Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME/CFS, affects millions worldwide with debilitating exhaustion and brain fog. Yet its biological roots have been hard to pin down until now.
Australian researchers compared whole blood from 61 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS against age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The multimodal analysis, published in Cell Reports Medicine, uncovered synchronized disruptions across energy metabolism, immune cells and blood vessel function.
Energy supply was a major culprit: white blood cells in ME/CFS patients showed elevated adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), markers of "energy stress" that hint at reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, the cells' main fuel.
Immune profiling revealed a shift toward younger, less mature subsets of T-lymphocytes, dendritic cells and natural killer cells, hinting at an immune system in overdrive but not fully equipped to respond.
On the vascular front, patients had higher levels of proteins tied to endothelial activation and vessel wall remodeling, alongside lower levels of immunoglobulin-related proteins, suggesting a complex interplay between blood vessels and immunity.
Study senior author Richard Schloeffel, a clinical lecturer at the Macquarie Medical School, highlights seven biological variables strongly linked to ME/CFS. "If validated clinically, this model could slash diagnostic delays and improve quality of life, easing the prolonged suffering and economic impact for patients," he says.
With no definitive biomarkers until now, this research provides a data-driven roadmap for developing diagnostic tests and targeted treatments. As the global health community shifts focus to ME/CFS in 2025, these findings mark a pivotal step toward turning a long-misunderstood condition into one with clear medical pathways.
Reference(s):
Biological differences identified in chronic fatigue syndrome cases
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