Can the light of immunometabolism cut through "brain fog"?

J Clin Invest. 2020 Mar 2;130(3):1102-1105. doi: 10.1172/JCI134985.

Abstract

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a highly debilitating disease with heterogeneous constitutional and neurological complaints. Infection-like symptoms often herald disease onset, but no pathogen or immune defect has been conclusively linked. In this issue of the JCI, Mandarano et al. illuminate bioenergetic derangements of ME/CFS T cell subsets. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had impaired resting glycolysis. CD8+ cells additionally showed activation-related metabolic remodeling deficits and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential; a subset had increased resting mitochondrial mass. Immune senescence and exhaustion paradigms offer only partial explanations. Hence, unique mechanisms of disrupted immunometabolism may underlie the complex neuroimmune dysfunction of ME/CFS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Brain / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria

Substances

  • Cytokines