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Annesley SJ, Missailidis D, Heng B, Josev EK, Armstrong CW. Unravelling shared mechanisms: insights from recent ME/CFS research to illuminate long COVID pathologies. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:443-458. [PMID: 38443223 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.003] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic illness often triggered by an initiating acute event, mainly viral infections. The transition from acute to chronic disease remains unknown, but interest in this phenomenon has escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-COVID-19 illness, termed 'long COVID' (LC). Both ME/CFS and LC share many clinical similarities. Here, we present recent findings in ME/CFS research focussing on proposed disease pathologies shared with LC. Understanding these disease pathologies and how they influence each other is key to developing effective therapeutics and diagnostic tests. Given that ME/CFS typically has a longer disease duration compared with LC, with symptoms and pathologies evolving over time, ME/CFS may provide insights into the future progression of LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Annesley
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia.
| | - Daniel Missailidis
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin Heng
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elisha K Josev
- Neurodisability & Rehabilitation, Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher W Armstrong
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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2
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Pietrangelo T, Cagnin S, Bondi D, Santangelo C, Marramiero L, Purcaro C, Bonadio RS, Di Filippo ES, Mancinelli R, Fulle S, Verratti V, Cheng X. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome from current evidence to new diagnostic perspectives through skeletal muscle and metabolic disturbances. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14122. [PMID: 38483046 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14122] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a demanding medical condition for patients and society. It has raised much more public awareness after the COVID-19 pandemic since ME/CFS and long-COVID patients share many clinical symptoms such as debilitating chronic fatigue. However, unlike long COVID, the etiopathology of ME/CFS remains a mystery despite several decades' research. This review moves from pathophysiology of ME/CFS through the compelling evidence and most interesting hypotheses. It focuses on the pathophysiology of skeletal muscle by proposing the hypothesis that skeletal muscle tissue offers novel opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome and that new evidence can help resolve the long-standing debate on terminology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Pietrangelo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefano Cagnin
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
- CIR-Myo Myology Center, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Danilo Bondi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Carmen Santangelo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marramiero
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristina Purcaro
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Ester Sara Di Filippo
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Rosa Mancinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Stefania Fulle
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- IIM-Interuniversity Institute of Myology, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Vittore Verratti
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Xuanhong Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Yagin FH, Shateri A, Nasiri H, Yagin B, Colak C, Alghannam AF. Development of an expert system for the classification of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. PeerJ Comput Sci 2024; 10:e1857. [PMID: 38660205 PMCID: PMC11041999 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe condition with an uncertain origin and a dismal prognosis. There is presently no precise diagnostic test for ME/CFS, and the diagnosis is determined primarily by the presence of certain symptoms. The current study presents an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) integrated machine learning (ML) framework that identifies and classifies potential metabolic biomarkers of ME/CFS. Metabolomic data from blood samples from 19 controls and 32 ME/CFS patients, all female, who were between age and body mass index (BMI) frequency-matched groups, were used to develop the XAI-based model. The dataset contained 832 metabolites, and after feature selection, the model was developed using only 50 metabolites, meaning less medical knowledge is required, thus reducing diagnostic costs and improving prognostic time. The computational method was developed using six different ML algorithms before and after feature selection. The final classification model was explained using the XAI approach, SHAP. The best-performing classification model (XGBoost) achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) value of 98.85%. SHAP results showed that decreased levels of alpha-CEHC sulfate, hypoxanthine, and phenylacetylglutamine, as well as increased levels of N-delta-acetylornithine and oleoyl-linoloyl-glycerol (18:1/18:2)[2], increased the risk of ME/CFS. Besides the robustness of the methodology used, the results showed that the combination of ML and XAI could explain the biomarker prediction of ME/CFS and provided a first step toward establishing prognostic models for ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Hilal Yagin
