Vojdani, A, Lapp, C W · Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology · 1999 · DOI
This study found that certain immune proteins called 2-5A and PKR are elevated in the blood of ME/CFS patients, whether their illness was triggered by a viral infection or chemical exposure. The researchers discovered that these two triggers activate these proteins through different biological pathways—viruses primarily use an immune signaling molecule called interferon-beta, while chemicals activate them mainly through heat shock proteins.
This research suggests that elevated interferon-induced proteins may serve as objective biomarkers for ME/CFS, potentially helping clinicians distinguish between viral and non-viral triggers. Understanding the different biological pathways activated by viruses versus chemicals could guide development of trigger-specific treatments.
This study does not establish causation—only that these proteins are elevated in both viral and chemically-exposed ME/CFS patients. The small sample size (20 per group) and cross-sectional design limit generalizability, and the study does not prove these proteins cause fatigue or other CFS symptoms. The chemical exposure group's viral status was negative, but this does not exclude other possible triggers for their ME/CFS.
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
Vojdani, A & Lapp, C W (1999). Interferon-induced proteins are elevated in blood samples of patients with chemically or virally induced chronic fatigue syndrome.. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.3109/08923979909052757
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-vojdani-1999-interferon-induced,
author = {Vojdani, A and Lapp, C W},
title = {Interferon-induced proteins are elevated in blood samples of patients with chemically or virally induced chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.3109/08923979909052757},
note = {PubMed: 10319275},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vojdani-1999-interferon-induced},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/vojdani-1999-interferon-induced
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