A consistent biological feature of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has been identified as faulty ion channel function, providing validation for individuals with the illness.
Researchers at Griffith University discovered that the TRPM3 ion channel, a cellular structure crucial for calcium transport, exhibited faults in immune cells from people with ME/CFS.
Key Findings
Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Director and senior author from Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), stated that the TRPM3 channel is essential for calcium transport into cells, regulating immune function and maintaining normal cellular balance. Its failure impedes proper cell function due to the necessity of calcium signaling for healthy immune cell activity.
The team utilized a gold-standard technique to confirm a significant and reproducible reduction in TRPM3 activity in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy individuals. This reduction was observed consistently across different locations, laboratories, and operators, indicating the robustness of the discovery.
Implications for ME/CFS
Lead author Dr. Etianne Sasso indicated that this discovery contributes to global scientific efforts to understand ME/CFS and validates patient experiences. She added that these results provide further evidence for developing a diagnostic test and could guide the identification of new therapeutic targets, potentially leading to treatments that enhance cellular function and patient quality of life.
Dr. Sasso noted that the research demonstrates measurable cellular differences in individuals with ME/CFS, likening the faulty ion channels to "stuck doors" that prevent cells from receiving necessary calcium.
Dr. Peter Smith, a clinician treating ME/CFS patients, described the findings as a significant advancement in medical practice. He stated that the research offers concrete biological evidence supporting patient descriptions and helps recognize ME/CFS as a legitimate medical condition, improving confidence in patient care and offering hope for future treatment options.
Symptoms of ME/CFS include profound and persistent exhaustion, post-exertional malaise, pain, cognitive difficulties, dizziness, temperature instability, and sensory sensitivity, which can severely impact daily functioning, education, employment, and social participation.
The study involved independent laboratory sites on the Gold Coast and in Perth, with participants from South East Queensland, North East New South Wales, and Western Australia. Funding was provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.