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Inonu University, Malatya, Türkiye
| | - Ahmadreza Shateri
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Hamid Nasiri
- Department of Computer Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
| | - Burak Yagin
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Inonu University, Malatya, Türkiye
| | - Cemil Colak
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Inonu University, Malatya, Türkiye
| | - Abdullah F. Alghannam
- Lifestyle and Health Research Center, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Vu LT, Ahmed F, Zhu H, Iu DSH, Fogarty EA, Kwak Y, Chen W, Franconi CJ, Munn PR, Tate AE, Levine SM, Stevens J, Mao X, Shungu DC, Moore GE, Keller BA, Hanson MR, Grenier JK, Grimson A. Single-cell transcriptomics of the immune system in ME/CFS at baseline and following symptom provocation. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101373. [PMID: 38232699 PMCID: PMC10829790 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101373] [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: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious and poorly understood disease. To understand immune dysregulation in ME/CFS, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to examine immune cells in patient and control cohorts. Postexertional malaise (PEM), an exacerbation of symptoms following strenuous exercise, is a characteristic symptom of ME/CFS. To detect changes coincident with PEM, we applied scRNA-seq on the same cohorts following exercise. At baseline, ME/CFS patients display classical monocyte dysregulation suggestive of inappropriate differentiation and migration to tissue. We identify both diseased and more normal monocytes within patients, and the fraction of diseased cells correlates with disease severity. Comparing the transcriptome at baseline and postexercise challenge, we discover patterns indicative of improper platelet activation in patients, with minimal changes elsewhere in the immune system. Taken together, these data identify immunological defects present at baseline in patients and an additional layer of dysregulation in platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyen Tien Vu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Faraz Ahmed
- Genomics Innovation Hub and TREx Facility, Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Hongya Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - David Shing Huk Iu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Fogarty
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yeonui Kwak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Weizhong Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Carl J Franconi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Paul R Munn
- Genomics Innovation Hub and TREx Facility, Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ann E Tate
- Genomics Innovation Hub and TREx Facility, Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | | | - Xiangling Mao
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dikoma C Shungu
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Geoffrey E Moore
- Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Betsy A Keller
- Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Maureen R Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jennifer K Grenier
- Genomics Innovation Hub and TREx Facility, Institute of Biotechnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Andrew Grimson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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5
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Appelman B, Charlton BT, Goulding RP, Kerkhoff TJ, Breedveld EA, Noort W, Offringa C, Bloemers FW, van Weeghel M, Schomakers BV, Coelho P, Posthuma JJ, Aronica E, Joost Wiersinga W, van Vugt M, Wüst RCI. Muscle abnormalities worsen after post-exertional malaise in long COVID. Nat Commun 2024; 15:17. [PMID: 38177128 PMCID: PMC10766651 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44432-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
A subgroup of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 remain symptomatic over three months after infection. A distinctive symptom of patients with long COVID is post-exertional malaise, which is associated with a worsening of fatigue- and pain-related symptoms after acute mental or physical exercise, but its underlying pathophysiology is unclear. With this longitudinal case-control study (NCT05225688), we provide new insights into the pathophysiology of post-exertional malaise in patients with long COVID. We show that skeletal muscle structure is associated with a lower exercise capacity in patients, and local and systemic metabolic disturbances, severe exercise-induced myopathy and tissue infiltration of amyloid-containing deposits in skeletal muscles of patients with long COVID worsen after induction of post-exertional malaise. This study highlights novel pathways that help to understand the pathophysiology of post-exertional malaise in patients suffering from long COVID and other post-infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent Appelman
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Braeden T Charlton
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richie P Goulding
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom J Kerkhoff
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen A Breedveld
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wendy Noort
