Reduced inflammatory potential of HDL and lower mtDNA copy numbers in ME/CFS patients

In her poster presentation, Dr. Elisabeth Schieffer talked about the MIRACLE study, focussing on findings pointing to a reduced inflammatory potential of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and lower mitochondrial DNA copy numbers in ME/CFS patients. A total of 200 patients and 200 controls are to be investigated. Utilising a variety of tests and blood sample analyses, the study looks at the molecular biology of patients. One focus lies on investigating HDL protein. Another aspect of the study rests on the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). One marker derived from PBMC analysis is the mitochondrial copy number. In the ME/CFS patients investigated so far, the study found a lower mitochondrial copy number, which was significantly different compared to controls. Further analysis confirmed that the lower copy number does not represent an age-dependent signal. Additionally, incubation of the HDL proteome on endothelial cells revealed that ME/CFS patients showed reduced signals for inflammation, specifically interleukin six (IL-6) expression, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. In summary, preliminary results from the study point to a suppressed immune response and a reduced energy supply in ME/CFS patients.