ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

601–620 of 1,186 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Cell-mediated immunity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome.

Murdoch, J C·The New Zealand medical journal·1988

This study tested immune system function in 33 ME/CFS patients compared to 33 healthy people of similar age and sex. Researchers used a skin test device called the multitest CMI to measure how well the immune system responded. They found that ME/CFS patients had weaker immune responses than healthy controls, suggesting their T-cells (a key type of immune cell) may not be working normally.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Proteomic signatures in cerebrospinal fluid and their clinical associations in patients with ME/CFS.

Bragée, Björn, Li, Peng, Meadows, Danielle et al.·Scientific reports·2026

Researchers analyzed fluid from the spinal cords of 31 ME/CFS patients to study 902 different proteins and understand what might be happening in their bodies. They found that patients with certain heart-related symptoms (POTS) had different protein patterns, and those with more severe ME/CFS had changes in immune system and blood clotting proteins. These protein patterns suggest several biological processes may be involved in ME/CFS, providing clues for future research.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Genetic depletion of the early autophagy protein ATG13 impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism, augments oxidative stress, induces the polarization of macrophages to the M1 inflammatory mode, and compromises myelin integrity in skeletal muscle.

Toriola, Mubaraq A, Timlin, Emma, Bulbule, Sarojini et al.·Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]·2026

Researchers studied mice genetically modified to lack a protein called ATG13, which normally helps cells break down and recycle damaged parts. In these mice, immune cells called macrophages showed signs of inflammation, mitochondria (the energy factories in cells) worked poorly, and muscle weakness appeared after exercise—features reported in ME/CFS patients. The study is preliminary and conducted in animals, so whether these findings apply to human ME/CFS remains unclear.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Immunoglobulin G complexes from post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS disrupt cellular energetics and alter inflammatory marker secretion.

Liu, Zheng, Hollmann, Claudia, Kalanidhi, Sharada et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2026

This study found that antibodies (immune proteins) from ME/CFS patients can damage the mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of cells—and change how cells function. Researchers isolated antibodies from ME/CFS patients and added them to healthy cells in the lab, discovering that these antibodies caused changes in cell energy production and inflammation. This suggests that abnormal antibodies may be part of what makes ME/CFS patients feel exhausted and unwell.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Single-cell analysis reveals immune remodeling of monocytes, NK cells, T cell exhaustion, and Galectin-9-associated depletion of gamma delta and mucosal-associated invariant T cells in Long COVID with ME/CFS.

Shahbaz, Shima, Bozorgmehr, Najmeh, Rahmati, Amirhossein et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2026

Researchers analyzed immune cells from Long COVID patients with ME/CFS symptoms one year after COVID-19 infection and compared them to people who recovered normally. They found that Long COVID patients have significant problems with multiple immune cell types: fewer protective T cells, exhausted immune cells, and excessive inflammation markers. Interestingly, Long COVID patients showed different immune changes compared to people with ME/CFS from other causes, suggesting Long COVID may damage the immune system in a distinct way.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID as Neuroimmune Disorders.

Blitshteyn, Svetlana, Doherty, Taylor A, Steinman, Lawrence·ImmunoTargets and therapy·2026

This editorial argues that three related conditions—POTS, ME/CFS, and Long COVID—should be understood and studied together as disorders affecting both the nervous system and immune system. The authors identify several common problems in these conditions, including heart rate abnormalities when standing, immune system dysfunction, and reduced blood flow to the brain. They believe treating these as a single category of disease could improve how doctors train, research, and care for patients with these serious illnesses.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Fehrer, Annick, Windzio, Lara, Schoening, Simon et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2026

Nearly 4,000 ME/CFS researchers and experts gathered at an international conference in May 2025 to share the latest discoveries about this serious illness. They discussed how ME/CFS develops, better ways to diagnose it, and new treatments being tested. The conference highlighted that while COVID-19 has brought more attention and funding to ME/CFS research, the disease is still not well understood and needs much more study.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Immunomodulatory and locomotor regulations via Diosgenin treatment in lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ depressive despair symptom: an in vivo assessment.

