Evidence browser

Transient receptor potential melastatin 3 dysfunction in post COVID-19 condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Sasso, Etianne Martini, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2022

This study examined a specific ion channel called TRPM3 in immune cells from patients with ME/CFS and long COVID, comparing them to healthy people. Researchers found that both ME/CFS and long COVID patients had similar problems with how this ion channel functions. The findings suggest that broken ion channels might be part of why these conditions cause long-lasting fatigue and other symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

At the Root of 3 "Long" Diseases: Persistent Antigens Inflicting Chronic Damage on the Brain and Other Organs in Gulf War Illness, Long-COVID-19, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

James, Lisa M, Georgopoulos, Apostolos P·Neuroscience insights·2022

This review explores why some people develop long-lasting illnesses after exposure to viruses or bacteria, while others recover normally. The researchers propose that certain infections may persist in the body longer in people with specific immune system markers (HLA types), potentially causing ongoing damage to the brain and other organs. They suggest this mechanism might explain symptoms seen in ME/CFS, long-COVID, and Gulf War Illness.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: First Described Complication after Gam-COVID-Vac Vaccine.

Manysheva, Ksenia, Sherman, Mikhail, Zhukova, Natalia et al.·Psychiatria Danubina·2022

This report describes one case of a 25-year-old woman who developed ME/CFS symptoms about 10 days after receiving the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. She experienced severe fatigue, muscle pain, and difficulty moving. This is the first documented case linking ME/CFS to this particular vaccine, though it remains unclear whether the vaccine caused the condition or if it occurred by coincidence.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Circadian rhythm disruption in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

McCarthy, Michael J·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2022

This review examines whether disrupted body clocks (circadian rhythms) contribute to ME/CFS symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties. The authors focus on a specific immune molecule called TGFB that may interfere with the body's natural daily rhythms. They suggest that COVID-19 infections may cause similar circadian disruptions, potentially explaining why some people develop long COVID symptoms that resemble ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Exosome-associated mitochondrial DNA from patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome stimulates human microglia to release IL-1β.

Tsilioni, Irene, Natelson, Benjamin, Theoharides, Theoharis C·The European journal of neuroscience·2022

This study found that after exercise, patients with ME/CFS have more pieces of DNA from their mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) floating in their blood inside tiny particles called exosomes. When researchers tested these exosomes on immune cells in the lab, they triggered the release of IL-1β, a chemical that causes inflammation in the brain. This suggests that exercise might trigger a chain reaction involving these DNA-carrying particles that could contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

NeuroinflammationImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Breast implant illness: scientific evidence of its existence.

Cohen Tervaert, J W, Mohazab, N, Redmond, D et al.·Expert review of clinical immunology·2022

This review examined whether silicone breast implants cause a condition called breast implant illness (BII), which includes symptoms like chronic fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, and brain fog. The authors concluded that there is a causal link between silicone implants and these systemic symptoms in some women, and that removing the implants typically resolves the symptoms.

Bioinformatics and systems biology approach to identify the pathogenetic link of Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lv, Yongbiao, Zhang, Tian, Cai, Junxiang et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2022

Researchers compared the genes involved in Long COVID (lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection) and ME/CFS to see if they share common biological causes. They found 9 genes that appear in both conditions and identified five key proteins that may be driving the shared symptoms. The study suggests these conditions may have overlapping mechanisms, pointing toward potential new treatments worth testing in future research.

Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) Reduces the mRNA Expression of Major Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-6 in Chronic Epipharyngitis.

Nishi, Kensuke, Yoshimoto, Shohei, Nishi, Soichiro et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

This study looked at a Japanese treatment called Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT) that targets chronic inflammation in the epipharynx (the area behind your nasal cavity). The researchers found that patients who received EAT had significantly lower levels of IL-6, a key inflammatory molecule linked to ME/CFS symptoms, compared to those who didn't receive the treatment. This suggests that reducing inflammation in this specific area might help improve systemic symptoms in ME/CFS and similar conditions.

NeuroinflammationGut MicrobiomeImmune System

Mucosal Immunity and the Gut-Microbiota-Brain-Axis in Neuroimmune Disease.

Sterling, Kathryn G, Dodd, Griffin Kutler, Alhamdi, Shatha et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2022

This review article examines the connection between gut bacteria, immunity, and the brain in diseases like ME/CFS. The authors explain that the bacteria in our gut can communicate with our brain through chemical signals and nerves, but this communication can be disrupted in certain illnesses. They focus on how the immune system in the gut lining controls which bacteria thrive there, and how changes in these bacterial communities might contribute to neuroimmune diseases.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

New Clinical Phenotype of the Post-Covid Syndrome: Fibromyalgia and Joint Hypermobility Condition.

Gavrilova, Natalia, Soprun, Lidiia, Lukashenko, Maria et al.·Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology·2022

This study describes a pattern found in some people who developed fibromyalgia (widespread pain) after COVID-19 infection. The researchers noticed that young women with loose, flexible joints who had COVID-19 and a specific tendon injury were more likely to develop fibromyalgia along with signs of inflammation. The study presents three patient cases that fit this pattern, suggesting COVID-19 may trigger fibromyalgia in people whose connective tissues are already prone to damage.

