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Apostolou E, Rosén A. Epigenetic reprograming in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: A narrative of latent viruses. J Intern Med 2024; 296:93-115. [PMID: 38693641 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic disease presenting with severe fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive disturbances-among a spectrum of symptoms-that collectively render the patient housebound or bedbound. Epigenetic studies in ME/CFS collectively confirm alterations and/or malfunctions in cellular and organismal physiology associated with immune responses, cellular metabolism, cell death and proliferation, and neuronal and endothelial cell function. The sudden onset of ME/CFS follows a major stress factor that, in approximately 70% of cases, involves viral infection, and ME/CFS symptoms overlap with those of long COVID. Viruses primarily linked to ME/CFS pathology are the symbiotic herpesviruses, which follow a bivalent latent-lytic lifecycle. The complex interaction between viruses and hosts involves strategies from both sides: immune evasion and persistence by the viruses, and immune activation and viral clearance by the host. This dynamic interaction is imperative for herpesviruses that facilitate their persistence through epigenetic regulation of their own and the host genome. In the current article, we provide an overview of the epigenetic signatures demonstrated in ME/CFS and focus on the potential strategies that latent viruses-particularly Epstein-Barr virus-may employ in long-term epigenetic reprograming in ME/CFS. Epigenetic studies could aid in elucidating relevant biological pathways impacted in ME/CFS and reflect the physiological variations among the patients that stem from environmental triggers, including exogenous viruses and/or altered viral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Apostolou
- Division of Cell and Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anders Rosén
- Division of Cell and Neurobiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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2
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Arron HE, Marsh BD, Kell DB, Khan MA, Jaeger BR, Pretorius E. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: the biology of a neglected disease. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1386607. [PMID: 38887284 PMCID: PMC11180809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1386607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, debilitating disease characterised by a wide range of symptoms that severely impact all aspects of life. Despite its significant prevalence, ME/CFS remains one of the most understudied and misunderstood conditions in modern medicine. ME/CFS lacks standardised diagnostic criteria owing to variations in both inclusion and exclusion criteria across different diagnostic guidelines, and furthermore, there are currently no effective treatments available. Moving beyond the traditional fragmented perspectives that have limited our understanding and management of the disease, our analysis of current information on ME/CFS represents a significant paradigm shift by synthesising the disease's multifactorial origins into a cohesive model. We discuss how ME/CFS emerges from an intricate web of genetic vulnerabilities and environmental triggers, notably viral infections, leading to a complex series of pathological responses including immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and metabolic disturbances. This comprehensive model not only advances our understanding of ME/CFS's pathophysiology but also opens new avenues for research and potential therapeutic strategies. By integrating these disparate elements, our work emphasises the necessity of a holistic approach to diagnosing, researching, and treating ME/CFS, urging the scientific community to reconsider the disease's complexity and the multifaceted approach required for its study and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley E. Arron
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Benjamin D. Marsh
- MRCPCH Consultant Paediatric Neurodisability, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - M. Asad Khan
- Directorate of Respiratory Medicine, Manchester University Hospitals, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Beate R. Jaeger
- Long COVID department, Clinic St Georg, Bad Aibling, Germany
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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3
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Stallmach A, Quickert S, Puta C, Reuken PA. The gastrointestinal microbiota in the development of ME/CFS: a critical view and potential perspectives. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1352744. [PMID: 38605969 PMCID: PMC11007072 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1352744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Like other infections, a SARS-CoV-2 infection can also trigger Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (PAIS), which often progress into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS, characterized by post-exercise malaise (PEM), is a severe multisystemic disease for which specific diagnostic markers or therapeutic concepts have not been established. Despite numerous indications of post-infectious neurological, immunological, endocrinal, and metabolic deviations, the exact causes and pathophysiology remain unclear. To date, there is a paucity of data, that changes in the composition and function of the gastrointestinal microbiota have emerged as a potential influencing variable associated with immunological and inflammatory pathways, shifts in ME/CFS. It is postulated that this dysbiosis may lead to intestinal barrier dysfunction, translocation of microbial components with increased oxidative stress, and the development or progression of ME/CFS. In this review, we detailed discuss the findings regarding alterations in the gastrointestinal microbiota and its microbial mediators in ME/CFS. When viewed critically, there is currently no evidence indicating causality between changes in the microbiota and the development of ME/CFS. Most studies describe associations within poorly defined patient populations, often combining various clinical presentations, such as irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue associated with ME/CFS. Nevertheless, drawing on analogies with other gastrointestinal diseases, there is potential to develop strategies aimed at modulating the gut microbiota and/or its metabolites as potential treatments for ME/CFS and other PAIS. These strategies should be further investigated in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Stallmach
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefanie Quickert
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Puta
- Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital/Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Jena, Germany
| | - Philipp A. Reuken
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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Zayeri ZD, Torabizadeh M, Kargar M, Kazemi H. The molecular fingerprint of neuroinflammation in COVID-19: A comprehensive discussion on molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation due to SARS-COV2 antigens. Behav Brain Res 2024; 462:114868. [PMID: 38246395 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 attacks the neural system directly and indirectly via various systems, such as the nasal cavity, olfactory system, and facial nerves. Considering the high energy requirement, lack of antioxidant defenses, and high amounts of metal ions in the brain, oxidative damage is very harmful to the brain. Various neuropathic pain conditions, neurological disorders, and neuropsychiatric complications were reported in Coronavirus disease 2019, prolonged Coronavirus disease 2019, and after Coronavirus disease 2019 immunization. This manuscript offers a distinctive outlook on the interconnectedness between neurology and neuropsychiatry through its meticulous analysis of complications. DISCUSSION After recovering from Coronavirus disease 2019, approximately half of the patients reported developing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Long Coronavirus disease 2019 imaging reports illustrated the hypometabolism in various parts of the brain, such as olfactory bulbs, limbic/paralimbic domains, the brainstem, and the cerebellum. Ninety imaging and neuropathological studies of Coronavirus disease 2019 have shown evidence of white matter, brainstem, frontotemporal, and oculofrontal lesions. Emotional functions, such as pleasant, long/short-term memory, movement, cognition and cognition in decision-making are controlled by these regions. The neuroinflammation and the mechanisms of defense are well presented in the discussion. The role of microglia activation, Inducible NO synthase, Cyclooxygenases ½, Reactive oxygen species, neurotoxic toxins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin-1 beta, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha are highlighted in neuronal dysfunction and death. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, Mitogen-activated protein kinase, Activator Protein 1, and Interferon regulatory factors are the main pathways involved in microglia activation in Coronavirus disease 2019 neuroinflammation. CONCLUSION The neurological aspect of Coronavirus disease 2019 should be highlighted. Neurological, psychological, and behavioral aspects of Coronavirus disease 2019, prolonged Coronavirus disease 2019, and Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines can be the upcoming issues. We need a global awareness where this aspect of the disease should be more considered in health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Deris Zayeri
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Torabizadeh
- Golestan Hospital Clinical Research Development Unit, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Masoud Kargar
- Health Research Institute, Research Center of Thalassemia & Hemoglobinopathy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hashem Kazemi
- Department of Biology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran
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Kitselman A K, Bédard-Matteau J, Rousseau S, Tabrizchi R, Daneshtalab N. Sex differences in vascular endothelial function related to acute and long COVID-19. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107250. [PMID: 38043758 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has been at the forefront of health sciences research since its emergence in China in 2019 that quickly led to a global pandemic. As a result of this research, and the large numbers of infected patients globally, there were rapid enhancements made in our understanding of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathology, including its role in the development of uncontrolled immune responses and its link to the development of endotheliitis and endothelial dysfunction. There were also some noted differences in the rate and severity of infection between males and females with acute COVID. Some individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 also experience long-COVID, an important hallmark symptom of this being Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME-CFS), also experienced differently between males and females. The purpose of this review is to discuss the impact of sex on the vasculature during acute and long COVID-19, present any link between ME-CFS and endothelial dysfunction, and provide evidence for the relationship between ME-CFS and the immune system. We also will delineate biological sex differences observed in other post viral infections and, assess if sex differences exist in how the immune system responds to viral infection causing ME-CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Kitselman A
