ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

761–780 of 1,186 studies

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients exhibit altered T cell metabolism and cytokine associations.

Mandarano, Alexandra H, Maya, Jessica, Giloteaux, Ludovic et al.·The Journal of clinical investigation·2020

This study looked at how immune cells (T cells) work differently in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people. Researchers found that T cells from ME/CFS patients use energy less efficiently—they have trouble both producing energy at rest and responding when activated. These metabolic problems in immune cells may help explain why ME/CFS patients experience severe fatigue and other symptoms.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Altered Structural Brain Networks Related to Adrenergic/Muscarinic Receptor Autoantibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Fujii, Hiroyuki, Sato, Wakiro, Kimura, Yukio et al.·Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging·2020

This study looked at whether certain antibodies in the blood (proteins that attack the body's own receptors) are connected to changes in brain structure in ME/CFS patients. Researchers scanned the brains of 89 ME/CFS patients and measured levels of four specific autoantibodies, then looked for patterns. They found that two of these autoantibodies showed a relationship with how brain networks are organized in specific areas, suggesting these antibodies might be useful markers for identifying ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

IgG stimulated β2 adrenergic receptor activation is attenuated in patients with ME/CFS.

Hartwig, Jelka, Sotzny, Franziska, Bauer, Sandra et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2020

This study examined a specific immune problem in some ME/CFS patients: abnormal antibodies that interfere with a receptor protein called β2 adrenergic receptor, which helps regulate immune response and stress recovery. Researchers found that immune cells (antibodies) from healthy people could activate this receptor and boost immune regulation, but antibodies from ME/CFS patients with elevated levels of these specific autoantibodies could not. This dysfunction in the immune system may help explain why ME/CFS patients experience persistent fatigue and immune dysregulation.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Kerr, Jonathan·Biomolecules·2020

This study looked at specific genes called EGR genes that turn on in response to stress and infection. Researchers found that these genes were abnormally active in blood samples from some ME/CFS patients, and this activity matched up with signs of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation. This suggests that in some people with ME/CFS, a dormant virus may be waking up and triggering an ongoing immune response.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

How Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Progresses: The Natural History of ME/CFS.

Nacul, Luis, O'Boyle, Shennae, Palla, Luigi et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2020

This study proposes a framework for understanding how ME/CFS develops and changes over time, similar to other long-term illnesses. The authors suggest that ME/CFS progresses through stages—starting with genetic and environmental risk factors, moving through an early phase with high energy use and immune system problems, and potentially progressing to a later phase with low energy production and multiple system involvement. They emphasize that ME/CFS is not the same in every person or at every stage of illness, and that some people may improve if their body can restore better balance.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Antibody-Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) in Familial Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Sung, Alexander P, Tang, Jennifer J-J, Guglielmo, Michael J et al.·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2020

This study looked at immune cells called NK cells in families where multiple members have ME/CFS. The researchers found that ME/CFS patients and their healthy family members both had fewer of a specific type of NK cell and weaker immune responses compared to unrelated healthy people. This suggests that a genetic weakness in immune cell function might run in families and could increase the risk of developing ME/CFS.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Drifting from micro to macro concerns on autoimmune disorders.

Bjørklund, Geir, Peana, Massimiliano, Dadar, Maryam et al.·Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.)·2020

Mercury is a toxic metal that can enter the body through dental fillings, certain vaccines and medicines, seafood, and environmental sources. This review examines how mercury exposure might trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions—where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. In people who are genetically susceptible, even low levels of mercury exposure over time could cause inflammation and increase harmful antibodies in the blood.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) as a medicinal plant and its natural products.

Sawicka, Barbara, Skiba, Dominika, Pszczółkowski, Piotr et al.·Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)·2020

This review examined Jerusalem artichoke, a root vegetable, to understand its nutritional and health benefits. The researchers found that Jerusalem artichoke contains compounds that may help with blood sugar control, weight management, immune function, and several chronic conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome. However, this is a review of existing research rather than a new experiment testing these benefits in patients.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Impact of Long-Term Cryopreservation on Blood Immune Cell Markers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Biomarker Discovery.

