Myalgic encephalomyelitis | Montreal pierced for diagnosis and treatment

(Montreal) A protein identified by Montreal researchers could. For example, lead to a better diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis – formerly called “chronic fatigue syndrome” – in addition to possibly paving the way for better treatments for patients affected. Furthermore,

Professor Alain Moreau. Meanwhile, CHU Sainte-Justine and the University of Montreal, and his colleagues have thus noted a direct correlation between the concentration of the SMPDL3B protein in the blood of patients and the myalgic encephalomyelitis | montreal pierced intensity of their symptoms. Moreover,

“The more the soluble form (of SMPDL3B) increases in the blood. Similarly, the more the severity of the symptoms increases in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis,” summed up Professor Moreau. However,

The SMPDL3B protein is usually linked to the cell membrane. The team of Professor Moreau. however, found that hyperactivity of the enzyme Pi-PLC detaches it from this membrane, which increases the quantity in circulation in the blood and potentially contributes to the severity of the symptoms of this disease also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

This association, wrote the researchers, was verified in Canadian and Finnish cohorts, which “confirms its robustness and generalization”. However, they admit that their results were possibly influenced by the female majority within the cohorts studied.

The myalgic encephalomyelitis | montreal pierced SMPDL3B protein could therefore be used as a biomarker to better diagnose EM patients. but also to stratify them and follow the evolution of the disease, it was explained by press release.

In addition. researchers have realized that SMPDL3B levels are influenced by sex hormones and estrogen, which can explain the differences in sex in sex.

During laboratory tests on cells. said Professor Moreau, “when giving estrogen, we see an increase in the production of the SMPDL3B protein and its soluble form”.

This might mean that some women with EM and who take estrogen -based anovulators involuntarily aggravated their symptoms.

“When women take anovulators enriched in estrogen, we see an even greater increase,” he added. Obviously. we do not say to women with myalgic encephalomyelitis not myalgic encephalomyelitis | montreal pierced to take anovulators, but there are other forms of anovulators without enrichment. »»

This association between estrogen. the production of SMPDL3B could also explain why the symptoms of the disease are often more intense in young women, and why they diminish at the time of menopause.

These discoveries already open new therapeutic avenues. since two drugs used against diabetes, vildagliptine and saxagliptin, reduce the activity of Pi-PLC and restore the protective levels of SMPDL3B.

We could therefore consider repositioning (use off-labelto use the current expression) of these molecules to help these patients. even if it will not replace a randomized clinical trial in good and due form, “said Professor Moreau.

“But some clinicians could take on them the repositioning of these molecules to alleviate symptoms,” he myalgic encephalomyelitis | montreal pierced said. They have this power. »»

This advance could finally cause profits for patients with long covid. since half of them develop symptoms corresponding to the diagnostic criteria of EM; that it is seen in them high levels of SMPDL3B; And that the rise in the soluble form of this protein corresponds to the severity of symptoms in a global way.

The conclusions of this study were recently published by the Journal of Translational Medicine.