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jérôme Bédard-Matteau
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, RI-MUHC, Block EOffice EM3.2244Lab E03.21371001 Decarie Blvd., Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Simon Rousseau
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Québec, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Québec, Canada; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, RI-MUHC, Block EOffice EM3.2244Lab E03.21371001 Decarie Blvd., Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Reza Tabrizchi
- Faculty of Medicine, Division of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Noriko Daneshtalab
- School of Pharmacy at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
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Huitsing K, Tritsch T, Arias FJC, Collado F, Aenlle KK, Nathason L, Fletcher MA, Klimas NG, Craddock TJA. The potential role of ocular and otolaryngological mucus proteins in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Mol Med 2024; 30:1. [PMID: 38172662 PMCID: PMC10763106 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00766-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating illness associated with a constellation of other symptoms. While the most common symptom is unrelenting fatigue, many individuals also report suffering from rhinitis, dry eyes and a sore throat. Mucin proteins are responsible for contributing to the formation of mucosal membranes throughout the body. These mucosal pathways contribute to the body's defense mechanisms involving pathogenic onset. When compromised by pathogens the epithelium releases numerous cytokines and enters a prolonged state of inflammation to eradicate any particular infection. Based on genetic analysis, and computational theory and modeling we hypothesize that mucin protein dysfunction may contribute to ME/CFS symptoms due to the inability to form adequate mucosal layers throughout the body, especially in the ocular and otolaryngological pathways leading to low grade chronic inflammation and the exacerbation of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylin Huitsing
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Tara Tritsch
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Francisco Javier Carrera Arias
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Fanny Collado
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th St, Miami, FL, 33125-1624, USA
| | - Kristina K Aenlle
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th St, Miami, FL, 33125-1624, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Lubov Nathason
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Mary Ann Fletcher
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th St, Miami, FL, 33125-1624, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Nancy G Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th St, Miami, FL, 33125-1624, USA
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA
| | - Travis J A Craddock
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA.
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA.
- Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 NW 16th St, Miami, FL, 33125-1624, USA.
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA.
- Center for Collaborative Research, Room 440, Nova Southeastern University, 3300 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2004, USA.
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Maya J. Surveying the Metabolic and Dysfunctional Profiles of T Cells and NK Cells in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11937. [PMID: 37569313 PMCID: PMC10418326 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions globally suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The inflammatory symptoms, illness onset, recorded outbreak events, and physiological variations provide strong indications that ME/CFS, at least sometimes, has an infectious origin, possibly resulting in a chronic unidentified viral infection. Meanwhile, studies exposing generalized metabolic disruptions in ME/CFS have stimulated interest in isolated immune cells with an altered metabolic state. As the metabolism dictates the cellular function, dissecting the biomechanics of dysfunctional immune cells in ME/CFS can uncover states such as exhaustion, senescence, or anergy, providing insights into the consequences of these phenotypes in this disease. Despite the similarities that are seen metabolically between ME/CFS and other chronic viral infections that result in an exhausted immune cell state, immune cell exhaustion has not yet been verified in ME/CFS. This review explores the evidence for immunometabolic dysfunction in ME/CFS T cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations, comparing ME/CFS metabolic and functional features to dysfunctional immune cell states, and positing whether anergy, exhaustion, or senescence could be occurring in distinct immune cell populations in ME/CFS, which is consistent with the hypothesis that ME/CFS is a chronic viral disease. This comprehensive review of the ME/CFS immunometabolic literature identifies CD8+ T cell exhaustion as a probable contender, underscores the need for further investigation into the dysfunctional state of CD4+ T cells and NK cells, and explores the functional implications of molecular findings in these immune-cell types. Comprehending the cause and impact of ME/CFS immune cell dysfunction is critical to understanding the physiological mechanisms of ME/CFS, and developing effective treatments to alleviate the burden of this disabling condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Maya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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Komaroff AL, Lipkin WI. ME/CFS and Long COVID share similar symptoms and biological abnormalities: road map to the literature. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1187163. [PMID: 37342500 PMCID: PMC10278546 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1187163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Some patients remain unwell for months after "recovering" from acute COVID-19. They develop persistent fatigue, cognitive problems, headaches, disrupted sleep, myalgias and arthralgias, post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance and other symptoms that greatly interfere with their ability to function and that can leave some people housebound and disabled. The illness (Long COVID) is similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as well as to persisting illnesses that can follow a wide variety of other infectious agents and following major traumatic injury. Together, these illnesses are projected to cost the U.S. trillions of dollars. In this review, we first compare the symptoms of ME/CFS and Long COVID, noting the considerable similarities and the few differences. We then compare in extensive detail the underlying pathophysiology of these two conditions, focusing on abnormalities of the central and autonomic nervous system, lungs, heart, vasculature, immune system, gut microbiome, energy metabolism and redox balance. This comparison highlights how strong the evidence is for each abnormality, in each illness, and helps to set priorities for future investigation. The review provides a current road map to the extensive literature on the underlying biology of both illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L. Komaroff
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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Maksoud R, Magawa C, Eaton-Fitch N, Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review. BMC Med 2023; 21:189. [PMID: 37226227 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02893-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multifaceted condition that affects most body systems. There is currently no known diagnostic biomarker; instead, diagnosis is dependent on application of symptom-based case criteria following exclusion of any other potential medical conditions. While there are some studies that report potential biomarkers for ME/CFS, their efficacy has not been validated. The aim of this systematic review is to collate and appraise literature pertaining to a potential biomarker(s) which may effectively differentiate ME/CFS patients from healthy controls. METHODS This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Cochrane review guidelines. PubMed, Embase and Scopus were systematically searched for articles containing "biomarker" and "ME/CFS" keywords in the abstract or title and if they included the following criteria: (1) were observational studies published between December 1994 and April 2022; (2) involved adult human participants; (3) full text is available in English (4) original research; (5) diagnosis of ME/CFS patients made according to the Fukuda criteria (1994), Canadian Consensus Criteria (2003), International Consensus Criteria (2011) or Institute of Medicine Criteria (2015); (6) study investigated potential biomarkers of ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Quality and Bias were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Control Studies. RESULTS A total of 101 publications were included in this systematic review. Potential biomarkers ranged from genetic/epigenetic (19.8%), immunological (29.7%), metabolomics/mitochondrial/microbiome (14.85%), endovascular/circulatory (17.82%), neurological (7.92%), ion channel (8.91%) and physical dysfunction biomarkers (8.91%). Most of the potential biomarkers reported were blood-based (79.2%). Use of lymphocytes as a model to investigate ME/CFS pathology was prominent among immune-based biomarkers. Most biomarkers had secondary (43.56%) or tertiary (54.47%) selectivity, which is the ability for the biomarker to identify a disease-causing agent, and a moderate (59.40%) to complex (39.60%) ease-of-detection, including the requirement of specialised equipment. CONCLUSIONS All potential ME/CFS biomarkers differed in efficiency, quality, and translatability as a diagnostic marker. Reproducibility of findings between the included publications were limited, however, several studies validated the involvement of immune dysfunction in the pathology of ME/CFS and the use of lymphocytes as a model to investigate the pathomechanism of illness. The heterogeneity shown across many of the included studies highlights the need for multidisciplinary research and uniform protocols in ME/CFS biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Maksoud
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
| | - Chandi Magawa
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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10
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Singh TK, Zidar DA, McCrae K, Highland KB, Englund K, Cameron SJ, Chung MK. A Post-Pandemic Enigma: The Cardiovascular Impact of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. Circ Res 2023; 132:1358-1373. [PMID: 37167358 PMCID: PMC10171306 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.322228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 has become the first modern-day pandemic of historic proportion, affecting >600 million individuals worldwide and causing >6.5 million deaths. While acute infection has had devastating consequences, postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be a pandemic of its own, impacting up to one-third of survivors and often causing symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular phenomena. This review will highlight the suspected pathophysiology of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, its influence on the cardiovascular system, and potential treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamanna K Singh
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (TKS, MC, SJC)
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
| | - David A Zidar
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Louise Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland, OH (D.A.Z.)
