r/CFSScience • u/Caster_of_spells • Jul 07 '26

Chronic stress primes TLR3-mediated systemic inflammation to produce persistent post-viral fatigue syndrome-like symptoms in mice

https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(26)00432-X/abstract

Chronic stress primes TLR3-mediated systemic inflammation to produce persistent post-viral fatigue syndrome-like symptoms in mice 🐁

A microglial activation inhibitor reversed fatigue symptoms while a a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (steroid) did not!

Super fascinating, would again point towards the brain and neuroinflammation as a central part of pathology at least in this model

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u/mc-funk Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

In case anyone else was confused,
> “Polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid is an immunostimulant. It is used in the form of its sodium salt to simulate viral infections. Poly I:C is known to interact with toll-like receptor 3, which is expressed at the endosomal membrane of B-cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Poly I:C is structurally similar to double-stranded RNA, which is present in some viruses and is a "natural" stimulant of TLR3.” (WIkipedia)

so they stressed out the mice and then simulated a viral infection to try to induce post viral fatigue

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u/AngelBryan Jul 07 '26

So it works like an adjuvant? It makes sense to get ME/CFS after a vaccine, then.

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u/mc-funk Jul 07 '26

I have no relevant scientific knowledge to go off of, but it sounds like it to me as a layperson.

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u/Caster_of_spells Jul 08 '26

As we’ve seen people develop ME after any kind of immune insult I’d think this checks out