Gómez-Mora, Elisabet, Carrillo, Jorge, Urrea, Víctor et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2020

This study looked at how freezing blood samples affects the ability to detect immune cell changes in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared fresh blood samples with frozen ones from ME/CFS patients and healthy people, testing various immune markers. They found that some immune markers stay reliable after freezing, but others—particularly certain natural killer cell markers—change significantly, which could make them unreliable for future research.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryGuidelinePEM not requiredGuideline

International expert consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) aggravated by air pollutants: Impact of air pollution on patients with AR: Current knowledge and future strategies.

Naclerio, Robert, Ansotegui, Ignacio J, Bousquet, Jean et al.·The World Allergy Organization journal·2020

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever and similar nasal allergies) affects millions of people and becomes worse when air pollution is present. This expert consensus report reviews how air pollution—both indoors and outdoors—makes allergic rhinitis symptoms worse, and discusses the best ways to manage it. The main treatment involves following standard allergy guidelines and reducing exposure to pollutants, though more research is needed on which medicines work best for people dealing with both allergies and air pollution.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Leveraging Prior Knowledge of Endocrine Immune Regulation in the Therapeutically Relevant Phenotyping of Women With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Morris, Matthew C, Cooney, Katherine E, Sedghamiz, Hooman et al.·Clinical therapeutics·2019

This study used computer modeling to understand how hormones and immune system chemicals become unbalanced in ME/CFS. Researchers measured 17 immune markers in women with ME/CFS before, during, and after exercise, then created detailed mathematical models to predict what other hormones and chemicals might also be out of balance. The models suggested that two existing drugs (rintatolimod and rituximab) might help different subgroups of patients, depending on their specific hormone and immune profiles.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Neuroimmunology: What Role for Autoimmunity, Neuroinflammation, and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Adverse Events after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination?

Ryabkova, Varvara A, Churilov, Leonid P, Shoenfeld, Yehuda·International journal of molecular sciences·2019

This review explores three interconnected biological processes that may cause fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): the immune system attacking the body's own tissues, inflammation in the nervous system, and damage to small nerve fibers. The authors propose that these three mechanisms work together and may explain why patients experience widespread pain, extreme fatigue, and other symptoms like brain fog and sleep problems. They also examine whether similar mechanisms might explain some adverse reactions to HPV vaccination.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Rodrigues, Lucas S, da Silva Nali, Luiz H, Leal, Cibele O D et al.·Auto- immunity highlights·2019

This study looked at whether certain viral fragments called HERV-K and HERV-W were more active in the blood of ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that HERV-K was elevated in people with moderate ME/CFS but not in those with severe disease, while HERV-W showed no difference. These findings suggest that viral elements may play a role in ME/CFS, though much more research is needed to understand what this means.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Validation of impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel activity in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

Cabanas, H, Muraki, K, Balinas, C et al.·Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2019

This study looked at a specific type of protein channel (called TRPM3) found on immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients. The researchers used specialized equipment to measure how these channels function and found they work differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. This difference could help explain why immune function is impaired in ME/CFS and might point toward new treatment options.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Persistent fatigue induced by interferon-alpha: a novel, inflammation-based, proxy model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Russell, Alice, Hepgul, Nilay, Nikkheslat, Naghmeh et al.·Psychoneuroendocrinology·2019

This study suggests that some people treated with interferon-alpha (a drug used for hepatitis C) develop persistent fatigue that continues even after treatment ends—similar to ME/CFS. Researchers found that people who later developed long-lasting fatigue had a stronger immune response early in treatment, with higher levels of certain immune molecules. Importantly, the fatigue persisted even after the immune trigger was gone, suggesting that something in the body's initial overreaction may set off a lasting problem.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene-2 Upregulation Identifies a Particular Subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Kerr, Jonathan R·Frontiers in pediatrics·2019

This study found that about 38-55% of ME/CFS patients have higher levels of a specific gene called EBI2 turned on in their immune cells. Patients with this EBI2 pattern appear to have more severe symptoms and different antibody levels compared to other ME/CFS patients. Because EBI2 is known to affect both immune function and brain function, finding this subtype could help explain why ME/CFS patients experience such different symptoms and may lead to new treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Myalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome following immunization: macrophagic myofasciitis and animal studies support linkage to aluminum adjuvant persistency and diffusion in the immune system.