| | - Keith McCrae
- Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (KM)
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
| | - Kristin B Highland
- Pulmonary Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (KBH)
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
| | - Kristin Englund
- Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (KE)
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
| | - Scott J Cameron
- Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (TKS, MC, SJC)
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
| | - Mina K Chung
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, OH (T.K.S., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH (T.K.S., D.A.Z., K.M., K.B.H., K.E., S.J.C., M.K.C.)
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11
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Maya J, Leddy SM, Gottschalk CG, Peterson DL, Hanson MR. Altered Fatty Acid Oxidation in Lymphocyte Populations of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2010. [PMID: 36768336 PMCID: PMC9916395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disabling multisystem illness in which individuals are plagued with fatigue, inflammatory symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and the hallmark symptom, post-exertional malaise. While the cause of this disease remains unknown, there is evidence of a potential infectious component that, along with patient symptoms and common onsets of the disease, implicates immune system dysfunction. To further our understanding of the state of ME/CFS lymphocytes, we characterized the role of fatty acids in isolated Natural Killer cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells in circulation and after overnight stimulation, through implicit perturbations to fatty acid oxidation. We examined samples obtained from at least 8 and as many as 20 subjects for immune cell fatty acid characterization in a variety of experiments and found that all three isolated cell types increased their utilization of lipids and levels of pertinent proteins involved in this metabolic pathway in ME/CFS samples, particularly during higher energy demands and activation. In T cells, we characterized the cell populations contributing to these metabolic shifts, which included CD4+ memory cells, CD4+ effector cells, CD8+ naïve cells, and CD8+ memory cells. We also discovered that patients with ME/CFS and healthy control samples had significant correlations between measurements of CD4+ T cell fatty acid metabolism and demographic data. These findings provide support for metabolic dysfunction in ME/CFS immune cells. We further hypothesize about the consequences that these altered fuel dependencies may have on T and NK cell effector function, which may shed light on the illness's mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Maya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Sabrina M. Leddy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | | | - Daniel L. Peterson
- Simmaron Research, Incline Village, NV 89451, USA
- Sierra Internal Medicine, Incline Village, NV 89451, USA
| | - Maureen R. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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12
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Long COVID and the Neuroendocrinology of Microbial Translocation Outside the GI Tract: Some Treatment Strategies. ENDOCRINES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/endocrines3040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar to previous pandemics, COVID-19 has been succeeded by well-documented post-infectious sequelae, including chronic fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, myalgia, and concentration difficulties, which may last 5 to 12 weeks or longer after the acute phase of illness. Both the psychological stress of SARS-CoV-2 infection and being diagnosed with COVID-19 can upregulate cortisol, a stress hormone that disrupts the efferocytosis effectors, macrophages, and natural killer cells, leading to the excessive accumulation of senescent cells and disruption of biological barriers. This has been well-established in cancer patients who often experience unrelenting fatigue as well as gut and blood–brain barrier dysfunction upon treatment with senescence-inducing radiation or chemotherapy. In our previous research from 2020 and 2021, we linked COVID-19 to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) via angiotensin II upregulation, premature endothelial senescence, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and microbial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic circulation. In 2021 and 2022, these hypotheses were validated and SARS-CoV-2-induced cellular senescence as well as microbial translocation were documented in both acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID, and ME/CFS, connecting intestinal barrier dysfunction to disabling fatigue and specific infectious events. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize what is currently known about host immune responses to translocated gut microbes and how these responses relate to fatiguing illnesses, including long COVID. To accomplish this goal, we examine the role of intestinal and blood–brain barriers in long COVID and other illnesses typified by chronic fatigue, with a special emphasis on commensal microbes functioning as viral reservoirs. Furthermore, we discuss the role of SARS-CoV-2/Mycoplasma coinfection in dysfunctional efferocytosis, emphasizing some potential novel treatment strategies, including the use of senotherapeutic drugs, HMGB1 inhibitors, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) blockers, and membrane lipid replacement.
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13
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Sukocheva OA, Maksoud R, Beeraka NM, Madhunapantula SV, Sinelnikov M, Nikolenko VN, Neganova ME, Klochkov SG, Amjad Kamal M, Staines DR, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Analysis of post COVID-19 condition and its overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Adv Res 2022; 40:179-196. [PMID: 36100326 PMCID: PMC8619886 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) triggers the development of numerous pathologies and infection-linked complications and exacerbates existing pathologies in nearly all body systems. Aside from the primarily targeted respiratory organs, adverse SARS-CoV-2 effects were observed in nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal/metabolic, immune, and other systems in COVID-19 survivors. Long-term effects of this viral infection have been recently observed and represent distressing sequelae recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a distinct clinical entity defined as post-COVID-19 condition. Considering the pandemic is still ongoing, more time is required to confirm post COVID-19 condition diagnosis in the COVID-19 infected cohorts, although many reported post COVID-19 symptoms overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). AIMS OF REVIEW In this study, COVID-19 clinical presentation and associated post-infection sequelae (post-COVID-19 condition) were reviewed and compared with ME/CFS symptomatology. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW The onset, progression, and symptom profile of post COVID-19 condition patients have considerable overlap with ME/CFS. Considering the large scope and range of pro-inflammatory effects of this virus, it is reasonable to expect development of post COVID-19 clinical complications in a proportion of the affected population. There are reports of a later debilitating syndrome onset three months post COVID-19 infection (often described as long-COVID-19), marked by the presence of fatigue, headache, cognitive dysfunction, post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance, and dyspnoea. Acute inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), have been reported in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Longitudinal monitoring of post COVID-19 patients is warranted to understand the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pathomechanism of post COVID-19 condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Sukocheva
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, SA, Australia; The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - Rebekah Maksoud
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Narasimha M Beeraka
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR), JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysore, India
| | - SabbaRao V Madhunapantula
- Department of Biochemistry, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR), JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysore, India; Special Interest Group in Cancer Biology and Cancer Stem Cells (SIG-CBCSC), JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysore, India
| | - Mikhail Sinelnikov
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Mohovaya 11c10, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N Nikolenko
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Mohovaya 11c10, Moscow, Russia
| | - Margarita E Neganova
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka 142432, Russia
| | - Sergey G Klochkov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka 142432, Russia
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
| | - Donald R Staines
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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14
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Jahanbani F, Maynard RD, Sing JC, Jahanbani S, Perrino JJ, Spacek DV, Davis RW, Snyder MP. Phenotypic characteristics of peripheral immune cells of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome via transmission electron microscopy: A pilot study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272703. [PMID: 35943990 PMCID: PMC9362953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex chronic multi-systemic disease characterized by extreme fatigue that is not improved by rest, and worsens after exertion, whether physical or mental. Previous studies have shown ME/CFS-associated alterations in the immune system and mitochondria. We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the morphology and ultrastructure of unstimulated and stimulated ME/CFS immune cells and their intracellular organelles, including mitochondria. PBMCs from four participants were studied: a pair of identical twins discordant for moderate ME/CFS, as well as two age- and gender- matched unrelated subjects-one with an extremely severe form of ME/CFS and the other healthy. TEM analysis of CD3/CD28-stimulated T cells suggested a significant increase in the levels of apoptotic and necrotic cell death in T cells from ME/CFS patients (over 2-fold). Stimulated Tcells of ME/CFS patients also had higher numbers of swollen mitochondria. We also found a large increase in intracellular giant lipid droplet-like organelles in the stimulated PBMCs from the extremely severe ME/CFS patient potentially indicative of a lipid storage disorder. Lastly, we observed a slight increase in platelet aggregation in stimulated cells, suggestive of a possible role of platelet activity in ME/CFS pathophysiology and disease severity. These results indicate extensive morphological alterations in the cellular and mitochondrial phenotypes of ME/CFS patients' immune cells and suggest new insights into ME/CFS biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Jahanbani
