Their main finding, however, has been that people with ME/CFS have high levels of reactive oxygen molecules, which can harm blood vessels and muscles. These molecules are formed in the body during biological processes that use oxygen, such as exercise. In healthy people they are counter-balanced by antioxidants that detoxify the oxygen molecules to prevent damage, but sometimes an imbalance can lead to increased ‘oxidative stress’ and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
It is important to discover the origin of these molecules, so that ways of counteracting oxidative stress-related cardiovascular damage can be developed. For this reason, the research team in Dundee has received funding from ME Research UK to investigate the role of ‘nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2’ (
Nrf2). This is an extremely important regulatory protein in the body, and is now believed to be a master activator of the body’s natural defence against oxidative stress. When reactive oxygen species are generated, Nrf2 is activated, stimulating the body’s antioxidant pathways and thereby providing a buffer against oxidative stress.
