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Dream Journal

Capturing the Chemical Fingerprint of Chronic Fatigue

Peter Christensen - Department of Chronic Disease 

Date published: 18 July, 2022


In “Metabolomic Evidence for Peroxisomal Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” a diverse team of researchers - Che et al. - performed a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of plasma from healthy controls and ME/CF patients; the metabolome encompasses both the small molecules involved in metabolism and their

interactions. This study uncovered novel evidence of metabolic abnormalities in ME/CF, including peroxisomal dysfunction and defects in the structure and signaling functionality of membranes. These aberrations demonstrate dysregulation of lipid remodeling and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which generates ATP in mitochondria. Peroxisomes are organelles that drive metabolic pathways by processing and detoxifying biomolecules. Moreover, they interact with mitochondria to regulate metabolism and cellular energy. Thus, flaws in lipid remodeling disrupt the delicate coordination between the peroxisomes and the mitochondria and thereby threaten cellular health. These issues may underlie the physical and cognitive fatigue characteristic of ME/CF (Che et. al, 2023). 

Defined as “a chronic and debilitating disease characterized by unexplained physical fatigue, cognitive and sensory dysfunction, sleeping disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, and gastrointestinal problems,” Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a relentless and mysterious enemy (Che et al., 2023). While experts estimate that 1.5 to 2.5 million people in the United States suffer from the disorder, no approved laboratory diagnosis exists. Hounded by symptoms “consistent with infections” (Che et al., 2023), patients find little relief in the current state of medicine, which remains incapable of diagnosing and treating the disease, since its pathogenesis has defied elucidation. This foundational study, however, outlines numerous, reliable metabolic abnormalities that might serve as biomarkers for the disease; the plasma metabolome may inform future diagnoses and define their parameters. Ultimately, the study paves the way for therapeutic treatment of the disorder and offers a glimpse of hope to those suffering amidst uncertainty.


References 

Che, X., Brydges, C. R., Yu, Y., Price, A., Joshi, S., Roy, A., Lee, B., Barupal, D. K., Cheng, A., Palmer, D. M., Levine, S., Peterson, D. L., Vernon, S. D., Bateman, L., Hornig, M., Montoya, J. G., Komaroff, A. L., Fiehn, O., & Lipkin, W. I. (2022). Metabolomic Evidence for Peroxisomal Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(14), 7906. 

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