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Rajan D. Maynard
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Justin Cyril Sing
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaghayegh Jahanbani
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, and VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - John J. Perrino
- Stanford Cell Sciences Imaging Facility (CSIF), Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Damek V. Spacek
- Karius Incorporated, Redwood City, California, United States of America
| | - Ronald W. Davis
- ME/CFS Collaborative Research Center at Stanford, Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Michael P. Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
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15
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König RS, Albrich WC, Kahlert CR, Bahr LS, Löber U, Vernazza P, Scheibenbogen C, Forslund SK. The Gut Microbiome in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Front Immunol 2022; 12:628741. [PMID: 35046929 PMCID: PMC8761622 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.628741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a neglected, debilitating multi-systemic disease without diagnostic marker or therapy. Despite evidence for neurological, immunological, infectious, muscular and endocrine pathophysiological abnormalities, the etiology and a clear pathophysiology remains unclear. The gut microbiome gained much attention in the last decade with manifold implications in health and disease. Here we review the current state of knowledge on the interplay between ME/CFS and the microbiome, to identify potential diagnostic or interventional approaches, and propose areas where further research is needed. We iteratively selected and elaborated on key theories about a correlation between microbiome state and ME/CFS pathology, developing further hypotheses. Based on the literature we hypothesize that antibiotic use throughout life favours an intestinal microbiota composition which might be a risk factor for ME/CFS. Main proposed pathomechanisms include gut dysbiosis, altered gut-brain axis activity, increased gut permeability with concomitant bacterial translocation and reduced levels of short-chain-fatty acids, D-lactic acidosis, an abnormal tryptophan metabolism and low activity of the kynurenine pathway. We review options for microbiome manipulation in ME/CFS patients including probiotic and dietary interventions as well as fecal microbiota transplantations. Beyond increasing gut permeability and bacterial translocation, specific dysbiosis may modify fermentation products, affecting peripheral mitochondria. Considering the gut-brain axis we strongly suspect that the microbiome may contribute to neurocognitive impairments of ME/CFS patients. Further larger studies are needed, above all to clarify whether D-lactic acidosis and early-life antibiotic use may be part of ME/CFS etiology and what role changes in the tryptophan metabolism might play. An association between the gut microbiome and the disease ME/CFS is plausible. As causality remains unclear, we recommend longitudinal studies. Activity levels, bedridden hours and disease progression should be compared to antibiotic exposure, drug intakes and alterations in the composition of the microbiota. The therapeutic potential of fecal microbiota transfer and of targeted dietary interventions should be systematically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel S König
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Werner C Albrich
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Christian R Kahlert
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Lina Samira Bahr
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation of Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Löber
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation of Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Host-Microbiome Factors in Cardiovascular Disease, Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Pietro Vernazza
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Scheibenbogen
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sofia K Forslund
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Joint Cooperation of Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Host-Microbiome Factors in Cardiovascular Disease, Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
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16
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Dehhaghi M, Panahi HKS, Kavyani B, Heng B, Tan V, Braidy N, Guillemin GJ. The Role of Kynurenine Pathway and NAD + Metabolism in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Aging Dis 2022; 13:698-711. [PMID: 35656104 PMCID: PMC9116917 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious, complex, and highly debilitating long-term illness. People with ME/CFS are typically unable to carry out their routine activities. Key hallmarks of the disease are neurological and gastrointestinal impairments accompanied by pervasive malaise that is exacerbated after physical and/or mental activity. Currently, there is no validated cure of biomarker signature for this illness. Impaired tryptophan (TRYP) metabolism is thought to play significant role in the pathobiology of ME/CFS. TRYP is an important precursor for serotonin and the essential pyridine nucleotide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). TRYP has been associated with the development of some parts of the brain responsible for behavioural functions. The main catabolic route for TRYP is the kynurenine pathway (KP). The KP produces NAD+ and several neuroactive metabolites with neuroprotective (i.e., kynurenic acid (KYNA)) and neurotoxic (i.e., quinolinic acid (QUIN)) activities. Hyperactivation of the KP, whether compensatory or a driving mechanism of degeneration can limit the availability of NAD+ and exacerbate the symptoms of ME/CFS. This review discusses the potential association of altered KP metabolism in ME/CFS. The review also evaluates the role of the patient’s gut microbiota on TRYP availability and KP activation. We propose that strategies aimed at raising the levels of NAD+ (e.g., using nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside) may be a promising intervention to overcome symptoms of fatigue and to improve the quality of life in patients with ME/CFS. Future clinical trials should further assess the potential benefits of NAD+ supplements for reducing some of the clinical features of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Dehhaghi
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
- PANDIS.org, Australia.
| | | | - Bahar Kavyani
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
| | - Benjamin Heng
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
- PANDIS.org, Australia.
| | - Vanessa Tan
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
- PANDIS.org, Australia.
| | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Gilles J. Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
- PANDIS.org, Australia.
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Gilles J. Guillemin, Neuroinflammation Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia. .
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17
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Deumer US, Varesi A, Floris V, Savioli G, Mantovani E, López-Carrasco P, Rosati GM, Prasad S, Ricevuti G. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): An Overview. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10204786. [PMID: 34682909 PMCID: PMC8538807 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10204786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic systemic disease that manifests via various symptoms such as chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive impairment described as “brain fog”. These symptoms often prevent patients from keeping up their pre-disease onset lifestyle, as extended periods of physical or mental activity become almost impossible. However, the disease presents heterogeneously with varying severity across patients. Therefore, consensus criteria have been designed to provide a diagnosis based on symptoms. To date, no biomarker-based tests or diagnoses are available, since the molecular changes observed also largely differ from patient to patient. In this review, we discuss the infectious, genetic, and hormonal components that may be involved in CFS pathogenesis, we scrutinize the role of gut microbiota in disease progression, we highlight the potential of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for the development of diagnostic tools and briefly mention the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection causing CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Undine-Sophie Deumer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Angelica Varesi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Almo Collegio Borromeo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (G.R.)
| | - Valentina Floris
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Savioli
- Emergency Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Elisa Mantovani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Neurology Section, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy;
| | - Paulina López-Carrasco
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | | | - Sakshi Prasad
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, 21018 Vinnytsya, Ukraine;
| | - Giovanni Ricevuti
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (G.R.)
