The Scientist reports “Immune Markers Help Identify Subgroups of ME/CFS Patients” https://tinyurl.com/44428cfz
The news article highlights a recent study, that we previously discussed https://bit.ly/45ntdNV, exploring immune system differences in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy participants. Researchers “first assessed circulating immune proteins, hormones, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)—which have been associated in neuroinflammation”, in blood samples from both groups.
The findings revealed two distinct patient clusters differentiated by higher concentrations of MMP (enzymes that break down protein) in one group. According to the news article, Dr Victoria Bastos remarked, “I remember the second I first saw that graph, and I was like, ‘This is so, so amazing to be able to see it.’”
Further analysis focused on “71 cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid. They saw that eight of these factors differed between the two groups and that these cytokines were increased in the cluster with elevated MMP”. Bastos noted, “We’re really building this picture of a higher neuroinflammatory scenario in this cluster of the patients.”
This study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers –including Dr Amy Proal and Dr Bo Bertilson, who are currently working on ME Research UK–funded projects.
The article further mentions that Professor Carmen Scheibenbogen (a researcher previously funded by ME Research UK but not involved in this study), ‘said that “the study was well done and presented interesting findings, especially with the availability of cerebrospinal fluid. “It confirms that we indeed face subgroups. Also, regarding the immunological dysregulation, it tells us that we should look more into the CNS when we study these patients,” she said. She added that the differences in elevated neuroinflammatory markers could explain why some patients respond to drugs targeting this inflammation while others do not.”‘
Read more about the study: https://bit.ly/45ntdNV
