Searching for Serum Antibodies to Neuronal Proteins in Patients With Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Abstract

PURPOSE: A role for the immune system in causing myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is long suspected, but few studies have looked for  specific autoantibodies that might contribute to the symptoms. Our aim was to  look for evidence of antibodies to neuronal proteins in patients with ME/CSF.  METHODS: Sera samples from 50 patients and 50 healthy individuals were sent coded  to the Neuroimmunology Laboratory in Oxford. Screening for antibody binding to  neuronal tissue was performed on brain tissue and neuronal cultures. Specific  serum antibodies were assessed by antigen-specific cell-based assays and  radioimmunoassays. After antibody testing, the associations between seropositive  status and clinical data were investigated. FINDINGS: Overall, 8 patients and 11  participants were found to have some serum immunoreactivity toward neuronal or  neuromuscular junction proteins, but only 1 patient and 2 participants had  specific serum antibodies. Nevertheless, seropositive status in patients with ME  was associated with shorter duration since onset and a more severe disease.  IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate no overall increased frequency of antibodies  to neuronal proteins in ME/CSF and no evidence of a specific antibody that might  be causative or contribute to clinical features in patients. However, the  association of seropositive status with shorter duration of disease and more  severe symptoms suggests a possible role of antibodies at onset in some patients  and should be the focus of future studies.