Unravelling ME/CFS: Gender‐specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS by Amanpreet K Cheema, Leonor Sarria, Mina Bekheit, Fanny Collado, Eloy Almenar‐Pérez, Eva Martín‐Martínez, Jose Alegre, Jesus Castro‐Marrero, Mary A Fletcher, Nancy G Klimas,  Elisa Oltra, Lubov Nathanson in Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 April 2020 [doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.15260]

Research abstract:

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multisystem illness characterized by medically unexplained debilitating fatigue with suggested altered immunological state.

Our study aimed to explore peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for microRNAs (miRNAs) expression in ME/CFS subjects under an exercise challenge.

The findings highlight the immune response and inflammation links to differential miRNA expression in ME/CFS. The present study is particularly important in being the first to uncover the differences that exist in miRNA expression patterns in males and females with ME/CFS in response to exercise. This provides new evidence for the understanding of differential miRNA expression patterns and post‐exertional malaise in ME/CFS.

We also report miRNA expression pattern differences associating with the nutritional status in individuals with ME/CFS, highlighting the effect of subjects’ metabolic state on molecular changes to be considered in clinical research within the NINDS/CDC ME/CFS Common Data Elements. The identification of gender‐based miRNAs importantly provides new insights into gender‐specific ME/CFS susceptibility and demands exploration of sex‐suited ME/CFS therapeutics.