Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), and neurocognitive dysfunction. Immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly observed in ME/CFS patients. Despite affecting approximat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/1/275 |
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| author | Johanna Rohrhofer Lisa Hauser Lisa Lettenmaier Lena Lutz Larissa Koidl Salvatore Alessio Gentile Davide Ret Michael Stingl Eva Untersmayr |
| author_facet | Johanna Rohrhofer Lisa Hauser Lisa Lettenmaier Lena Lutz Larissa Koidl Salvatore Alessio Gentile Davide Ret Michael Stingl Eva Untersmayr |
| author_sort | Johanna Rohrhofer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), and neurocognitive dysfunction. Immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly observed in ME/CFS patients. Despite affecting approximately 0.89% of the general population, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between immunological characteristics and intestinal barrier function in ME/CFS patients. ME/CFS patients were stratified into two groups based on their immune competence. After documentation of detailed medical records, serum and plasma samples were collected for the assessment of inflammatory immune mediators and biomarkers for intestinal barrier integrity by ELISA. We found reduced complement protein C4a levels in immunodeficient ME/CFS patients suggesting a subgroup-specific innate immune dysregulation. ME/CFS patients without immunodeficiencies exhibit a mucosal barrier leakage, as indicated by elevated levels of Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Stratifying ME/CFS patients based on immune competence enabled the distinction of two subgroups with different pathophysiological patterns. The study highlights the importance of emphasizing precise patient stratification in ME/CFS, particularly in the context of defining suitable treatment strategies. Given the substantial health and socioeconomic burden associated with ME/CFS, urgent attention and research efforts are needed to define causative treatment approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:03:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48e6d758ce8c4dd5a3cb50d472de023b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:03:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-48e6d758ce8c4dd5a3cb50d472de023b2024-01-10T15:01:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832024-01-0113127510.3390/jcm13010275Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue SyndromeJohanna Rohrhofer0Lisa Hauser1Lisa Lettenmaier2Lena Lutz3Larissa Koidl4Salvatore Alessio Gentile5Davide Ret6Michael Stingl7Eva Untersmayr8Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaFacharztzentrum Votivpark, 1090 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), and neurocognitive dysfunction. Immune dysregulation and gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly observed in ME/CFS patients. Despite affecting approximately 0.89% of the general population, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between immunological characteristics and intestinal barrier function in ME/CFS patients. ME/CFS patients were stratified into two groups based on their immune competence. After documentation of detailed medical records, serum and plasma samples were collected for the assessment of inflammatory immune mediators and biomarkers for intestinal barrier integrity by ELISA. We found reduced complement protein C4a levels in immunodeficient ME/CFS patients suggesting a subgroup-specific innate immune dysregulation. ME/CFS patients without immunodeficiencies exhibit a mucosal barrier leakage, as indicated by elevated levels of Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Stratifying ME/CFS patients based on immune competence enabled the distinction of two subgroups with different pathophysiological patterns. The study highlights the importance of emphasizing precise patient stratification in ME/CFS, particularly in the context of defining suitable treatment strategies. Given the substantial health and socioeconomic burden associated with ME/CFS, urgent attention and research efforts are needed to define causative treatment approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/1/275myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndromeimmunologyimmunodeficienciesmucosal barrier functionpatient stratificationpost-viral fatigue |
| spellingShingle | Johanna Rohrhofer Lisa Hauser Lisa Lettenmaier Lena Lutz Larissa Koidl Salvatore Alessio Gentile Davide Ret Michael Stingl Eva Untersmayr Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Journal of Clinical Medicine myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome immunology immunodeficiencies mucosal barrier function patient stratification post-viral fatigue |
| title | Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| title_full | Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| title_short | Immunological Patient Stratification in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome |
| title_sort | immunological patient stratification in myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome |
| topic | myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome immunology immunodeficiencies mucosal barrier function patient stratification post-viral fatigue |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/1/275 |
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