Revolutionary Cell-free RNA Testing Identifies Biomarkers for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Recent advances in blood-based biomarkers have opened new avenues for diagnosing complex illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Researchers from Cornell University have developed innovative machine-learning models that analyze cell-free RNA—molecules released into blood plasma during cellular damage—to identify key biological markers associated with ME/CFS. These markers reflect underlying immune dysregulation, tissue injury, and cellular signaling alterations characteristic of the syndrome.

The study involved collecting blood samples from individuals diagnosed with ME/CFS and a control group of healthy sedentary individuals. The team isolated and sequenced RNA molecules from plasma, discovering over 700 transcripts significantly different between the two groups. Machine-learning algorithms processed these data, achieving a 77% accuracy rate in distinguishing ME/CFS patients from healthy controls.

Further analysis mapped the RNA signatures to specific cell types, revealing increased activity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells—immune cells involved in antiviral responses—and notable differences in monocytes, platelets, and T cell subsets. These findings suggest widespread immune system involvement and chronic immune activation in ME/CFS.

The approach marks a significant step toward developing a diagnostic blood test for ME/CFS, a condition traditionally diagnosed through symptom assessment due to the lack of definitive laboratory tests. The researchers believe this method can also discriminate ME/CFS from other conditions like long COVID and enhance understanding of other chronic diseases.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by doctoral student Anne Gardella and in collaboration with experts in biomedical engineering and molecular biology. The team previously used similar techniques to investigate inflammatory conditions like Kawasaki disease and MIS-C in children.

This breakthrough demonstrates how molecular signatures embedded in blood plasma can offer insights into diseases that are otherwise difficult to diagnose, paving the way for precise, blood-based diagnostics for chronic illnesses.

Source: Medical Xpress