Shirole, Rahul Lotan, Khalane, Mohan Rajendra, Nage, Vijayeta Pralhad et al.·Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology·2026

Researchers gave mice a substance called diosgenin (found in fenugreek) to see if it might help with fatigue-like symptoms caused by a bacterial toxin. The treated mice showed improvements in movement and behavioral measures, and their brain markers of inflammation appeared reduced. However, this is an early-stage animal study, and it remains unclear whether these findings will translate to humans with ME/CFS.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Exploring a genetic basis for the metabolic perturbations in ME/CFS using UK biobank.

Huang, Katherine, Muneeb, Muhammad, Thomas, Natalie et al.·iScience·2026

Researchers examined blood samples from nearly 900 ME/CFS patients to understand how genes influence metabolism in this condition. They found that people with ME/CFS have different genetic patterns affecting fat and lipid metabolism compared to healthy people, particularly involving genes related to immune function. These genetic differences may help explain why ME/CFS affects different people in different ways.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Virus-induced endothelial senescence as a cause and driving factor for ME/CFS and long COVID: mediated by a dysfunctional immune system.

Nunes, Massimo, Kell, Loren, Slaghekke, Anouk et al.·Cell death & disease·2026

This study proposes that ME/CFS and long COVID may be caused by damage to the blood vessels (endothelial cells) that occurs after a viral infection. When these cells become damaged and 'senescent' (aged), they release harmful substances that cause inflammation, blood clots, and reduced blood flow to the brain and other organs. The study suggests that a faulty immune system keeps these damaged blood vessels from healing, which is why symptoms persist for months or years after the initial infection.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Genetic Insights into Circulating Complement Proteins in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Potential Inflammatory Subgroup.

Maya, Jessica, Unger, Elizabeth R, Lin, Jin-Mann S et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2026

This study examined whether genes influence how the immune system's complement proteins work in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that some ME/CFS patients carry specific genetic variations linked to problems with a particular immune pathway (the alternative complement pathway), creating a subgroup with distinctive immune patterns. This suggests that genetics may explain why ME/CFS affects people differently and could eventually help doctors identify which patients might benefit from specific treatments.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A new anchor point for gut microbiome to regulate complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: oxidative stress.

Bai, Wenxuan, Jiang, Tiebin, Tang, Lanlan et al.·Experimental hematology·2025

This review examines how bone marrow stem cell transplants can cause complications through a process called oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules). The authors explain how gut bacteria and their chemical byproducts may help protect the body by reducing this oxidative stress, potentially preventing or lessening serious complications like infections, fatigue, and organ damage that can occur after transplantation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Mechanistic Insights Into Long Covid: Viral Persistence, Immune Dysregulation, and Multi-Organ Dysfunction.

Gupta, Gautam, Buonsenso, Danilo, Wood, John et al.·Comprehensive Physiology·2025

This review examines how Long Covid causes persistent symptoms affecting multiple body systems. The research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 virus may hide in body tissues, trigger ongoing immune problems, and damage how cells produce energy, which could explain fatigue and post-exertion crashes. These mechanisms appear similar to ME/CFS, suggesting the two conditions may share common biological pathways.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional MalaiseNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Gulf War Illness Induced Sex-Specific Transcriptional Differences Under Stressful Conditions.

Frank, Joshua, Tehrani, Lily, Gamer, Jackson et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Researchers studied how the immune system responds to physical stress in Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI), a condition similar to ME/CFS with fatigue, brain fog, and exhaustion. They found that men and women with GWI have different patterns of immune system activation during and after exercise, suggesting their bodies handle stress differently. These differences could help doctors develop better tests and treatments tailored to each person's sex.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mucosal Viruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle?

Perera, Krishani Dinali, Cameron, Paige, Sarwar, Tayyibah et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Many people with ME/CFS report that their illness started after a viral infection, but scientists haven't found clear evidence of viruses in their blood. This review suggests researchers have been looking in the wrong places—focusing on blood instead of mucosal tissues (like the throat and gut lining) where viruses naturally enter the body and may hide. The authors propose that viruses could be persisting in these mucosal sites and occasionally reactivating, potentially triggering the ongoing inflammation and symptoms that characterize ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Post-COVID-19 Vaccination (or Long Vax) Syndrome: Putative Manifestation, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutic Options.

