Cytokines

Cytokines are small molecules produced by a number of cells, including immune cells, in response to external stimuli. Some cytokines are considered pro-inflammatory and some anti-inflammatory, and they work together to regulate inflammation and the body’s immune response.

When cytokines are dysregulated—the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines don’t reflect what’s going on in the body—it can lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Dysregulated cytokines are also seen in ME/CFS, but with such a heterogeneous disease, the evidence is varied on which cytokines are at high or low levels at which times during the disease progression.

Open Medicine Foundation aims to investigate the molecular changes, including differences in cytokines, occurring in ME/CFS through a large-scale biomarker study, BioQuest. This project will include metabolomics, proteomics, cytokine panels, lipidomics, and more on plasma samples from people with ME/CFS, disease controls, and healthy controls. Read more about this study and its potential to identify a biochemical signature that can be used to diagnose ME/CFS here.