The researchers hypothesize that antibodies in ME/CFS patients may cause changes in how their blood and certain cells function. These changes in the cells may lead to the symptoms of ME/CFS. To test this hypothesis, they will answer these three questions:
In the EnergiseME project, researchers will collect blood samples from adult and adolescent ME/CFS patients. They will study these samples to understand how the mitochondria in their cells and the way their white blood cells use energy are affected. They will do this using special imaging tests, analyzing molecules in the blood, and observing how things move within the cells. They will also test how certain substances in the blood affect the function of some of the patients’ cells and how they interact with nerve cells. This will help us learn more about how autoimmune issues are linked to white blood cell metabolism in ME/CFS. To test their hypotheses, they will transfer antibodies and proteins from ME/CFS patients into mice and will try to find different ways to alter how the mice’s cells produce energy. This will show whether the antibodies and proteins from ME/CFS patients can actually cause problems in the cells and cause mice to develop symptoms similar to those of ME/CFS.