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18
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Insights from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome may help unravel the pathogenesis of postacute COVID-19 syndrome. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:895-906. [PMID: 34175230 PMCID: PMC8180841 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause chronic and acute disease. Postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) include injury to the lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain that may produce a variety of symptoms. PASC also includes a post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome ('long COVID') with features that can follow other acute infectious diseases and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Here we summarize what is known about the pathogenesis of ME/CFS and of 'acute' COVID-19, and we speculate that the pathogenesis of post-COVID-19 syndrome in some people may be similar to that of ME/CFS. We propose molecular mechanisms that might explain the fatigue and related symptoms in both illnesses, and we suggest a research agenda for both ME/CFS and post-COVID-19 syndrome.
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19
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Comella PH, Gonzalez-Kozlova E, Kosoy R, Charney AW, Peradejordi IF, Chandrasekar S, Tyler SR, Wang W, Losic B, Zhu J, Hoffman GE, Kim-Schulze S, Qi J, Patel M, Kasarskis A, Suarez-Farinas M, Gümüş ZH, Argmann C, Merad M, Becker C, Beckmann ND, Schadt EE. A Molecular network approach reveals shared cellular and molecular signatures between chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.01.29.21250755. [PMID: 33564792 PMCID: PMC7872387 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.29.21250755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
IntroThe molecular mechanisms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, or Myalgic encephalomyelitis), a disease defined by extreme, long-term fatigue, remain largely uncharacterized, and presently no molecular diagnostic test and no specific treatments exist to diagnose and treat CFS patients. While CFS has historically had an estimated prevalence of 0.1-0.5% [1], concerns of a “long hauler” version of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that symptomatically overlaps CFS to a significant degree(Supplemental Table-1)and appears to occur in 10% of COVID-19 patients[2], has raised concerns of a larger spike in CFS [3]. Here, we established molecular signatures of CFS and a corresponding network-based disease context from RNA-sequencing data generated on whole blood and FACs sorted specific peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from CFS cases and non-CFS controls. The immune cell type specific molecular signatures of CFS we identified, overlapped molecular signatures from other fatiguing illnesses, demonstrating a common molecular etiology. Further, after constructing a probabilistic causal model of the CFS gene expression data, we identified master regulator genes modulating network states associated with CFS, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip H. Comella
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Edgar Gonzalez-Kozlova
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Roman Kosoy
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Alexander W. Charney
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Irene Font Peradejordi
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Cornell Tech at Cornell University, New York, NY, 10044, USA
| | - Shreya Chandrasekar
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Cornell Tech at Cornell University, New York, NY, 10044, USA
| | - Scott R. Tyler
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Wenhui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bojan Losic
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
| | - Gabriel E. Hoffman
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Seunghee Kim-Schulze
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Jingjing Qi
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Manishkumar Patel
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Andrew Kasarskis
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | - Mayte Suarez-Farinas
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
| | - Zeynep H. Gümüş
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
| | - Carmen Argmann
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
| | - Miriam Merad
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - Noam D. Beckmann
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
| | - Eric E. Schadt
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Data Science and Genomics Technology, New York, NY 10029
- Sema4, a Mount Sinai venture, Stamford CT, 06902, USA
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20
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Toogood PL, Clauw DJ, Phadke S, Hoffman D. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Where will the drugs come from? Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105465. [PMID: 33529750 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic debilitating disease characterized by severe and disabling fatigue that fails to improve with rest; it is commonly accompanied by multifocal pain, as well as sleep disruption, and cognitive dysfunction. Even mild exertion can exacerbate symptoms. The prevalence of ME/CFS in the U.S. is estimated to be 0.5-1.5 % and is higher among females. Viral infection is an established trigger for the onset of ME/CFS symptoms, raising the possibility of an increase in ME/CFS prevalence resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Current treatments are largely palliative and limited to alleviating symptoms and addressing the psychological sequelae associated with long-term disability. While ME/CFS is characterized by broad heterogeneity, common features include immune dysregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanistic basis of the disease remains poorly understood. Herein, we review the current understanding, diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS and summarize past clinical studies aimed at identifying effective therapies. We describe the current status of mechanistic studies, including the identification of multiple targets for potential pharmacological intervention, and ongoing efforts towards the discovery of new medicines for ME/CFS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Toogood
- Michigan Drug Discovery, University of Michigan, Life Science Institute, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, North University Building, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States.
| | - Daniel J Clauw
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine (Rheumatology) and Psychiatry, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Center, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, P.O. Box 3885, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States
| | - Sameer Phadke
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, North University Building, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States
| | - David Hoffman
- Cayman Chemical Company, 1180 E. Ellsworth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, United States
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21
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Gómez-Mora E, Carrillo J, Urrea V, Rigau J, Alegre J, Cabrera C, Oltra E, Castro-Marrero J, Blanco J. Impact of Long-Term Cryopreservation on Blood Immune Cell Markers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Biomarker Discovery. Front Immunol 2020; 11:582330. [PMID: 33329554 PMCID: PMC7732598 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.582330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex neuroimmune disorder characterized by numerous symptoms of unknown etiology. The ME/CFS immune markers reported so far have failed to generate a clinical consensus, perhaps partly due to the limitations of biospecimen biobanking. To address this issue, we performed a comparative analysis of the impact of long-term biobanking on previously identified immune markers and also explored additional potential immune markers linked to infection in ME/CFS. A correlation analysis of marker cryostability across immune cell subsets based on flow cytometry immunophenotyping of fresh blood and frozen PBMC samples collected from individuals with ME/CFS (n = 18) and matched healthy controls (n = 18) was performed. The functionality of biobanked samples was assessed on the basis of cytokine production assay after stimulation of frozen PBMCs. T cell markers defining Treg subsets and the expression of surface glycoprotein CD56 in T cells and the frequency of the effector CD8 T cells, together with CD57 expression in NK cells, appeared unaltered by biobanking. By contrast, NK cell markers CD25 and CD69 were notably increased, and NKp46 expression markedly reduced, by long-term cryopreservation and thawing. Further exploration of Treg and NK cell subsets failed to identify significant differences between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls in terms of biobanked PBMCs. Our findings show that some of the previously identified immune markers in T and NK cell subsets become unstable after cell biobanking, thus limiting their use in further immunophenotyping studies for ME/CFS. These data are potentially relevant for future multisite intervention studies and cooperative projects for biomarker discovery using ME/CFS biobanked samples. Further studies are needed to develop novel tools for the assessment of biomarker stability in cryopreserved immune cells from people with ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Gómez-Mora
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Jorge Carrillo
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Víctor Urrea
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | | | - José Alegre
- Division of Rheumatology, ME/CFS Clinical Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Cabrera
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Elisa Oltra
- School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jesús Castro-Marrero
- Division of Rheumatology, ME/CFS Research Unit, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julià Blanco
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Institut d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
- Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CESS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic, Central University of Catalonia (UVic–UCC), Vic, Spain
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22
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Changes in DNA methylation profiles of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients reflect systemic dysfunctions. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:167. [PMID: 33148325 PMCID: PMC7641803 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00960-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a lifelong debilitating disease with a complex pathology not yet clearly defined. Susceptibility to ME/CFS involves genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental factors, suggesting an epigenetic association. Epigenetic studies with other ME/CFS cohorts have used array-based technology to identify differentially methylated individual sites. Changes in RNA quantities and protein abundance have been documented in our previous investigations with the same ME/CFS cohort used for this study. RESULTS DNA from a well-characterised New Zealand cohort of 10 ME/CFS patients and 10 age-/sex-matched healthy controls was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells, and used to generate reduced genome-scale DNA methylation maps using reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS). The sequencing data were analysed utilising the DMAP analysis pipeline to identify differentially methylated fragments, and the MethylKit pipeline was used to quantify methylation differences at individual CpG sites. DMAP identified 76 differentially methylated fragments and Methylkit identified 394 differentially methylated cytosines that included both hyper- and hypo-methylation. Four clusters were identified where differentially methylated DNA fragments overlapped with or were within close proximity to multiple differentially methylated individual cytosines. These clusters identified regulatory regions for 17 protein encoding genes related to metabolic and immune activity. Analysis of differentially methylated gene bodies (exons/introns) identified 122 unique genes. Comparison with other studies on PBMCs from ME/CFS patients and controls with array technology showed 59% of the genes identified in this study were also found in one or more of these studies. Functional pathway enrichment analysis identified 30 associated pathways. These included immune, metabolic and neurological-related functions differentially regulated in ME/CFS patients compared to the matched healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Major differences were identified in the DNA methylation patterns of ME/CFS patients that clearly distinguished them from the healthy controls. Over half found in gene bodies with RRBS in this study had been identified in other ME/CFS studies using the same cells but with array technology. Within the enriched functional immune, metabolic and neurological pathways, a number of enriched neurotransmitter and neuropeptide reactome pathways highlighted a disturbed neurological pathophysiology within the patient group.
