Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex pain condition where the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the plasma proteome profile in women with FM compared to controls. The secondary aim was to investigate if plasma protein patterns correlate with the clinical variables pain intensity, sensitivity, and psychological distress. Clinical variables/background data were retrieved through questionnaires. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed using an algometer. The plasma proteome profile of FM (n = 30) and controls (n = 32) was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Quantified proteins were analyzed regarding group differences, and correlations to clinical parameters in FM, using multivariate statistics. Clear significant differences between FM and controls were found in proteins involved in inflammatory, metabolic, and immunity processes. Pain intensity, PPT, and psychological distress in FM had associations with specific plasma proteins involved in blood coagulation, metabolic, inflammation and immunity processes. This study further confirms that systemic differences in protein expression exist in women with FM compared to controls and that altered levels of specific plasma proteins are associated with different clinical parameters.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex pain condition where the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated
Was significantly higher in FM compared to CON; overweight (i.e., body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) was present in 18 patients and eight controls
Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were significantly lower, while the pain intensity, the scores from the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were significantly higher in FM compared to CON (Table 1)
Summary
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex pain condition where the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Ramíres-Tejero et al explored the plasma proteome in FM compared to controls and reported significant changes in several proteins involved in inflammation, suggesting haptoglobin and fibrinogen as potential biomarkers for F M31 Both these studies are in line with our previous proteomic study of plasma in CWP patients (mainly FM) compared to healthy controls and its correlation to pain intensity and psychological distress[27,28]. These studies were performed on small cohorts of patients, and the validity of the identified protein changes needs to be investigated in a larger cohort
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