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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME / CFS) Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), Fibromyalgia Leading Research. Delivering Hope.Open Medicine Foundation® Canada
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Neuroendocrine, Vascular and Metabolism in ME/CFS, POTS and Long COVID

Study Aim

The study aims to explore the structural, neuro-vascular, and biochemical differences in the brains of individuals with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and POTS to elucidate the underlying pathology and identify potential targets for effective treatment strategies.

Investigators

  • Xiaoyun Wang, PhD
  • Elena Christopoulos
  • Natalie Thomas, PhD
  • David Fineberg, MBBS, FRACGP, DCH
  • Paul Gooley, PhD
  • Leigh Johnston, PhD
  • Rebecca Glarin, BApSc, PGDip(MRI)
  • Rob Williams
  • Bradford Moffat, PhD
  • Christopher Rowe, BMBS, FRACP, MD, FAANMS
  • Christopher Armstrong, PhD

Updates and Potential

  • Developed a collaboration with Austin Hospital and the Melbourne Brain Centre to conduct extensive MRI and PET studies.
  • Will be conducted on ME/CFS, LC and POTS patients along with healthy controls.
  • MRI analysis of blood flow before and after exertion.
  • MRS analysis of metabolite in brain changing before and after exertion.
  • PET scan to assess neuroinflammation and to assess blood flow upon standing.
  • Recruitment to begin mid-2024.
STUDY HYPOTHESIS AND DESCRIPTION

We’re exploring the connections between ME/CFS, Long COVID (LC), and POTS, as they often share similar symptoms and frequently occur together, making it challenging for patients to manage their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life.

Recent research suggests that inflammation in the brain might play a role in ME/CFS and LC, with potential pathways involving sustained activation of certain brain cells and inflammation in specific brain areas. This inflammation could affect the balance of a substance called glutamate in the brain, which might contribute to problems with hormone regulation seen in ME/CFS and LC. Additionally, reduced blood flow to the brain could be a common factor in all three conditions.

Our study aims to look at differences in brain structure, blood flow, and biochemistry between these groups to better understand the underlying causes of ME/CFS, LC, and POTS, and to develop treatments that work effectively. By examining various factors like astrocyte activity (a type of brain cell), changes in metabolism, how the brain responds to exercise, and markers of inflammation in the brain, we hope to identify important mechanisms driving symptoms and find potential targets for therapy.

OBJECTIVES

we see a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan in progress within a medical facility. The patient is lying on a narrow bed that is part of the PET scanning machine.

  1. Investigate astrocyte activity and glucose hypometabolic patterns to elucidate brain neuroinflammation mechanisms in ME/CFS and LC.
  2. Analyze metabolite variations, particularly glutamate and GABA levels, in the hypothalamus among ME/CFS and LC patients compared to controls.
  3. Explore correlations with central nervous system neuroinflammation, blood hormone levels, and symptom manifestation.
  4. Assess changes in cerebral blood flow during exercise in ME/CFS and POTS patients, both globally and regionally in the brain. Evaluate the impact of cerebral blood flow alterations on symptomatology and post-exertional malaise severity in ME/CFS, LC and POTS populations.

Consent management

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Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) Form 

Microvesicles and viral sequencing
Microvesicles are a type of extracellular vesicle that is released from the cell membrane. Vesicles are small, fluid-filled sacs or vacuoles within the body. Sequencing is a technique used to determine the exact sequence of bases (A, C, G, and T) in a DNA (or viral) molecule.
NMR Metabolomics
NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is an instrument/tool used to perform metabolic studies, metabolic profiling, and metabolomics in biofluids and tissues for more than 40 years using magnetic fields. There is a very close connection between metabolic measurements and NMR. This connection has flourished because of NMR’s many unique strengths for characterizing complex mixtures’ chemical composition.
Proteomics
The large-scale study of proteins, which are large, complex molecules that are required for structure, function, and regulation of the human body's tissues and organs.
Autoantibodies
Antibodies that react with self-molecules and that occur in healthy individuals and are referred to as natural antibodies or autoantibodies.
Extracellular DNA for viral reactivation and Mitochondrial DNA
exDNA (extracellular DNA), exDNA is often secreted actively and is used to perform several tasks, thereby offering an attractive target or tool for biotechnological, medical, environmental, and general microbiological applications. Viruses are intracellular parasites that rely to a significant extent on the host cell for replication. Viral reactivation occurs when an active replication of the viral genome results in a lytic (degradation of the cell) infection characterized by the release of new progeny (descendant) virus particles.
Immune cell profiling
The immune system has many important regulatory roles in disease development and progression. Given the emergence of effective immune therapies, reliable predictors of response are needed. Immune cell profiling determines response by evaluating immune cell populations from treated and untreated samples. For our purposes, we will evaluate the white blood cell response to the viral infection using a process called “Cytof.”
Leukocyte Genomics
A leukocyte is a colorless cell circulating in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease. A genome is all genetic material of an organism. Genomics is a biology field focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. Therefore, leukocyte genomics is the study of all genetic material of leukocytes.
Metabolomics
Metabolomics is a way to study metabolism – that is, through measuring amounts of the metabolites (small molecules) produced by our bodies as we convert food into energy and other molecules that our cells need to survive. Metabolomics technology is ‘large-scale,’ meaning that several thousand metabolites can be measured from a single sample of e.g., blood or urine.
Micro RNA
Cells use Micro RNA to control whether a particular gene is making too much, too little or the normal amount of its protein at a particular time.