ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1061–1080 of 1,198 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Evidence for the presence of immune dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Natelson, Benjamin H, Haghighi, Mohammad H, Ponzio, Nicholas M·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2002

This review article examines whether people with ME/CFS have problems with their immune system. The researchers looked at evidence from multiple studies and found signs that the immune system may not be working normally in people with this condition. This helps explain why ME/CFS causes such severe fatigue and other symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Mediators of inflammation and their interaction with sleep: relevance for chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions.

Mullington, J M, Hinze-Selch, D, Pollmächer, T·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2001

This study explores how the body's immune system and sleep are connected, and how this connection might explain the severe fatigue in ME/CFS. Researchers found that when the immune system is activated, it releases chemical messengers called cytokines that can affect sleep quality and cause fatigue. The study suggests that abnormal levels of these immune chemicals in ME/CFS patients could be responsible for the debilitating tiredness that characterizes the condition.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

DHEA. Monograph.

Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic·2001

This article reviews DHEA, a hormone naturally produced by your body that decreases as you age. Research suggests that lower DHEA levels may be connected to several conditions, including ME/CFS, heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. DHEA acts as a 'buffer hormone' that can be converted into other important hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Dynamics of chronic active herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: data acquisition for computer modeling.

Krueger, G R, Koch, B, Hoffmann, A et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2001

This study followed 10 ME/CFS patients for two years to understand how a virus called HHV-6 might be involved in their illness. Researchers measured virus levels and immune cell counts in the patients' blood over time. They found that ME/CFS patients had slightly elevated virus levels and abnormal immune responses, different from what happens during acute HHV-6 infection.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Delayed-type hypersensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome: the usefulness of assessing T-cell activation by flow cytometry--preliminary study.

Brunet, J L, Liaudet, A P, Later, R et al.·Allergie et immunologie·2001

This small study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have exaggerated immune reactions to common substances like yeast (Candida). Researchers tested this by applying yeast extract under the skin and watching for delayed reactions, then measuring immune cell activity in blood samples. About half of the ME/CFS patients showed these exaggerated reactions, suggesting the immune system may be responding unusually to everyday germs.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Cytokine and other immunologic markers in chronic fatigue syndrome and their relation to neuropsychological factors.

Patarca-Montero, R, Antoni, M, Fletcher, M A et al.·Applied neuropsychology·2001

This study looked at immune system markers in ME/CFS patients and found that their immune cells show signs of being overactive, with abnormal patterns of immune signaling molecules called cytokines. The researchers propose that when stress and difficult emotions interact with this immune dysfunction, they can perpetuate the cycle of fatigue, cognitive problems, and other symptoms seen in ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome following a toxic exposure.

Racciatti, D, Vecchiet, J, Ceccomancini, A et al.·The Science of the total environment·2001

This study looked at five people who developed ME/CFS symptoms after being exposed to toxic substances—either through seafood poisoning or chemical fumes. Researchers compared them to people with ME/CFS that started after viral infections or depression to see if the cause mattered. They found that people whose ME/CFS followed toxic exposure had more significant problems with immune system function than the comparison groups.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Increased sensitivity to glucocorticoids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic fatigue syndrome patients, without evidence for altered density or affinity of glucocorticoid receptors.

Visser, J, Lentjes, E, Haspels, I et al.·Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research·2001

Researchers found that immune cells from ME/CFS patients react more strongly to a stress hormone called dexamethasone (a type of glucocorticoid) than cells from healthy people. However, the cells have the same number of receptors for this hormone and bind it with the same strength, suggesting the heightened sensitivity comes from something happening inside the cells after the hormone attaches, rather than from problems with the receptors themselves.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Cytokines and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Patarca, R·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2001

This study found that people with ME/CFS show signs of immune system activation (more active immune cells and elevated immune signaling molecules), yet paradoxically have weak immune function (poor natural killer cell activity and weak responses to infections). The immune system appears to be stuck in an imbalanced state, favoring certain types of inflammatory responses, which may relate to symptom cycles of improvement and worsening.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Detection of immunologically significant factors for chronic fatigue syndrome using neural-network classifiers.

Hanson, S J, Gause, W, Natelson, B·Clinical and diagnostic laboratory immunology·2001

Researchers used advanced computer analysis to find immune system differences in ME/CFS patients that traditional statistical methods had missed. They discovered that ME/CFS patients have lower levels of certain immune cells and higher levels of a chemical messenger called interleukin-4, suggesting their immune system may be stuck in a particular type of response pattern.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Anti-nuclear envelope antibodies: Clinical associations.

Nesher, G, Margalit, R, Ashkenazi, Y J·Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism·2001

This study looked at antibodies (immune proteins) that attack the nuclear envelope, the protective membrane around cell nuclei. Researchers found that different types of these antibodies are associated with different diseases, and preliminary findings suggest they may help diagnose ME/CFS. The study suggests that testing for these antibodies could help doctors identify certain autoimmune conditions.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite mechanism for the common etiology of multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Pall, M L, Satterlee, J D·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2001

This theory paper proposes that ME/CFS, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), and post-traumatic stress disorder may share a common cause: abnormally high levels of nitric oxide and related harmful molecules in the body. The authors suggest that feedback loops—where one problem triggers another, which makes the first worse—could explain why these conditions become chronic and persist over time.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not associated with expression of endogenous retroviral p15E.

