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A Link Between Inflammatory Mechanisms and Fibromyalgia
Ashika Bains1,2,3, Samuel Kohrman1,2,3, Diana Punko1,2,3
1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|March 23, 2023
Summary
Fibromyalgia (FM) may be linked to neuroinflammation, a type of central nervous system inflammation. Emerging research suggests elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation in FM patients, supporting this connection.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition often misattributed to psychogenic causes due to unclear pathophysiology.
- Recent research increasingly links neuropsychiatric conditions to nervous system inflammation, offering new insights into FM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential role of neuroinflammation in the etiology of Fibromyalgia.
- To review emerging evidence connecting FM to inflammatory processes within the nervous system.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating biomarkers and imaging in FM patients.
- Analysis of findings related to pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-8) and microglial activation.
Main Results:
- Mixed results in biomarker studies, but a trend towards increased systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) in FM patients.
- Multicenter imaging studies suggest microglial activation in individuals with FM.
Conclusions:
- Neuroinflammation is a plausible contributing factor to Fibromyalgia.
- The "sickness behavior" observed in other inflammatory conditions supports a link between FM and neuroinflammation.
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