Evidence browser

CD24 Expression and B Cell Maturation Shows a Novel Link With Energy Metabolism: Potential Implications for Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Mensah, Fane F K, Armstrong, Christopher W, Reddy, Venkat et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2018

This study looked at a specific type of immune cell marker called CD24 found on B cells (infection-fighting cells) in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients have more CD24+ B cells than healthy people, and these cells behave differently when it comes to energy use and cell survival. The findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve problems with how B cells handle energy metabolism.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

Dehydroepiandrosterone Research: Past, Current, and Future.

Klinge, Carolyn M, Clark, Barbara J, Prough, Russell A·Vitamins and hormones·2018

This is a historical review of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that naturally decreases with age. Scientists have studied whether DHEA might help with various health conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, but the evidence in humans is limited. While some benefits have been found in postmenopausal women and certain autoimmune disorders, most human studies show only weak connections between DHEA levels and disease outcomes.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Autonomic dysfunction and HPV immunization: an overview.

Blitshteyn, Svetlana, Brinth, Louise, Hendrickson, Jeanne E et al.·Immunologic research·2018

This review looked at case reports from multiple countries describing people who developed serious symptoms after HPV vaccination, including extreme fatigue, pain, dizziness, and cognitive problems. These symptoms are similar to those seen in ME/CFS, POTS, and other conditions. The authors suggest that in some genetically vulnerable people, the vaccine might trigger an immune system response that affects the nervous system, but they emphasize that timing alone doesn't prove the vaccine caused the illness.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearObservational

The expression signature of very long non-coding RNA in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Yang, Chin-An, Bauer, Sandra, Ho, Yu-Chen et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2018

Researchers looked at special molecules called very long non-coding RNAs in the blood of ME/CFS patients to see if they might be disease markers. They found that three of these RNA molecules (NTT, MIAT, and EmX2OS) were present at higher levels in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people, and two of them (NTT and EmX2OS) increased with disease severity. When they tested these findings in lab cells exposed to oxidative stress and viral signals, the RNA levels increased, suggesting these molecules respond to the kinds of biological stresses that may occur in ME/CFS.

BiomarkersImmune System

Aluminum in vaccines: Does it create a safety problem?

Principi, Nicola, Esposito, Susanna·Vaccine·2018

This review examined whether aluminum in vaccines could cause serious health problems, particularly in children. The researchers looked at existing research on aluminum's effects on the nervous system and found no clear evidence that aluminum in vaccines causes brain damage. However, they noted that a possible link between certain aluminum-containing vaccines and two conditions—macrophagic myofascitis and ME/CFS—needs further investigation before firm conclusions can be made.

[Immunopathogenesis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)].

Yamamura, Takashi, Ono, Hirohiko, Sato, Wakiro·Brain and nerve = Shinkei kenkyu no shinpo·2018

This study found that people with ME/CFS have unusual patterns of immune system chemicals (cytokines) in their blood and spinal fluid, and some patients have antibodies that attack their own bodies. When researchers treated some ME/CFS patients with a medication that removes certain immune cells called B cells, patients improved. This suggests that ME/CFS may be caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body.

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

Cabanas, Hélène, Muraki, Katsuhiko, Eaton, Natalie et al.·Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2018

This study examined a specific ion channel called TRPM3 in immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells, which help fight infections and cancer. Researchers found that this channel doesn't work properly in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people, which may affect how these immune cells function. This discovery could help explain why ME/CFS patients often have weakened immune responses.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Investigation of mast cell toll-like receptor 3 in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Systemic Mastocytosis using the novel application of autoMACS magnetic separation and flow cytometry.

Balinas, Cassandra, Nguyen, Thao, Johnston, Samantha et al.·Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology·2018

This study looked at immune cells called mast cells in people with ME/CFS, comparing them to people with a known mast cell disorder and healthy volunteers. Mast cells help the body fight viruses and allergies. The researchers found differences in how these cells behave when exposed to viral-like substances, suggesting mast cells may play a role in ME/CFS symptoms.

Stress, inflammation and natural treatments.

Theoharides, T C, Kavalioti, M·Journal of biological regulators and homeostatic agents·2018

This study explores how stress and inflammation work together to cause several conditions including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and others. The researchers found that immune cells called mast cells and brain cells called microglia may communicate in ways that trigger inflammation during stress. They suggest that a natural supplement combining luteolin and Ashwagandha might help reduce this inflammation and benefit patients with these conditions.

E3 PreliminaryPEM not requiredRegistry-Resource

The autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)/Shoenfeld's syndrome: descriptive analysis of 300 patients from the international ASIA syndrome registry.

Watad, Abdulla, Quaresma, Mariana, Bragazzi, Nicola Luigi et al.·Clinical rheumatology·2018

This study examined 300 patients who developed autoimmune diseases after exposure to adjuvants (immune-stimulating substances in vaccines and other products). The most common symptoms were joint pain, muscle pain, and chronic fatigue, and most patients developed another autoimmune condition within about 17 months of exposure. The researchers found that different adjuvants caused slightly different patterns of illness.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Infection Elicited Autoimmunity and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Explanatory Model.