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carla Offringa
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frank W Bloemers
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michel van Weeghel
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bauke V Schomakers
- Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Core Facility Metabolomics, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pedro Coelho
- Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurociências e Saúde Mental, Hospital de Santa Maria, CHULN, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of (Neuro)pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jelle J Posthuma
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Flevoziekenhuis, Division of Surgery, Hospitaalweg 1, Almere, the Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - W Joost Wiersinga
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michèle van Vugt
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Infectious diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Rob C I Wüst
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Giloteaux L, Glass KA, Germain A, Franconi CJ, Zhang S, Hanson MR. Dysregulation of extracellular vesicle protein cargo in female myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases and sedentary controls in response to maximal exercise. J Extracell Vesicles 2024; 13:e12403. [PMID: 38173127 PMCID: PMC10764978 DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12403] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In healthy individuals, physical exercise improves cardiovascular health and muscle strength, alleviates fatigue and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Although exercise is suggested as a lifestyle intervention to manage various chronic illnesses, it negatively affects people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), who suffer from exercise intolerance. We hypothesized that altered extracellular vesicle (EV) signalling in ME/CFS patients after an exercise challenge may contribute to their prolonged and exacerbated negative response to exertion (post-exertional malaise). EVs were isolated by size exclusion chromatography from the plasma of 18 female ME/CFS patients and 17 age- and BMI-matched female sedentary controls at three time points: before, 15 min, and 24 h after a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. EVs were characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis and their protein cargo was quantified using Tandem Mass Tag-based (TMT) proteomics. The results show that exercise affects the EV proteome in ME/CFS patients differently than in healthy individuals and that changes in EV proteins after exercise are strongly correlated with symptom severity in ME/CFS. Differentially abundant proteins in ME/CFS patients versus controls were involved in many pathways and systems, including coagulation processes, muscle contraction (both smooth and skeletal muscle), cytoskeletal proteins, the immune system and brain signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Giloteaux
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Katherine A. Glass
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Arnaud Germain
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Carl J. Franconi
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Institute of BiotechnologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Maureen R. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
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Kaczmarek MP. Heterogenous circulating miRNA changes in ME/CFS converge on a unified cluster of target genes: A computational analysis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296060. [PMID: 38157384 PMCID: PMC10756525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a debilitating, multisystem disease of unknown mechanism, with a currently ongoing search for its endocrine mediators. Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are a promising candidate for such a mediator and have been reported as significantly different in the patient population versus healthy controls by multiple studies. None of these studies, however, agree with each other on which specific miRNA are under- or over-expressed. This discrepancy is the subject of the computational study presented here, in which a deep dive into the predicted gene targets and their functional interactions is conducted, revealing that the aberrant circulating miRNAs in ME/CFS, although different between patients, seem to mainly target the same specific set of genes (p ≈ 0.0018), which are very functionally related to each other (p ≲ 0.0001). Further analysis of these functional relations, based on directional pathway information, points to impairments in exercise hyperemia, angiogenic adaptations to hypoxia, antioxidant defenses, and TGF-β signaling, as well as a shift towards mitochondrial fission, corroborating and explaining previous direct observations in ME/CFS. Many transcription factors and epigenetic modulators are implicated as well, with currently uncertain downstream combinatory effects. As the results show significant similarity to previous research on latent herpesvirus involvement in ME/CFS, the possibility of a herpesvirus origin of these miRNA changes is also explored through further computational analysis and literature review, showing that 8 out of the 10 most central miRNAs analyzed are known to be upregulated by various herpesviruses. In total, the results establish an appreciable and possibly central role for circulating microRNAs in ME/CFS etiology that merits further experimental research.