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23
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Mandarano AH, Maya J, Giloteaux L, Peterson DL, Maynard M, Gottschalk CG, Hanson MR. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients exhibit altered T cell metabolism and cytokine associations. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:1491-1505. [PMID: 31830003 DOI: 10.1172/jci132185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease with no known cause or mechanism. There is an increasing appreciation for the role of immune and metabolic dysfunction in the disease. ME/CFS has historically presented in outbreaks, often has a flu-like onset, and results in inflammatory symptoms. Patients suffer from severe fatigue and postexertional malaise. There is little known about the metabolism of specific immune cells in patients with ME/CFS. To investigate immune metabolism in ME/CFS, we isolated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from 53 patients with ME/CFS and 45 healthy controls. We analyzed glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in resting and activated T cells, along with markers related to cellular metabolism and plasma cytokines. We found that ME/CFS CD8+ T cells had reduced mitochondrial membrane potential compared with those from healthy controls. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from patients with ME/CFS had reduced glycolysis at rest, whereas CD8+ T cells also had reduced glycolysis following activation. Patients with ME/CFS had significant correlations between measures of T cell metabolism and plasma cytokine abundance that differed from correlations seen in healthy control subjects. Our data indicate that patients have impaired T cell metabolism consistent with ongoing immune alterations in ME/CFS that may illuminate the mechanism behind this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra H Mandarano
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jessica Maya
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Ludovic Giloteaux
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | | | - Marco Maynard
- Simmaron Research Institute, Incline Village, Nevada, USA
| | | | - Maureen R Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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24
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Environmental, Neuro-immune, and Neuro-oxidative Stress Interactions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4598-4607. [PMID: 32761353 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-01939-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS) is a complex, multisystem disease that is characterized by long-term fatigue, exhaustion, disabilities, pain, neurocognitive impairments, gastrointestinal symptoms, and post-exertional malaise, as well as lowered occupational, educational, and social functions. The clinical and biomarker diagnosis of this disorder is hampered by the lack of validated diagnostic criteria and laboratory tests with adequate figures of merit, although there are now many disease biomarkers indicating the pathophysiology of CFS. Here, we review multiple factors, such as immunological and environmental factors, which are associated with CFS and evaluate current concepts on the involvement of immune and environmental factors in the pathophysiology of CFS. The most frequently reported immune dysregulations in CFS are modifications in immunoglobulin contents, changes in B and T cell phenotypes and cytokine profiles, and decreased cytotoxicity of natural killer cells. Some of these immune aberrations display a moderate diagnostic performance to externally validate the clinical diagnosis of CFS, including the expression of activation markers and protein kinase R (PKR) activity. Associated with the immune aberrations are activated nitro-oxidative pathways, which may explain the key symptoms of CFS. This review shows that viral and bacterial infections, as well as nutritional deficiencies, may further aggravate the immune-oxidative pathophysiology of CFS. Targeted treatments with antioxidants and lipid replacement treatments may have some clinical efficacy in CFS. We conclude that complex interactions between immune and nitro-oxidative pathways, infectious agents, environmental factors, and nutritional deficiencies play a role in the pathophysiology of CFS.
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25
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Lande A, Fluge Ø, Strand EB, Flåm ST, Sosa DD, Mella O, Egeland T, Saugstad OD, Lie BA, Viken MK. Human Leukocyte Antigen alleles associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Sci Rep 2020; 10:5267. [PMID: 32210306 PMCID: PMC7093502 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62157-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology and pathogenesis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) are unknown, and autoimmunity is one of many proposed underlying mechanisms. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations are hallmarks of autoimmune disease, and have not been thoroughly investigated in a large ME/CFS patient cohort. We performed high resolution HLA -A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 and -DPB1 genotyping by next generation sequencing in 426 adult, Norwegian ME/CFS patients, diagnosed according to the Canadian Consensus Criteria. HLA associations were assessed by comparing to 4511 healthy and ethnically matched controls. Clinical information was collected through questionnaires completed by patients or relatives. We discovered two independent HLA associations, tagged by the alleles HLA-C*07:04 (OR 2.1 [95% CI 1.4–3.1]) and HLA-DQB1*03:03 (OR 1.5 [95% CI 1.1–2.0]). These alleles were carried by 7.7% and 12.7% of ME/CFS patients, respectively. The proportion of individuals carrying one or both of these alleles was 19.2% in the patient group and 12.2% in the control group (OR 1.7 [95% CI 1.3–2.2], pnc = 0.00003). ME/CFS is a complex disease, potentially with a substantial heterogeneity. We report novel HLA associations pointing toward the involvement of the immune system in ME/CFS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asgeir Lande
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. .,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Øystein Fluge
- Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital and Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Elin B Strand
- National Advisory Unit on CFS/ME, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Health Science, VID Specialized University, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Siri T Flåm
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daysi D Sosa
- CFS/ME Center, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Mella
- Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital and Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Torstein Egeland
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ola D Saugstad
- Department of Pediatric Research, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Benedicte A Lie
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marte K Viken
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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26
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Germain A, Barupal DK, Levine SM, Hanson MR. Comprehensive Circulatory Metabolomics in ME/CFS Reveals Disrupted Metabolism of Acyl Lipids and Steroids. Metabolites 2020; 10:E34. [PMID: 31947545 PMCID: PMC7023305 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The latest worldwide prevalence rate projects that over 65 million patients suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), an illness with known effects on the functioning of the immune and nervous systems. We performed an extensive metabolomics analysis on the plasma of 52 female subjects, equally sampled between controls and ME/CFS patients, which delivered data for about 1750 blood compounds spanning 20 super-pathways, subdivided into 113 sub-pathways. Statistical analysis combined with pathway enrichment analysis points to a few disrupted metabolic pathways containing many unexplored compounds. The most intriguing finding concerns acyl cholines, belonging to the fatty acid metabolism sub-pathway of lipids, for which all compounds are consistently reduced in two distinct ME/CFS patient cohorts. We compiled the extremely limited knowledge about these compounds and regard them as promising in the quest to explain many of the ME/CFS symptoms. Another class of lipids with far-reaching activity on virtually all organ systems are steroids; androgenic, progestin, and corticosteroids are broadly reduced in our patient cohort. We also report on lower dipeptides and elevated sphingolipids abundance in patients compared to controls. Disturbances in the metabolism of many of these molecules can be linked to the profound organ system symptoms endured by ME/CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Germain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (A.G.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Dinesh K. Barupal
- UC Davis Genome Center—Metabolomics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Susan M. Levine
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (A.G.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Maureen R. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (A.G.); (S.M.L.)
