(Thesis) Autoimmune aspects in ME/CFS: A literature study on indications of autoimmunity in ME/CFS [Swedish), 2020, Strahle

[Dolphin]

From: Dr. Marc-Alexander Fluks

Source: Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet (DiVA)
Date: June 23, 2020
URL: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1446054

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1446054/FULLTEXT01.pdf


Autoimmune aspects in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome: A literature study on indications of autoimmunity in
ME/CFS [Swedish)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Helena Strahle
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of
Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Vaxjo and Kalmar,
Sweden


Abstract

Background
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a
debilitating disease which is characterized by unexplained and
persistent post exertional fatigue (PEM) and a myriad of symptoms
related to neurological disturbance, immunological, cognitive and
autonomous dysfunction. Despite biomedical research from a disparate
field of expertise the pathogenesis and etiology of ME/CFS is not
well-understood. Several hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis have been
proposed one of which is that ME/CFS is an autoimmune disease.

Aim
The purpose of the literature study is to investigate whether there are
autoimmune aspects in ME/CFS.

Method
A systematic literature study based on scientific articles, published
2010-2020 in the PubMed database.

Results
The study results are not entirely consistent when it comes to detecting
autoimmune aspects in ME/CFS. Antibody studies targeting neuronal
proteins in ME/CFS-patients and antibody treatments, immunoadsorption,
and rituximab yielded negative results. In contrast, HSP60 (heat shock
protein 60) antibodies for specific cross-reactive epitopes are observed
in a subset of ME/CFS patients, which corresponds to infection-triggered
autoimmunity. The two gene studies, HLA (human leucocyte antigen)
association and genotyping of SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) in
immune genes, observed characteristic risk genes for autoimmune disease.
Significant results were observed in ME/CFS- patients with an
infection-triggered onset.

Conclusion
Despite partially negative results, some support exists for the
hypothesis as results indicate autoimmune aspects in ME/CFS with an
infection-triggered onset.

Keywords: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
autoimmunity, antibodies, HSP60, HLA, SNP

 

[Snow Leopard]

Note that some bacteria express their own HSP60, so that may explain the cross-reactivity, rather than autoimmunity itself. HSP60 is an intracellular protein, so isn't normally exposed to the immune system so antibodies directed against human HSP60 would need its own explanation.

I haven't read the study in detail as it is not in English.

Aside:
"Autoantibodies against heat shock protein 60 mediate endothelial cytotoxicity."
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/118320
And of interest to me:
"Prevalence of Anti-Heat Shock Protein Antibodies in Cerebrospinal Fluids of Patients With Guillain-Barré Syndrome"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15465612/

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

I think this may refer to Jonas Blomberg's interest in HSP.

HSP60 antibodies are everywhere and normal. The titres may be a bit higher in some autoimmune diseases but so are antibodies to all sorts of things. They do not indicate infection triggered disease as far as we know. Maybe the best thing about this thesis is that the author seems to have concluded that nothing very obvious is to be found.