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Lacasa M, Alegre-Martin J, Sentañes RS, Varela-Sende L, Jurek J, Castro-Marrero J. Yeast Beta-Glucan Supplementation with Multivitamins Attenuates Cognitive Impairments in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients 2023; 15:4504. [PMID: 37960157 PMCID: PMC10647745 DOI: 10.3390/nu15214504] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This research aimed to examine the potential alleviative effects of beta-glucan administration on fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, anxiety/depression symptoms and health-related quality of life in ME/CFS. A 36-week unicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 65 ME/CFS patients, who were randomly allocated to one of two arms to receive four capsules each one of 250 mg beta-glucan, 3.75 µg vitamin D3, 1.05 mg vitamin B6, and 7.5 mg zinc (n = 35), or matching placebo including only microcrystalline cellulose as an excipient (n = 30) once daily. The findings showed that the beta-glucan supplementation significantly improved cognitive fatigue (assessed with FIS-40 scores) after the 36-week treatment compared to the baseline (p = 0.0338). Taken together, this study presents the novel finding that yeast-derived beta-glucan may alleviate cognitive fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS. Thus, it offers valuable scientific insights into the potential use of yeast beta-glucan as a nutritional supplement and/or functional food to prevent or reduce cognitive dysfunction in patients with ME/CFS. Further interventions are warranted to validate these findings and also to delve deeper into the possible immunometabolic pathomechanisms of beta-glucans in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Lacasa
- E-Health Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Jose Alegre-Martin
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Unit, Division of Rheumatology, Vall d´Hebron University Hospital Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.A.-M.); (R.S.S.); (J.J.)
| | - Ramon Sanmartin Sentañes
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Unit, Division of Rheumatology, Vall d´Hebron University Hospital Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.A.-M.); (R.S.S.); (J.J.)
| | - Luisa Varela-Sende
- Clinical Research Department, VITAE Health Innovation, Montmeló, 08160 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Joanna Jurek
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Unit, Division of Rheumatology, Vall d´Hebron University Hospital Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.A.-M.); (R.S.S.); (J.J.)
| | - Jesus Castro-Marrero
- Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Unit, Division of Rheumatology, Vall d´Hebron University Hospital Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.A.-M.); (R.S.S.); (J.J.)
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9
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Joseph P, Singh I, Oliveira R, Capone CA, Mullen MP, Cook DB, Stovall MC, Squires J, Madsen K, Waxman AB, Systrom DM. Exercise Pathophysiology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: More in Common Than Not? Chest 2023; 164:717-726. [PMID: 37054777 PMCID: PMC10088277 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
TOPIC IMPORTANCE Postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is a long-term consequence of acute infection from COVID-19. Clinical overlap between PASC and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has been observed, with shared symptoms including intractable fatigue, postexertional malaise, and orthostatic intolerance. The mechanistic underpinnings of such symptoms are poorly understood. REVIEW FINDINGS Early studies suggest deconditioning as the primary explanation for exertional intolerance in PASC. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing reveals perturbations related to systemic blood flow and ventilatory control associated with acute exercise intolerance in PASC, which are not typical of simple detraining. Hemodynamic and gas exchange derangements in PASC have substantial overlap with those observed with ME/CFS, suggestive of shared mechanisms. SUMMARY This review illustrates exercise pathophysiologic commonalities between PASC and ME/CFS that will help guide future diagnostics and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Joseph
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Inderjit Singh
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Rudolf Oliveira
- Division of Respiratory Disease, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Christine A Capone
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology Department of Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center, Northwell Health, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, Manhasset, NY
| | - Mary P Mullen
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Dane B Cook
- Research Service, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital & Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Mary Catherine Stovall
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Johanna Squires
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kristine Madsen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Aaron B Waxman
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - David M Systrom
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
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Chaves-Filho AM, Braniff O, Angelova A, Deng Y, Tremblay MÈ. Chronic inflammation, neuroglial dysfunction, and plasmalogen deficiency as a new pathobiological hypothesis addressing the overlap between post-COVID-19 symptoms and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain Res Bull 2023; 201:110702. [PMID: 37423295 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
