Proteomic Investigation in Plasma from Women with Fibromyalgia in Response to a 15-wk Resistance Exercise Intervention

Abstract

Purpose: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex pain condition, and exercise is considered the first option of treatment. Few studies have examined the effect of exercise on molecular mechanisms in FM. The aim of this study was to analyze the plasma proteome in women with FM and healthy controls (CON) before and after 15 wk of resistance exercise. This study further investigated whether clinical and exercises-related outcomes correlated with identified plasma proteins in FM. Methods: Plasma samples from 40 FM/25 CON (baseline) and 21 FM/24 CON (postexercise) were analyzed using shotgun proteomics. Clinical/background data were retrieved through questionnaires. Exercise-related variables and pressure pain thresholds were assessed using standardized instruments. Multivariate statistics were applied to analyze the proteomic profile at baseline and postexercise, and correlation with clinical/exercise-related data. Results: Fifteen weeks of resistance exercises improved clinical symptoms and muscle strength, and affected circulating proteins related to immunity, stress, mRNA stability, metabolic processes, and muscle structure development in FM. Pressure pain threshold was related to a specific protein profile, with proteins involved in metabolic and immune response. Subgroups of FM based on plasma proteins, FM duration, and improved muscle strength were identified. Conclusions: Exercise seems to affect circulating proteins, clinical characteristics, and muscle strength in FM. This study contributes to better understanding of systemic protein changes in FM compared with CON and how resistance exercise affects such changes.

Swedish Chronic Pain Biobank: protocol for a multicentre registry and biomarker project

“…In the studies that form the basis of the project and use the same methods, we have found marked differences in the protein/inflammation pattern in muscles and plasma at CWP/FM 16 17 33. In the proteomics studies of musculature and plasma, we have been able to identify proteins that with great certainty explain the group affiliation (patient or healthy) (R2: 0.81–0.84)16 17; similar results are obtained with the inflammation panel 15.…”

Unbiased proteomic analysis detects painful systemic inflammatory profile in the serum of nerve-injured mice

“…32 Most recently, a series of studies using highthroughput serum and plasma proteomics further revealed a dysregulation of circulating proteome in CWP, especially patients with fibromyalgia (FM), where the most regulated proteins are part of the immune system or known to interact with the immune system. 24,25,30,[68][69][70][71] The data further support a significant correlation between serum and plasma proteome profile and clinical parameters in FM and diabetic neuropathic patients, such as mechanical and thermal pain thresholds, pain intensity, and psychological distress. 3,24,25,68,69 Thus, accumulating evidence suggests that patients with chronic pain may live with systemic chronic inflammation, which could have a role in the genesis of long-lasting painful behaviors.…”

Unbiased proteomic analysis detects painful systemic inflammatory profile in the serum of nerve injured mice

“…While most of the above mentioned studies analysing mRNA expression or protein levels of few selected targets in blood samples, some studies [2; 29; 34] expanded the screening of inflammatory molecules with multiplex analysis up to 92 targets where they not only detected significant differences in multiple inflammatory biomarkers, but also observed that among patients whose pain and other clinical relevant symptoms improve, most of inflammation related proteins tend to be normalized [29]. Most recently, a series of studies using high-throughput serum/plasma proteomics further revealed a dysregulation of circulating proteome in CWP, especially fibromyalgia (FM) patients, where the most regulated proteins are part of the immune system or known to interact with the immune system [21; 22; 27; 64–67]. The data further support a significant correlation between serum/plasma proteome profile and clinical parameters in FM patients, such as mechanical and thermal pain thresholds, pain intensity and psychological distress [21; 22; 64; 65].…”