Yong, Shin Jie, Kenny, Tiff-Annie, Halim, Alice et al.·Reviews in medical virology·2025

This review describes a condition called post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome (PCVS), where some people develop long-lasting symptoms similar to long COVID after receiving a vaccine. Symptoms typically start within days to weeks after vaccination and can last for months or years, including fatigue, brain fog, and nerve tingling. The study examines what might cause PCVS and discusses possible treatments, though researchers emphasize that much remains unknown about this condition.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Shankar, Vishnu, Wilhelmy, Julie, Curtis, Ellis J et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Researchers found that both ME/CFS and Long COVID patients have higher levels of oxidative stress—a harmful buildup of unstable molecules—in their immune cells, particularly in a type of white blood cell called memory T cells. The study identified specific problems with how the body clears this oxidative stress and showed that the existing medication metformin might help reduce overgrowth of these immune cells. Importantly, they discovered these problems show different patterns in men and women, suggesting that sex-specific treatment approaches may be needed.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredCase-Control

Large-scale investigation confirms TRPM3 ion channel dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Sasso, Etianne Martini, Er, Teagan S, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Frontiers in medicine·2025

This study examined a specific ion channel called TRPM3 in immune cells from people with ME/CFS compared to healthy individuals. Researchers at two different laboratories found that TRPM3 channels work differently in ME/CFS patients—they're less active than in healthy people. Because both labs got the same results independently, this suggests TRPM3 dysfunction could be a reliable biological marker for ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Cytokine profiles associated with persisting symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Kwon, Ji-Soo, Chang, Euijin, Jang, Hyeon Mu et al.·The Korean journal of internal medicine·2025

After COVID-19, some people develop long-lasting symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty exercising—a condition called long COVID or PASC. This study measured immune system markers (called cytokines) in the blood of 79 people and found that certain symptoms were linked to higher levels of specific immune proteins, suggesting the immune system may stay overactive in some long COVID patients.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Heat vs. Fatigue: Hyperthermia as a Possible Treatment Option for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Hochecker, Barbara, Matt, Katja, Scherer, Melanie et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This small pilot study looked at how heat treatment (whole-body hyperthermia) affected immune cells from 9 people with ME/CFS. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients' cells showed signs of being overactive in certain ways compared to healthy people, and that heat treatment seemed to help normalize some of these cellular patterns. While these early results are promising, much larger studies are needed to confirm whether heat therapy could be a useful treatment.

Immune System

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Cell-mediated immunity in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis syndrome.

Proteomic signatures in cerebrospinal fluid and their clinical associations in patients with ME/CFS.

Genetic depletion of the early autophagy protein ATG13 impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism, augments oxidative stress, induces the polarization of macrophages to the M1 inflammatory mode, and compromises myelin integrity in skeletal muscle.

Immunoglobulin G complexes from post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS disrupt cellular energetics and alter inflammatory marker secretion.

Single-cell analysis reveals immune remodeling of monocytes, NK cells, T cell exhaustion, and Galectin-9-associated depletion of gamma delta and mucosal-associated invariant T cells in Long COVID with ME/CFS.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID as Neuroimmune Disorders.

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Immunomodulatory and locomotor regulations via Diosgenin treatment in lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ depressive despair symptom: an in vivo assessment.

Exploring a genetic basis for the metabolic perturbations in ME/CFS using UK biobank.

Virus-induced endothelial senescence as a cause and driving factor for ME/CFS and long COVID: mediated by a dysfunctional immune system.

Genetic Insights into Circulating Complement Proteins in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Potential Inflammatory Subgroup.

A new anchor point for gut microbiome to regulate complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: oxidative stress.

Mechanistic Insights Into Long Covid: Viral Persistence, Immune Dysregulation, and Multi-Organ Dysfunction.

Gulf War Illness Induced Sex-Specific Transcriptional Differences Under Stressful Conditions.

Mucosal Viruses in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle?

Post-COVID-19 Vaccination (or Long Vax) Syndrome: Putative Manifestation, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutic Options.

Oxidative stress is a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Large-scale investigation confirms TRPM3 ion channel dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Cytokine profiles associated with persisting symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

Heat vs. Fatigue: Hyperthermia as a Possible Treatment Option for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

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