Abstract
BackgroundFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology. There is increasing evidence for small nerve fiber impairment in a subgroup of patients with FMS. We investigated whether skin cytokine and delta opioid receptor (DOR) gene expression in FMS patients differs from controls as one potential contributor to small nerve fiber sensitization.MethodsWe investigated skin punch biopsies of 25 FMS patients, ten patients with monopolar depression but no pain, and 35 healthy controls. Biopsies were obtained from the lateral upper thigh and lower calf. Gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 and of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR and normalizing data to 18sRNA as housekeeping gene. Additionally, we assessed DOR gene expression.ResultsAll cytokines and DOR were detectable in skin samples of FMS patients, patients with depression, and healthy controls without intergroup difference. Also, gene expression was not different in skin of the upper and lower leg within and between the groups and in FMS patient subgroups.ConclusionsSkin cytokine and DOR gene expression does not differ between patients with FMS and controls. Our results do not support a role of the investigated cytokines in sensitization of peripheral nerve fibers as a potential mechanism of small fiber pathology in FMS.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology
Cytokine gene expression does not differ between FMS patients and controls Table 1 gives baseline data of the patient groups
The investigated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 as well as delta opioid receptor (DOR) were expressed in skin from the upper and lower leg of patients with FMS, depression, and healthy controls (Figure 1)
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology. There is increasing evidence for small nerve fiber impairment in a subgroup of patients with FMS. We investigated whether skin cytokine and delta opioid receptor (DOR) gene expression in FMS patients differs from controls as one potential contributor to small nerve fiber sensitization. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition that is regularly associated with additional symptoms like depressive mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbance [1]. In a recent study we showed that small nerve fiber impairment is present in a subgroup of FMS patients [2]; these results were confirmed by others [3-6]. The reason for small fiber pathology in FMS is unclear, and the question is if local factors may contribute to nerve fiber damage, fiber sensitization, and pain.
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