John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 31;24(3):2698. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032698.
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.
肌痛性脑脊髓炎/慢性疲劳综合征（ME/CFS）是一种慢性、复杂的多器官疾病，其特征是不明原因的使人虚弱的疲劳和活动后不适（PEM），后者定义为即使是轻微的体力或脑力活动后症状恶化。我们的研究旨在评估接受旨在引发 PEM 的运动挑战的 ME/CFS 女性患者的转录组变化。我们的时间点（运动挑战前的基线、最大用力点和运动挑战后）允许探索 ME/CFS 女性患者对运动和恢复的转录组反应，与健康对照（HCs）相比。在最大用力下，ME/CFS 患者的基因表达没有明显变化，而 HCs 则表现出与免疫细胞信号和整体功能相关的功能基因网络改变。在恢复期（通常在 PEM 发作时），女性 ME/CFS 患者表现出失调的免疫信号通路和对压力的功能障碍性细胞反应。确定的独特功能途径为疾病的未来研究工作以及潜在的靶向治疗选择提供了基础。