After five waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, it has been recognized that a significant portion of the affected individuals developed long-term debilitating symptoms marked by chronic fatigue, cognitive difficulties ("brain fog"), post-exertional malaise, and autonomic dysfunction. The onset, progression, and clinical presentation of this condition, generically named post-COVID-19 syndrome, overlap significantly with another enigmatic condition, referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Several pathobiological mechanisms have been proposed for ME/CFS, including redox imbalance, systemic and central nervous system inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Chronic inflammation and glial pathological reactivity are common hallmarks of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders and have been consistently associated with reduced central and peripheral levels of plasmalogens, one of the major phospholipid components of cell membranes with several homeostatic functions. Of great interest, recent evidence revealed a significant reduction of plasmalogen contents, biosynthesis, and metabolism in ME/CFS and acute COVID-19, with a strong association to symptom severity and other relevant clinical outcomes. These bioactive lipids have increasingly attracted attention due to their reduced levels representing a common pathophysiological manifestation between several disorders associated with aging and chronic inflammation. However, alterations in plasmalogen levels or their lipidic metabolism have not yet been examined in individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 symptoms. Here, we proposed a pathobiological model for post-COVID-19 and ME/CFS based on their common inflammation and dysfunctional glial reactivity, and highlighted the emerging implications of plasmalogen deficiency in the underlying mechanisms. Along with the promising outcomes of plasmalogen replacement therapy (PRT) for various neurodegenerative/neuropsychiatric disorders, we sought to propose PRT as a simple, effective, and safe strategy for the potential relief of the debilitating symptoms associated with ME/CFS and post-COVID-19 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Braniff
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angelina Angelova
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, F-91400 Orsay, France
| | - Yuru Deng
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada; Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC) and Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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11
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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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12
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Gamer J, Van Booven DJ, Zarnowski O, Arango S, Elias M, Kurian A, Joseph A, Perez M, Collado F, Klimas N, Oltra E, Nathanson L. Sex-Dependent Transcriptional Changes in Response to Stress in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Project. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10255. [PMID: 37373402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multi-symptom illness characterized by debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM). Numerous studies have reported sex differences at the epidemiological, cellular, and molecular levels between male and female ME/CFS patients. To gain further insight into these sex-dependent changes, we evaluated differential gene expression by RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) in 33 ME/CFS patients (20 female, 13 male) and 34 matched healthy controls (20 female and 14 male) before, during, and after an exercise challenge intended to provoke PEM. Our findings revealed that pathways related to immune-cell signaling (including IL-12) and natural killer cell cytotoxicity were activated as a result of exertion in the male ME/CFS cohort, while female ME/CFS patients did not show significant enough changes in gene expression to meet the criteria for the differential expression. Functional analysis during recovery from an exercise challenge showed that male ME/CFS patients had distinct changes in the regulation of specific cytokine signals (including IL-1β). Meanwhile, female ME/CFS patients had significant alterations in gene networks related to cell stress, response to herpes viruses, and NF-κβ signaling. The functional pathways and differentially expressed genes highlighted in this pilot project provide insight into the sex-specific pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Gamer
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Derek J Van Booven
- Dr. J.P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Oskar Zarnowski
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Sebastian Arango
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Mark Elias
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Asha Kurian
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Andrew Joseph
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Melanie Perez
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Fanny Collado
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Miami, FL 33125, USA
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33125, USA
| | - Nancy Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Miami, FL 33125, USA
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33125, USA
| | - Elisa Oltra
- School Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lubov Nathanson
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
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13
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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: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [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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14