Gherardi, Romain K, Crépeaux, Guillemette, Authier, François-Jérome·Autoimmunity reviews·2019

This review examines whether ME/CFS could be triggered by aluminum-containing substances in certain vaccines. The authors present evidence that aluminum particles may persist in immune cells and travel to the brain, potentially causing the cognitive problems, muscle pain, and fatigue seen in ME/CFS. They argue this condition represents a broader category of vaccine-related adverse effects called ASIA.

Immune SystemNeuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Emerging Osteopathic Approach: A Narrative Review.

Larrimore, Christopher, Ramnot, Amanda, Jaghab, Annmarie et al.·The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·2019

This article reviews what scientists know about ME/CFS, including its symptoms, how it affects the body, and why it's hard to diagnose. The authors discuss both traditional medical approaches and osteopathic treatment (a type of hands-on therapy that focuses on the body's structure and function) as possible ways to help people with ME/CFS feel better. The review emphasizes that ME/CFS is a real, serious illness that deserves more awareness among doctors and better treatment options.

Cognitive ImpairmentImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channels are overexpressed in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Balinas, Cassandra, Cabanas, Helene, Staines, Donald et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2019

This study looked at immune cells called NK cells in people with ME/CFS, focusing on special channels on their surface called TRPM2 that control calcium flow. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients had higher levels of these TRPM2 channels compared to healthy people, and their NK cells were less effective at fighting infections. When researchers tried two different drugs to modify these channels, the drugs reduced TRPM2 levels but did not improve the cells' ability to fight infections.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Genetic Predisposition for Immune System, Hormone, and Metabolic Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Perez, Melanie, Jaundoo, Rajeev, Hilton, Kelly et al.·Frontiers in pediatrics·2019

Researchers analyzed the DNA of 383 ME/CFS patients to look for genetic variations that might make someone more susceptible to developing the illness. They found thousands of genetic differences that were more common in ME/CFS patients compared to the general population, and these differences clustered in three main areas: immune system function, hormone regulation, and metabolism. While this suggests genetics may play a role in ME/CFS vulnerability, it doesn't explain the entire cause of the disease.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients exhibit altered T cell metabolism and cytokine associations.

Altered Structural Brain Networks Related to Adrenergic/Muscarinic Receptor Autoantibodies in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

IgG stimulated β2 adrenergic receptor activation is attenuated in patients with ME/CFS.

Early Growth Response Gene Upregulation in Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

How Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Progresses: The Natural History of ME/CFS.

Antibody-Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) in Familial Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Drifting from micro to macro concerns on autoimmune disorders.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) as a medicinal plant and its natural products.

Impact of Long-Term Cryopreservation on Blood Immune Cell Markers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Biomarker Discovery.

International expert consensus on the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) aggravated by air pollutants: Impact of air pollution on patients with AR: Current knowledge and future strategies.

Leveraging Prior Knowledge of Endocrine Immune Regulation in the Therapeutically Relevant Phenotyping of Women With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Neuroimmunology: What Role for Autoimmunity, Neuroinflammation, and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Adverse Events after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination?

HERV-K and HERV-W transcriptional activity in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Validation of impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 ion channel activity in natural killer cells from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis patients.

Persistent fatigue induced by interferon-alpha: a novel, inflammation-based, proxy model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene-2 Upregulation Identifies a Particular Subtype of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Myalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome following immunization: macrophagic myofasciitis and animal studies support linkage to aluminum adjuvant persistency and diffusion in the immune system.

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Emerging Osteopathic Approach: A Narrative Review.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channels are overexpressed in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Genetic Predisposition for Immune System, Hormone, and Metabolic Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

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