Immune SystemLong COVID Overlap

Impaired TRPM3-dependent calcium influx and restoration using Naltrexone in natural killer cells of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Du Preez, Stanley, Cabanas, Hélène et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study found that immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients have a broken calcium channel (TRPM3) that prevents them from working properly. When researchers treated these cells overnight with a drug called naltrexone, the calcium channel started working better and the immune cells functioned more like those from healthy people. This suggests that ME/CFS may involve faulty ion channels and that naltrexone could potentially help restore immune cell function.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

Elevated ATG13 in serum of patients with ME/CFS stimulates oxidative stress response in microglial cells via activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE).

Gottschalk, Gunnar, Peterson, Daniel, Knox, Konstance et al.·Molecular and cellular neurosciences·2022

Researchers found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of a protein called ATG13 in their blood compared to healthy people. When they tested this protein on brain immune cells in the lab, it triggered the production of harmful molecules called free radicals (oxidative stress). This suggests that a breakdown in the body's cellular recycling system (autophagy) might contribute to the inflammation and stress response seen in ME/CFS.

Chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is there a role for extracorporeal apheresis?

Bornstein, Stefan R, Voit-Bak, Karin, Donate, Timo et al.·Molecular psychiatry·2022

Some people who had COVID-19 continue to experience fatigue and breathing problems long after recovering from the infection, a condition called long-COVID. This pattern of ongoing symptoms looks similar to ME/CFS, another condition that causes persistent fatigue. Researchers found that both conditions may involve the body producing antibodies (immune proteins) that attack certain nerve receptors. A treatment called extracorporeal apheresis, which filters blood to remove these harmful antibodies, showed promise in improving symptoms in ME/CFS patients and might also help those with long-COVID.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Identification of transient receptor potential melastatin 3 proteotypic peptides employing an efficient membrane protein extraction method for natural killer cells.

Magawa, Chandi T, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Balinas, Cassandra et al.·Frontiers in physiology·2022

Researchers developed a better way to extract and study proteins from immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients. They focused on a specific protein channel called TRPM3, which may play a role in ME/CFS. This study shows they can now reliably detect this protein, which opens the door for future research to understand how it might be different in ME/CFS.

Phenotypic characteristics of peripheral immune cells of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome via transmission electron microscopy: A pilot study.

Jahanbani, Fereshteh, Maynard, Rajan D, Sing, Justin Cyril et al.·PloS one·2022

Researchers used a powerful microscope to examine immune cells from people with ME/CFS and found several abnormalities. They observed that immune cells from ME/CFS patients died more frequently when activated, had swollen energy-producing structures (mitochondria), and in one severely ill patient, contained unusual fat-like accumulations. These cellular changes suggest that ME/CFS involves real, measurable damage to immune system function.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

The autonomic aspects of the post-COVID19 syndrome.

Dotan, Arad, David, Paula, Arnheim, Dana et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2022

After COVID-19 infection, many people experience long-lasting symptoms similar to ME/CFS, including fatigue, brain fog, and mood problems. Recent research suggests the immune system may attack nerve cells that control heart rate, blood pressure, and other automatic body functions, rather than just the virus itself. The authors propose that exercise therapy might be safer and more helpful than immunosuppressive drugs for treating these lingering post-COVID symptoms.

The effect of IL-2 stimulation and treatment of TRPM3 on channel co-localisation with PIP2 and NK cell function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Cabanas, Hélène, du Preez, Stanley et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This study looked at immune cells called NK cells in ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. The researchers focused on a protein channel called TRPM3 that helps control calcium levels in cells, which may be important for immune function. They found that this channel doesn't work properly in ME/CFS patients, but when cells were stimulated with a chemical called IL-2, the NK cells from ME/CFS patients could kill viruses and abnormal cells as effectively as healthy people's cells.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

In-Depth Analysis of the Plasma Proteome in ME/CFS Exposes Disrupted Ephrin-Eph and Immune System Signaling.

Germain, Arnaud, Levine, Susan M, Hanson, Maureen R·Proteomes·2021

Researchers measured 4,790 different proteins in the blood of 20 ME/CFS patients and 20 healthy people to look for differences that might explain the disease. They found that 19 proteins were significantly different between the two groups, particularly involving pathways related to immune function and cell communication. Using these protein patterns, they were able to distinguish ME/CFS patients from healthy controls with high accuracy, suggesting proteins in blood could potentially help diagnose ME/CFS.

Potential Therapeutic Benefit of Low Dose Naltrexone in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Role of Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 Ion Channels in Pathophysiology and Treatment.

Cabanas, Helene, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2021

This study investigated whether a low-dose medication called naltrexone (LDN) might help treat ME/CFS by examining how it affects immune cells called NK cells. Researchers found that NK cells from ME/CFS patients taking LDN showed restored activity in a specific ion channel (TRPM3) that had previously been impaired. This suggests LDN may help restore normal immune function in ME/CFS patients, though larger clinical trials are needed to confirm whether it actually improves symptoms.