Gelman, I H, Unger, E R, Mawle, A C et al.·Molecular diagnosis : a journal devoted to the understanding of human disease through the clinical application of molecular biology·2000

Researchers investigated whether a virus called endogenous retroviral p15E might be involved in causing ME/CFS. They tested blood samples from people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy controls. The study found no evidence that this viral protein was present in higher amounts in ME/CFS patients, suggesting it is not responsible for the disease.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Kuratsune, H·Ryoikibetsu shokogun shirizu·2000

This is a review article that summarizes what was known about chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) around the year 2000. Rather than conducting a new experiment, the author examined existing research to provide an overview of the condition. It helps explain what ME/CFS is and what scientists understood about it at that time.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not requiredEditorial

Altered glucocorticoid regulation of the immune response in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Visser, J T, De Kloet, E R, Nagelkerken, L·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2000

This study explores how stress hormones called glucocorticoids affect the immune system in ME/CFS patients. The researchers found evidence suggesting that in ME/CFS, these stress hormones may be shifting the immune system's balance in an unhelpful way—boosting certain types of immune responses while weakening others. This could help explain why ME/CFS patients experience ongoing immune system problems.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The sympathetic nerve--an integrative interface between two supersystems: the brain and the immune system.

Elenkov, I J, Wilder, R L, Chrousos, G P et al.·Pharmacological reviews·2000

Your brain and immune system communicate constantly to keep your body healthy, and your nervous system plays a key role in this conversation. This review explains how nerve signals release chemicals called norepinephrine and epinephrine that can either calm down or activate your immune system depending on where in your body they act. Understanding this communication system may help explain why chronic conditions like fatigue syndromes involve both nervous system and immune system problems.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia as a variation of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: an explanatory model and approach to laboratory diagnosis.

Berg, D, Berg, L H, Couvaras, J et al.·Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis : an international journal in haemostasis and thrombosis·1999

This study proposes that ME/CFS and fibromyalgia may be caused by low-level blood clotting activation triggered by certain antibodies in the immune system. Researchers used five specific blood tests to detect signs of abnormal clotting in patients with these conditions. If confirmed, this finding could help doctors diagnose these diseases and monitor treatment with blood-thinning medications.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Acute phase responses and cytokine secretion in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cannon, J G, Angel, J B, Ball, R W et al.·Journal of clinical immunology·1999

This study tested whether people with ME/CFS have abnormal levels of immune signaling molecules called cytokines, which could explain their symptoms. Researchers compared 10 ME/CFS patients with 11 healthy controls at rest and after 15 minutes of stepping exercise, measuring immune markers in their blood. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher baseline levels of certain inflammatory markers, but exercise responses were similar between groups.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) response to i.v. ACTH in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

De Becker, P, De Meirleir, K, Joos, E et al.·Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme·1999

This study tested how the adrenal glands respond to a hormone signal in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Researchers gave a hormone called ACTH to 22 ME/CFS patients and 14 healthy controls, then measured DHEA levels over an hour. While starting DHEA levels were normal, ME/CFS patients showed a weaker increase in DHEA after the hormone injection compared to healthy controls.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredCase-Control

Interferon-induced proteins are elevated in blood samples of patients with chemically or virally induced chronic fatigue syndrome.

Vojdani, A, Lapp, C W·Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology·1999

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.

BiomarkersImmune System

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Evidence browser

Evidence for the presence of immune dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mediators of inflammation and their interaction with sleep: relevance for chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions.

DHEA. Monograph.

Dynamics of chronic active herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: data acquisition for computer modeling.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome: the usefulness of assessing T-cell activation by flow cytometry--preliminary study.

Cytokine and other immunologic markers in chronic fatigue syndrome and their relation to neuropsychological factors.

Chronic fatigue syndrome following a toxic exposure.

Increased sensitivity to glucocorticoids in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic fatigue syndrome patients, without evidence for altered density or affinity of glucocorticoid receptors.

Cytokines and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Detection of immunologically significant factors for chronic fatigue syndrome using neural-network classifiers.

Anti-nuclear envelope antibodies: Clinical associations.

Elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite mechanism for the common etiology of multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is not associated with expression of endogenous retroviral p15E.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome].

Altered glucocorticoid regulation of the immune response in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

The sympathetic nerve--an integrative interface between two supersystems: the brain and the immune system.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia as a variation of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: an explanatory model and approach to laboratory diagnosis.

Acute phase responses and cytokine secretion in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) response to i.v. ACTH in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Interferon-induced proteins are elevated in blood samples of patients with chemically or virally induced chronic fatigue syndrome.

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