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27
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Sepúlveda N, Carneiro J, Lacerda E, Nacul L. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a Hyper-Regulated Immune System Driven by an Interplay Between Regulatory T Cells and Chronic Human Herpesvirus Infections. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2684. [PMID: 31824487 PMCID: PMC6883905 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmunity and chronic viral infections are recurrent clinical observations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a complex disease with an unknown cause. Given these observations, the regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) show promise to be good candidates for the underlying pathology due to their capacity to suppress the immune responses against both self and microbial antigens. Here, we discussed the overlooked role of these cells in the chronicity of Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6), Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV1), and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), as often reported as triggers of ME/CFS. Using simulations of the cross-regulation model for the dynamics of Tregs, we illustrated that mild infections might lead to a chronically activated immune responses under control of Tregs if the responding clone has a high autoimmune potential. Such infections promote persistent inflammation and possibly fatigue. We then hypothesized that ME/CFS is a condition characterized by a predominance of this type of infections under control of Tregs. In contrast, healthy individuals are hypothesized to trigger immune responses of a virus-specific clone with a low autoimmune potential. According to this hypothesis, simple model simulations of the CD4+ T-cell repertoire could reproduce the increased density and percentages of Tregs observed in patients suffering from the disease, when compared to healthy controls. A deeper analysis of Tregs in the pathogenesis of ME/CFS will help to assess the validity of this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Sepúlveda
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Centre of Statistics and Its Applications, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jorge Carneiro
- Quantitative Organism Biology Group, Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Eliana Lacerda
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Nacul
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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28
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Eaton-Fitch N, du Preez S, Cabanas H, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. A systematic review of natural killer cells profile and cytotoxic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Syst Rev 2019; 8:279. [PMID: 31727160 PMCID: PMC6857215 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-019-1202-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compromised natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic function is a well-documented and consistent feature of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Other outcomes evaluated in NK cells of ME/CFS patients, however, remain equivocal. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding NK cell phenotype, receptor expression, cytokine production and cytotoxicity in ME/CFS patients and determine the appropriateness as a model for ME/CFS. METHODS Medline (EBSCOHost), Scopus, EMBASE and PubMed databases were systematically searched to source relevant papers published between 1994 and March 2018. This review included studies examining NK cells' features in ME/CFS patients compared with HC following administration of specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Secondary outcomes included genetic analysis in isolated NK cells or quality of life assessment. Quality assessment was completed using the Downs and Black checklist in addition to The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. RESULTS Seventeen eligible publications were included in this review. All studies were observational case control studies. Of these, 11 investigated NK cell cytotoxicity, 14 investigated NK cell phenotype and receptor profiles, three examined NK cell cytokine production, six investigated NK cell lytic protein levels and four investigated NK cell degranulation. Impaired NK cell cytotoxicity remained the most consistent immunological report across all publications. Other outcomes investigated differed between studies. CONCLUSION A consistent finding among all papers included in this review was impaired NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting that it is a reliable and appropriate cellular model for continued research in ME/CFS patients. Aberrations in NK cell lytic protein levels were also reported. Although additional research is recommended, current research provides a foundation for subsequent investigations. It is possible that NK cell abnormalities can be used to characterise a subset of ME/CFS due to the heterogeneity of both the illness itself and findings between studies investigating specific features of NK function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Stanley du Preez
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Hélène Cabanas
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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29
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Cabanas H, Muraki K, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. Naltrexone Restores Impaired Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 Ion Channel Function in Natural Killer Cells From Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2545. [PMID: 31736966 PMCID: PMC6834647 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a seriously long-term and debilitating illness of unknown cause hallmarked by chronic pain and fatigue, memory and concentration impairment, and inflammation. ME/CFS hypothesis involves impaired Transient receptor potential melastatin 3 (TRPM3) ion channel function, affecting calcium signaling and Natural killer (NK) cell functions. Currently, substances called opioids, agonists of mu (μ)-opioid receptors (μOR), are the strongest painkillers clinically available for people suffering from strong or long-lasting pain characteristic of ME/CFS. μOR have been reported to specifically inhibit TRPM3 and to be expressed in immune cells where they play an immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive role. Naltrexone hydrochloride (NTX) acts as an antagonist to the μOR thus negating the inhibitory function of this opioid receptor on TRPM3. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of action for NTX in regulating and modulating TRPM3 channel function in NK cells will provide important information for the development of effective therapeutic interventions for ME/CFS. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to measure TRPM3 activity in Interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulated and NTX-treated NK cells for 24 h on eight ME/CFS patients and 8 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, after modulation with a TRPM3-agonist, pregnenolone sulfate (PregS), NTX and a TRPM3-antagonist, ononetin. We confirmed impaired TRPM3 function in ME/CFS patients through electrophysiological investigations in IL-2 stimulated NK cells after modulation with PregS and ononetin. Importantly, TRPM3 channel activity was restored in IL-2 stimulated NK cells isolated from ME/CFS patients after incubation for 24 h with NTX. Moreover, we demonstrated that NTX does not act as an agonist by directly coupling on the TRPM3 ion channel gating. The opioid antagonist NTX has the potential to negate the inhibitory function of opioid receptors on TRPM3 in NK cells from ME/CFS patients, resulting in calcium signals remodeling, which will in turn affect cell functions, supporting the hypothesis that NTX may have potential for use as a treatment for ME/CFS. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, and based on novel patch clamp electrophysiology, potential pharmaco-therapeutic interventions in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Cabanas
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Katsuhiko Muraki
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Donald Staines
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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30
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Comhaire F, Deslypere JP. News and views in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): The role of co-morbidity and novel treatments. Med Hypotheses 2019; 134:109444. [PMID: 31669858 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Though affecting many thousands of patients, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) should be considered an orphan disease, since the cause remains elusive and no treatment is available that can provide complete cure. There is reasonable insight into the pathogenesis of signs and symptoms, and treatments specifically directed to immunological, inflammatory and metabolic processes offer relief to an increasing number of patients. Particular attention is given to the importance of co-morbidity requiring appropriate therapy. Promising results are obtained by treatment with Metformin, or possibly Momordica charantia extract, which will correct insulin resistance, with Meldonium improving the transportation of glucose into the mitochondria, with sodium dichloroacetate activating pyruvate dehydrogenase, and with nutraceutical support reducing oxidative and inflammatory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Comhaire
- Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine, Endrocrinology and Metabolic diseases, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
| | - J P Deslypere
- Managing Director Aesculape CRO BVBA, Belseledorp, 116; B9111 Belsele, Belgium
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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2019; 9:diagnostics9030091. [PMID: 31394725 PMCID: PMC6787585 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics9030091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic disease of unknown aetiology that is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) as a disorder of the brain. The disease predominantly affects adults, with a peak age of onset of between 20 and 45 years with a female to male ratio of 3:1. Although the clinical features of the disease have been well established within diagnostic criteria, the diagnosis of ME/CFS is still of exclusion, meaning that other medical conditions must be ruled out. The pathophysiological mechanisms are unclear but the neuro-immuno-endocrinological pattern of CFS patients gleaned from various studies indicates that these three pillars may be the key point to understand the complexity of the disease. At the moment, there are no specific pharmacological therapies to treat the disease, but several studies' aims and therapeutic approaches have been described in order to benefit patients' prognosis, symptomatology relief, and the recovery of pre-existing function. This review presents a pathophysiological approach to understanding the essential concepts of ME/CFS, with an emphasis on the population, clinical, and genetic concepts associated with ME/CFS.