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Giloteaux L, Li J, Hornig M, Lipkin WI, Ruppert D, Hanson MR. Proteomics and cytokine analyses distinguish myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome cases from controls. J Transl Med 2023; 21:322. [PMID: 37179299 PMCID: PMC10182359 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, heterogenous disease characterized by unexplained persistent fatigue and other features including cognitive impairment, myalgias, post-exertional malaise, and immune system dysfunction. Cytokines are present in plasma and encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EVs), but there have been only a few reports of EV characteristics and cargo in ME/CFS. Several small studies have previously described plasma proteins or protein pathways that are associated with ME/CFS. METHODS We prepared extracellular vesicles (EVs) from frozen plasma samples from a cohort of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) cases and controls with prior published plasma cytokine and plasma proteomics data. The cytokine content of the plasma-derived extracellular vesicles was determined by a multiplex assay and differences between patients and controls were assessed. We then performed multi-omic statistical analyses that considered not only this new data, but extensive clinical data describing the health of the subjects. RESULTS ME/CFS cases exhibited greater size and concentration of EVs in plasma. Assays of cytokine content in EVs revealed IL2 was significantly higher in cases. We observed numerous correlations among EV cytokines, among plasma cytokines, and among plasma proteins from mass spectrometry proteomics. Significant correlations between clinical data and protein levels suggest roles of particular proteins and pathways in the disease. For example, higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Granulocyte-Monocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (CSF2) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNFα) were correlated with greater physical and fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS cases. Higher serine protease SERPINA5, which is involved in hemostasis, was correlated with higher SF-36 general health scores in ME/CFS. Machine learning classifiers were able to identify a list of 20 proteins that could discriminate between cases and controls, with XGBoost providing the best classification with 86.1% accuracy and a cross-validated AUROC value of 0.947. Random Forest distinguished cases from controls with 79.1% accuracy and an AUROC value of 0.891 using only 7 proteins. CONCLUSIONS These findings add to the substantial number of objective differences in biomolecules that have been identified in individuals with ME/CFS. The observed correlations of proteins important in immune responses and hemostasis with clinical data further implicates a disturbance of these functions in ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Giloteaux
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 323 Biotechnology Building, 526 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Jiayin Li
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mady Hornig
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Ruppert
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- School of Operations Research and Information Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Maureen R Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 323 Biotechnology Building, 526 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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15
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16
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Glass KA, Germain A, Huang YV, Hanson MR. Urine Metabolomics Exposes Anomalous Recovery after Maximal Exertion in Female ME/CFS Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3685. [PMID: 36835097 PMCID: PMC9958671 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043685] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease with unknown etiology or effective treatments. Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a key symptom that distinguishes ME/CFS patients. Investigating changes in the urine metabolome between ME/CFS patients and healthy subjects following exertion may help us understand PEM. The aim of this pilot study was to comprehensively characterize the urine metabolomes of eight female healthy sedentary control subjects and ten female ME/CFS patients in response to a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Each subject provided urine samples at baseline and 24 h post-exercise. A total of 1403 metabolites were detected via LC-MS/MS by Metabolon® including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, cofactors and vitamins, xenobiotics, and unknown compounds. Using a linear mixed effects model, pathway enrichment analysis, topology analysis, and correlations between urine and plasma metabolite levels, significant differences were discovered between controls and ME/CFS patients in many lipid (steroids, acyl carnitines and acyl glycines) and amino acid subpathways (cysteine, methionine, SAM, and taurine; leucine, isoleucine, and valine; polyamine; tryptophan; and urea cycle, arginine and proline). Our most unanticipated discovery is the lack of changes in the urine metabolome of ME/CFS patients during recovery while significant changes are induced in controls after CPET, potentially demonstrating the lack of adaptation to a severe stress in ME/CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maureen R. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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17
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Van Booven DJ, Gamer J, Joseph A, Perez M, Zarnowski O, Pandya M, Collado F, Klimas N, Oltra E, Nathanson L. Stress-Induced Transcriptomic Changes in Females with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reveal Disrupted Immune Signatures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2698. [PMID: 36769022 PMCID: PMC9916639 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, complex multi-organ illness characterized by unexplained debilitating fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is defined as a worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion. Our study aimed to evaluate transcriptomic changes in ME/CFS female patients undergoing an exercise challenge intended to precipitate PEM. Our time points (baseline before exercise challenge, the point of maximal exertion, and after an exercise challenge) allowed for the exploration of the transcriptomic response to exercise and recovery in female patients with ME/CFS, as compared to healthy controls (HCs). Under maximal exertion, ME/CFS patients did not show significant changes in gene expression, while HCs demonstrated altered functional gene networks related to signaling and integral functions of their immune cells. During the recovery period (commonly during onset of PEM), female ME/CFS patients showed dysregulated immune signaling pathways and dysfunctional cellular responses to stress. The unique functional pathways identified provide a foundation for future research efforts into the disease, as well as for potential targeted treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J. Van Booven
