Immune exhaustion at the core of new ME/CFS and Long COVID research

Unlocking the secrets behind immune exhaustion in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID patients is at the centre of new Griffith University research.

The study, published today in JCI Insights, investigated immune exhaustion at the molecular level, and offers a crucial step forward in understanding the overlap and differences between ME/CFS and Long COVID.

Lead author and Research Fellow at Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch said the term ‘immune exhaustion’ is new in the area of ME/CFS.

“Our research highlights the importance of investigating different immune pathways to better understand these complex conditions,” Dr Eaton-Fitch said.

“Research is ongoing into overlapping and distinct mechanisms at play for ME/CFS and Long COVID.

“While we identified commonalities between the two diseases, there are also distinct immune mechanisms potentially at play which may be indicative of the differences in duration of illness and potential insights into early disease progression.”

The study is the first to concurrently analyse immune gene expression in both ME/CFS and Long COVID patients, emphasising the intricate role of immune exhaustion in disease progression for both conditions.

ME/CFS and Long COVID are increasingly recognised as serious multisystemic conditions that severely impact quality of life.

This research provides insight into the mechanisms of conditions impacting approximately 250,000 Australians with ME/CFS and 500,000 Australians with Long COVID.

NCNED Director, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, said: “This research will guide investigators on defining subtypes of ME/CFS and Long COVID according to immune gene expression.”

“Further investigations into immune gene expression may offer new insights into biomarkers used for identifying disease subtypes or treatment strategies for these chronic conditions,” Professor Marshall-Gradisnik said.

“Our team is dedicated to using innovative technologies to further identify the mechanisms of ME/CFS and Long COVID.

“Our research goal is to ultimately provide innovative technology to improve diagnosis and treatment for people suffering these conditions.”

The paper ‘Immune exhaustion in ME/CFS and Long COVID’ has been published in JCI Insights.

UN Sustainable Development Goals 3: Good Health and Well-being