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Kristiansen MS, Stabursvik J, O'Leary EC, Pedersen M, Asprusten TT, Leegaard T, Osnes LT, Tjade T, Skovlund E, Godang K, Wyller VBB. Clinical symptoms and markers of disease mechanisms in adolescent chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection: An exploratory cross-sectional study. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:551-563. [PMID: 31039432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a trigger of chronic fatigue (CF) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore clinical symptoms as well as markers of disease mechanisms in fatigued and non-fatigued adolescents 6 months after EBV-infection, and in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 200 adolescents (12-20 years old) with acute EBV infection were assessed 6 months after the initial infectious event and divided into fatigued (EBV CF+) and non-fatigued (EBV CF-) cases based on questionnaire score. The EBV CF+ cases were further sub-divided according to case definitions of CFS. In addition, a group of 70 healthy controls with similar distribution of sex and age was included. Symptoms were mapped with a questionnaire. Laboratory assays included EBV PCR and serology; detailed blood leukocyte phenotyping and serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein; and plasma and urine cortisol and catecholamines. Assessment of autonomic activity was performed with continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cardiovascular variables during supine rest, controlled breathing and upright standing. Differences between EBV CF+ and EBV CF- were assessed by simple and multiple linear regression adjusting for sex as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. This study is part of the CEBA-project (Chronic fatigue following acute Epstein-Barr virus infection in adolescents). RESULTS The EBV CF+ group had significantly higher scores for all clinical symptoms. All markers of infection and most immune, neuroendocrine and autonomic markers were similar across the EBV CF+ and EBV CF- group. However, the EBV CF+ group had slightly higher serum C-reactive protein (0.48 vs 0.43 mg/L, p = 0.031, high-sensitive assay), total T cell (CD3+) count (median 1573 vs 1481 × 106 cells/L, p = 0.012), plasma norepinephrine (1420 vs 1113 pmol/L, p = 0.01) and plasma epinephrine (363 vs 237 nmol/L, p = 0.032); lower low-frequency:high frequency (LF/HF) ratio of heart rate variability at supine rest (0.63 vs 0.76, p = 0.008); and an attenuated decline in LF/HF ratio during controlled breathing (-0.11 vs -0.25, p = 0.002). Subgrouping according to different CFS diagnostic criteria did not significantly alter the results. Within the EBV CF+ group, there were no strong correlations between clinical symptoms and markers of disease mechanisms. In a multiple regression analysis, serum CRP levels were independently associated with serum cortisol (B = 4.5 × 10-4, p < 0.001), urine norepinephrine (B = 9.6 × 10-2, p = 0.044) and high-frequency power of heart rate variability (B = -3.7 × 10-2, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS In adolescents, CF and CFS 6 months after acute EBV infection are associated with high symptom burden, but no signs of increased viral load and only subtle alterations of immune, autonomic, and neuroendocrine markers of which no one is strongly correlated with symptom scores. A slight sympathetic over parasympathetic predominance is evident in CF and might explain slightly increased CRP levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Skjerven Kristiansen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Julie Stabursvik
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Elise Catriona O'Leary
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Maria Pedersen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Tarjei Tørre Asprusten
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Truls Leegaard
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Microbiology and Infection Control, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | | | | | - Eva Skovlund
- Dept. of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Kristin Godang
- Section of Specialized Endocrinology, Dept. of Endocrinology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Vegard Bruun Bratholm Wyller
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Dept. of Pediatrics, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
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Cliff JM, King EC, Lee JS, Sepúlveda N, Wolf AS, Kingdon C, Bowman E, Dockrell HM, Nacul L, Lacerda E, Riley EM. Cellular Immune Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Front Immunol 2019; 10:796. [PMID: 31057538 PMCID: PMC6477089 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition with unknown aetiology, Myalgic encephalomyelitis unclear pathophysiology and with no diagnostic test or biomarker available. Many patients report their ME/CFS began after an acute infection, and subsequent increased frequency of infections, such as colds or influenza, is common. These factors imply an altered immunological status exists in ME/CFS, in at least a proportion of patients, yet previous studies of peripheral immunity have been discrepant and inconclusive. The UK ME/CFS Biobank, which has collected blood samples from nearly 300 clinically-confirmed ME/CFS patients, enables large-scale studies of immunological function in phenotypically well-characterised participants. In this study, herpes virus serological status and T cell, B cell, NK cell and monocyte populations were investigated in 251 ME/CFS patients, including 54 who were severely affected, and compared with those from 107 healthy participants and with 46 patients with Multiple Sclerosis. There were no differences in seroprevalence for six human herpes viruses between ME/CFS and healthy controls, although seroprevalence for the Epstein-Barr virus was higher in multiple sclerosis patients. Contrary to previous reports, no significant differences were observed in NK cell numbers, subtype proportions or in vitro responsiveness between ME/CFS patients and healthy control participants. In contrast, the T cell compartment was altered in ME/CFS, with increased proportions of effector memory CD8+ T cells and decreased proportions of terminally differentiated effector CD8+ T cells. Conversely, there was a significantly increased proportion of mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT) cells, especially in severely affected ME/CFS patients. These abnormalities demonstrate that an altered immunological state does exist in ME/CFS, particularly in severely affected people. This may simply reflect ongoing or recent infection, or may indicate future increased susceptibility to infection. Longitudinal studies of ME/CFS patients are needed to help to determine cause and effect and thus any potential benefits of immuno-modulatory treatments for ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Cliff
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth C. King
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ji-Sook Lee
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nuno Sepúlveda
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Centre of Statistics and Applications, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Asia-Sophia Wolf
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Kingdon
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erinna Bowman
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hazel M. Dockrell
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Luis Nacul
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eliana Lacerda
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor M. Riley
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Rasa S, Nora-Krukle Z, Henning N, Eliassen E, Shikova E, Harrer T, Scheibenbogen C, Murovska M, Prusty BK. Chronic viral infections in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). J Transl Med 2018; 16:268. [PMID: 30285773 PMCID: PMC6167797 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1644-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and main text Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and controversial clinical condition without having established causative factors. Increasing numbers of cases during past decade have created awareness among patients as well as healthcare professionals. Chronic viral infection as a cause of ME/CFS has long been debated. However, lack of large studies involving well-designed patient groups and validated experimental set ups have hindered our knowledge about this disease. Moreover, recent developments regarding molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of various infectious agents cast doubts over validity of several of the past studies. Conclusions This review aims to compile all the studies done so far to investigate various viral agents that could be associated with ME/CFS. Furthermore, we suggest strategies to better design future studies on the role of viral infections in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santa Rasa
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Zaiga Nora-Krukle
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nina Henning
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eva Eliassen
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Evelina Shikova
- Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Thomas Harrer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carmen Scheibenbogen
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany
| | - Modra Murovska
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Rīga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Bhupesh K Prusty
- Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. .,Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, Würzburg, Germany.
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