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jackson Gamer
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Andrew Joseph
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Melanie Perez
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Oskar Zarnowski
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Meha Pandya
- Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Farquhar Honors College, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Fanny Collado
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA
- South Florida Veterans Affairs Foundation for Research and Education Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33125, USA
| | - Nancy Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Healthcare System, Research Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Elisa Oltra
- School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Lubov Nathanson
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
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18
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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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Astin R, Banerjee A, Baker MR, Dani M, Ford E, Hull JH, Lim PB, McNarry M, Morten K, O'Sullivan O, Pretorius E, Raman B, Soteropoulos DS, Taquet M, Hall CN. Long COVID: mechanisms, risk factors and recovery. Exp Physiol 2023; 108:12-27. [PMID: 36412084 PMCID: PMC10103775 DOI: 10.1113/ep090802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the topic of this review? The emerging condition of long COVID, its epidemiology, pathophysiological impacts on patients of different backgrounds, physiological mechanisms emerging as explanations of the condition, and treatment strategies being trialled. The review leads from a Physiological Society online conference on this topic. What advances does it highlight? Progress in understanding the pathophysiology and cellular mechanisms underlying Long COVID and potential therapeutic and management strategies. ABSTRACT Long COVID, the prolonged illness and fatigue suffered by a small proportion of those infected with SARS-CoV-2, is placing an increasing burden on individuals and society. A Physiological Society virtual meeting in February 2022 brought clinicians and researchers together to discuss the current understanding of long COVID mechanisms, risk factors and recovery. This review highlights the themes arising from that meeting. It considers the nature of long COVID, exploring its links with other post-viral illnesses such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and highlights how long COVID research can help us better support those suffering from all post-viral syndromes. Long COVID research started particularly swiftly in populations routinely monitoring their physical performance - namely the military and elite athletes. The review highlights how the high degree of diagnosis, intervention and monitoring of success in these active populations can suggest management strategies for the wider population. We then consider how a key component of performance monitoring in active populations, cardiopulmonary exercise training, has revealed long COVID-related changes in physiology - including alterations in peripheral muscle function, ventilatory inefficiency and autonomic dysfunction. The nature and impact of dysautonomia are further discussed in relation to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, fatigue and treatment strategies that aim to combat sympathetic overactivation by stimulating the vagus nerve. We then interrogate the mechanisms that underlie long COVID symptoms, with a focus on impaired oxygen delivery due to micro-clotting and disruption of cellular energy metabolism, before considering treatment strategies that indirectly or directly tackle these mechanisms. These include remote inspiratory muscle training and integrated care pathways that combine rehabilitation and drug interventions with research into long COVID healthcare access across different populations. Overall, this review showcases how physiological research reveals the changes that occur in long COVID and how different therapeutic strategies are being developed and tested to combat this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rónan Astin
- Department of Respiratory MedicineUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
- Centre for Human Health and PerformanceInstitute for Sport Exercise and HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Amitava Banerjee
- Institute of Health InformaticsUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of CardiologyBarts Health NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - Mark R. Baker
- Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Melanie Dani
- Imperial Syncope UnitImperial College Healthcare NHS TrustLondonUK
| | | | - James H. Hull
- Institute of SportExercise and Health (ISEH)Division of Surgery and Interventional ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Royal Brompton HospitalLondonUK
| | - Phang Boon Lim
- Imperial Syncope UnitImperial College Healthcare NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - Melitta McNarry
- Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research CentreSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Karl Morten
- Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research CentreSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive HealthUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Oliver O'Sullivan
- Academic Department of Military RehabilitationDefence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford HallLoughboroughUK
- School of MedicineUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Physiological SciencesFaculty of ScienceStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems BiologyInstitute of SystemsMolecular and Integrative BiologyFaculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Betty Raman
- Radcliffe Department of MedicineDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Radcliffe Department of MedicineDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUK
| | | | - Maxime Taquet
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation TrustOxfordUK
| | - Catherine N. Hall
- School of Psychology and Sussex NeuroscienceUniversity of SussexFalmerUK
