Potential implications of mammalian Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 in the pathophysiology of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: a review, by Stanley Du Preez, Helene Cabanas, Donald Staines and Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik in Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10708 [doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010708] 2 October 2021 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Medical, Nursing and Public Health Management)
Research abstract:
The transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels is involved in the molecular mechanisms that mediate neuroimmune interactions and activities. Recent advancements in neuroimmunology have identified a role for TRP cation channels in several neuroimmune disorders including amyotropic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
ME/CFS is a debilitating disorder with an obscure aetiology, hence considerable examination of its pathobiology is warranted. Dysregulation of TRP melastatin (TRPM) subfamily members and calcium signalling processes are implicated in the neurological, immunological, cardiovascular, and metabolic impairments inherent in ME/CFS.
In this review, we present TRPM7 as a potential candidate in the pathomechanism of ME/CFS, as TRPM7 is increasingly recognized as a key mediator of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms affecting neurological, immunological, cardiovascular, and metabolic processes. A focused examination of the biochemistry of TRPM7, the role of this protein in the aforementioned systems, and the potential of TRPM7 as a molecular mechanism in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS will be discussed in this review.
TRPM7 is a compelling candidate to examine in the pathobiology of ME/CFS as TRPM7 fulfils several key roles in multiple organ systems, and there is a paucity of literature reporting on its role in ME/CFS.
Excerpt from 4. Conclusions
Of particular interest is elucidating the role of TRPM7 in NK cell function in both healthy individuals and ME/CFS patients. Specifically, identifying the importance of TRPM7 in Ca2+ and kinase signalling cascades, as well as regulating intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis and metabolism, in NK cells may serve to facilitate the identification of additional diagnostic and treatment targets to relieve the burden of illness in ME/CFS.
