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Decoding Fibromyalgia: Genetic Insights into Gut and Immune System Interactions
Mengqi Niu1,2, Jing Li1,2, Victoria Sarafian3,4
1Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Pain Research
|November 6, 2025
Summary
Certain gut bacteria and inflammatory proteins influence fibromyalgia risk. Some microbes like Ruminococcus gauvreauii increase risk, while others are protective. Inflammatory proteins also show protective or risk associations with fibromyalgia.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition marked by widespread pain and immune system dysregulation.
- Emerging research indicates gut microbiota and inflammatory proteins may play roles in FM development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate causal links between gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins (cytokines/chemokines), and FM.
- Utilized bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and meta-analysis.
Main Methods:
- Employed MR analyses on European genetic data using MR-IVW, MR-Egger, and MR-weighted median methods.
- Conducted reverse MR with FM as the exposure.
- Performed a meta-analysis to synthesize findings.
Main Results:
- Identified *Ruminococcus gauvreauii* as a risk factor for FM; *Enterorhabdus, Parabacteroides, Butyricicoccus*, and *Prevotella 9* showed protective effects.
- Five inflammatory proteins (CXCL5, S100-A12, LIFR, MCP-2/CCL8, TNF-α) were protective.
- NKCR-2B4/CD244 and IL-12β were associated with increased FM risk.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota and inflammatory proteins are implicated in FM pathogenesis.
- Functional analyses suggest involvement in immune regulation, inflammation, and viral pathways.
- Findings offer potential therapeutic targets for FM management through gut health and immune modulation.
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