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Patel A, Kumar S, Lai L, Chakravarthy C, Valanparambil R, Reddy ES, Gottimukkala K, Bajpai P, Raju DR, Edara VV, Davis-Gardner ME, Linderman S, Dixit K, Sharma P, Mantus G, Cheedarla N, Verkerke HP, Frank F, Neish AS, Roback JD, Davis CW, Wrammert J, Ahmed R, Suthar MS, Sharma A, Murali-Krishna K, Chandele A, Ortlund EA. Molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant evasion from shared neutralizing antibody response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.10.24.513517. [PMID: 36324804 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.13.512091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A detailed understanding of the molecular features of the neutralizing epitopes developed by viral escape mutants is important for predicting and developing vaccines or therapeutic antibodies against continuously emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we report three human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated from COVID-19 recovered individuals during first wave of pandemic in India. These mAbs had publicly shared near germline gene usage and potently neutralized Alpha and Delta, but poorly neutralized Beta and completely failed to neutralize Omicron BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 variants. Structural analysis of these three mAbs in complex with trimeric spike protein showed that all three mAbs are involved in bivalent spike binding with two mAbs targeting class-1 and one targeting class-4 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) epitope. Comparison of immunogenetic makeup, structure, and function of these three mAbs with our recently reported class-3 RBD binding mAb that potently neutralized all SARS-CoV-2 variants revealed precise antibody footprint, specific molecular interactions associated with the most potent multi-variant binding / neutralization efficacy. This knowledge has timely significance for understanding how a combination of certain mutations affect the binding or neutralization of an antibody and thus have implications for predicting structural features of emerging SARS-CoV-2 escape variants and to develop vaccines or therapeutic antibodies against these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Lilin Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chennareddy Chakravarthy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rajesh Valanparambil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Elluri Seetharami Reddy
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Kamalvishnu Gottimukkala
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Prashant Bajpai
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Dinesh Ravindra Raju
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Venkata Viswanadh Edara
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Meredith E Davis-Gardner
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Susanne Linderman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kritika Dixit
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Pragati Sharma
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Grace Mantus
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Narayanaiah Cheedarla
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hans P Verkerke
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Filipp Frank
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Andrew S Neish
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - John D Roback
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Carl W Davis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jens Wrammert
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mehul S Suthar
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Amit Sharma
- Structural Parasitology Group, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Kaja Murali-Krishna
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anmol Chandele
- ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Eric A Ortlund
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Renz-Polster H, Tremblay ME, Bienzle D, Fischer JE. The Pathobiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Case for Neuroglial Failure. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:888232. [PMID: 35614970 PMCID: PMC9124899 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.888232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has a specific and distinctive profile of clinical features, the disease remains an enigma because causal explanation of the pathobiological matrix is lacking. Several potential disease mechanisms have been identified, including immune abnormalities, inflammatory activation, mitochondrial alterations, endothelial and muscular disturbances, cardiovascular anomalies, and dysfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Yet, it remains unclear whether and how these pathways may be related and orchestrated. Here we explore the hypothesis that a common denominator of the pathobiological processes in ME/CFS may be central nervous system dysfunction due to impaired or pathologically reactive neuroglia (astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes). We will test this hypothesis by reviewing, in reference to the current literature, the two most salient and widely accepted features of ME/CFS, and by investigating how these might be linked to dysfunctional neuroglia. From this review we conclude that the multifaceted pathobiology of ME/CFS may be attributable in a unifying manner to neuroglial dysfunction. Because the two key features - post exertional malaise and decreased cerebral blood flow - are also recognized in a subset of patients with post-acute sequelae COVID, we suggest that our findings may also be pertinent to this entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Renz-Polster
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marie-Eve Tremblay
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC), University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dorothee Bienzle
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Joachim E. Fischer
- Division of General Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health Baden-Württemberg (CPD-BW), University Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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