},
title = {Autoantibodies against muscarinic cholinergic receptor in chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {International journal of molecular medicine},
year = {2003},
note = {PubMed: 12851722},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/tanaka-2003-autoantibodies-against},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/tanaka-2003-autoantibodies-against
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.