Blomberg, Jonas, Gottfries, Carl-Gerhard, Elfaitouri, Amal et al.·Frontiers in immunology·2018

This study proposes that ME/CFS may develop when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks their own body after an infection, particularly affecting energy production in muscles and the brain. The researchers suggest that some people may have a genetic tendency to develop these harmful immune responses, especially when their gut bacteria are out of balance. When exposed to a triggering infection, the immune system can begin attacking proteins involved in energy metabolism and nerve function, leading to the exhaustion and post-exertion symptoms that characterize ME/CFS.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Impaired calcium mobilization in natural killer cells from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is associated with transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels.

Nguyen, T, Johnston, S, Clarke, L et al.·Clinical and experimental immunology·2017

This study examined immune cells called natural killer cells in ME/CFS patients and healthy people to understand how calcium moves in and out of these cells. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients have lower levels of a specific channel (TRPM3) that helps control calcium movement in certain types of natural killer cells. The study suggests that problems with calcium signaling in these immune cells may contribute to how the immune system behaves differently in ME/CFS patients.

Nitrosative Stress, Hypernitrosylation, and Autoimmune Responses to Nitrosylated Proteins: New Pathways in Neuroprogressive Disorders Including Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael, Klein, Hans et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2017

This study proposes that ME/CFS may be caused by a harmful process called 'hypernitrosylation,' where a molecule called nitric oxide damages proteins in cells, particularly those responsible for producing energy and fighting infections. When this damage becomes chronic, it can disable the body's natural repair systems and trigger the immune system to attack the body's own proteins. The researchers suggest this process could explain many ME/CFS symptoms, including fatigue, cognitive problems, and how bacterial toxins may trigger or worsen the disease.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Two hundreds cases of ASIA syndrome following silicone implants: a comparative study of 30 years and a review of current literature.

Colaris, Maartje J L, de Boer, Mintsje, van der Hulst, Rene R et al.·Immunologic research·2017

This study compared 200 patients with silicone breast implants who developed autoimmune and inflammatory symptoms (a condition called ASIA) across two time periods—100 patients in 2014 and 100 historical patients from the 1980s–1990s. The researchers found that the symptoms remained similar over 30 years, including fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and fever. About half of the patients who had their implants removed experienced symptom improvement.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

NLRP3 inflammasome activation mediates fatigue-like behaviors in mice via neuroinflammation.

Zhang, Ziteng, Ma, Xiujuan, Xia, Zhenna et al.·Neuroscience·2017

This study explored whether a specific immune system protein called NLRP3 might be involved in causing fatigue in mice. Researchers stressed mice with repeated swimming tests and found that stressed mice had higher levels of an inflammatory chemical (IL-1β) in their brains and showed fatigue-like behaviors. When they removed the NLRP3 protein in mice, the fatigue behaviors were reduced and inflammatory levels decreased, suggesting this protein may play a role in fatigue.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

[Effect of Acupuncture on the Expression of Transcription Factor T-bet/GATA-3 in Plasma of Rats with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome].

Wang, Xiang-Yi, Liu, Chang-Zheng, Lei, Bo·Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research·2017

Researchers tested whether acupuncture could help rats with chronic fatigue syndrome by measuring changes in immune system markers. Acupuncture was applied to three specific points for two weeks, and the treated rats showed improved tiredness and swimming performance compared to untreated rats. The study suggests acupuncture may work by rebalancing immune system signals that become disrupted in ME/CFS.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

Detection of Urine Metabolites in a Rat Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before and after Exercise.

Shao, Changzhuan, Ren, Yiming, Wang, Zinan et al.·BioMed research international·2017

Researchers used rats exposed to stress and exercise to model ME/CFS and then measured chemicals in their urine before and after exercise. They found abnormalities in how the rats' bodies produce energy and process hormones, particularly in molecules called sphingosine and a hormone precursor called 21-hydroxypregnenolone. These findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve disrupted energy metabolism and problems with the body's stress-response system.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Non-linear dose-response of aluminium hydroxide adjuvant particles: Selective low dose neurotoxicity.

Crépeaux, Guillemette, Eidi, Housam, David, Marie-Odile et al.·Toxicology·2017

This study gave mice different amounts of aluminum hydroxide (a substance used in vaccines) injected into muscle and then checked their brains 6 months later. Surprisingly, the mice that received the lowest dose showed cognitive and movement changes, increased immune cell activity in the brain, and accumulated more aluminum in their brains—while the mice given higher doses did not. This unusual pattern suggests that aluminum's harmful effects may not simply follow the traditional "more dose = more harm" rule.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune System

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Its Usage in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Evrensel, Alper, Ceylan, Mehmet Emin·Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2016

This review examines fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—a treatment where healthy gut bacteria from a donor are transferred to a patient—and its potential use in treating brain and mental health conditions. While FMT is already proven effective for certain gut infections and inflammatory bowel diseases, researchers are exploring whether it might help with conditions like ME/CFS, autism, and Parkinson's disease. Early results are promising, but much more research is needed to understand if it's safe and effective long-term.

The Neuro-Immune Pathophysiology of Central and Peripheral Fatigue in Systemic Immune-Inflammatory and Neuro-Immune Diseases.

Morris, Gerwyn, Berk, Michael, Galecki, Piotr et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2016

This review examines why people with ME/CFS and similar immune-based illnesses experience severe, disabling fatigue. The authors identify multiple biological pathways that may contribute to this fatigue, including excessive inflammation, problems with how cells produce energy, and chemical imbalances in the brain and muscles. The fatigue appears to result from a complex interaction between the immune system, energy production, and brain function rather than a single cause.