Breakthrough Insight into ME/CFS May Offer New Hope and Clarity

ME/CFS and long-COVID are post-viral illnesses with overlapping symptoms. These include fatigue, brain fog, gut problems, and exercise-related crashes. But the exact cause of these conditions is still not known. This gap limits efforts to create effective treatments.

Researchers now propose a new explanation for how these begin. They believe viral infections damage blood vessel cells called endothelium. This damage can happen directly or through other immune responses.

In certain body areas, these damaged cells may become senescent. Senescent cells stop working properly but still send strong chemical signals in a “zombie-like” state. This occurrence is called the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, or SASP.

What Harmful Effects of SASP Did the Research Identify?

SASP makes inflammation worse and raises clotting and oxidative stress. The phenomenon also causes blood vessels to tighten and reduces tissue repair. This leads to health concerns, including low oxygen, worse healing, and pain.

The immune system usually removes senescent cells from the body. But in ME/CFS and long-COVID, immune function is often impaired. Consequently, senescent cells may survive much longer in infected persons.

These zombie cells continue to damage tissue over time. Sustained inflammation and blood flow problems persist in many organs.

The theory explains why symptoms affect many body systems at once. The brain is especially vulnerable due to reduced blood flow. This damage could explain brain fog and sensitivity after exercise (PEM).

Other areas like the gut and muscles are also affected. These effects match symptoms like fatigue and gastrointestinal distress.

Senescent endothelial cells also express a molecule called HLA-E. This molecule helps them avoid attack from the immune system. That defense could explain why symptoms last long after the infection ends.

A key idea is that damaged vessel cells and immune dysfunction feed each other. Each makes the other problem worse, which helps the illness persist.

What Future Treatments and Research Should Follow These Findings on SASP?

Future studies must confirm this theory by detecting senescent cells in patients. Researchers need to measure senescence in specific cell types, like endothelium. This investigation could help confirm if endothelial senescence causes long-COVID and ME/CFS.

Biopsies of large and small blood vessels could offer strong proof. These samples can be studied using imaging and immune-based stains. Imaging also could explore which muscle blood vessels are linked to fatigue. This discovery may explain exercise intolerance and post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Senotherapeutics are a new group of drugs and natural treatments. They include two types: senolytics and senomorphics.Senolytics remove senescent cells from the body entirely. Senomorphics keep them from causing damage by changing their behavior.

If endothelial senescence causes these diseases, these drugs may help. Some already show promise in reducing COVID-related nerve damage. Natural products with senolytic or senomorphic effects may also improve symptoms. Research into combinations of these treatments could be valuable.

More studies must measure how much senescence is present in patients. They should focus on endothelial cells and blood vessel aging. This knowledge could guide new therapies and improve outcomes for patients.

Conclusion

Recent research suggests endothelial senescence may cause ME/CFS and long-COVID. This cell damage affects blood flow, immunity, and symptom persistence. Treatments that target these cells may offer relief and better outcomes.

Have an upcoming trip? Passport Health offers a wide variety of options to help keep you safe from disease, including vaccines. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.

Logan Hamilton is a health and wellness freelance writer for hire. He’s passionate about crafting crystal-clear, captivating, and credible content that elevates brands and establishes trust. When not writing, Logan can be found hiking, sticking his nose in bizarre books, or playing drums in a local rock band. Find him at loganjameshamilton.com.