We are pleased to report that some important new research into immune system dysfunction in ME/CFS, which has been carried out using blood samples from the ME Biobank, has now been published as a pre-print: Abnormal T-Cell Activation And Cytotoxic T-Cell Frequency Discriminates Symptom Severity In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The paper describes how people with mild/moderate ME/CFS have cells which are more “immunosenescent” (exhausted) and cytotoxic, which could imply that they are more frequently exposed to active virus infection.
Meanwhile the people with more severe ME/CFS have a more general pro-inflammatory response.
Together, these results suggest that the symptoms in the two groups have different causes.
The MEA Ramsay Research Fund provides all the basic running costs – approximately £80,000 per annum – of the ME Biobank, which forms part of the University College Biobank in London. The ME Biobank collects and supplies blood samples and anonymised clinical data to research groups all over the world.
This research was funded by the US National Institutes of Health with additional support from the MEA Ramsay Research Fund.
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Chair – ME Biobank Steering Group
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
