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Paroli M, Gioia C, Accapezzato D, Caccavale R. Inflammation, Autoimmunity, and Infection in Fibromyalgia: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5922. [PMID: 38892110 PMCID: PMC11172859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain of unknown etiology. The condition is commonly associated with other symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and depression. For this reason, FM is also referred to as FM syndrome. The nature of the pain is defined as nociplastic according to the latest international classification and is characterized by altered nervous sensitization both centrally and peripherally. Psychosocial conditions have traditionally been considered critical in the genesis of FM. However, recent studies in animal models and humans have provided new evidence in favor of an inflammatory and/or autoimmune pathogenesis. In support of this hypothesis are epidemiological data of an increased female prevalence, similar to that of autoimmune diseases, and the frequent association with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. In addition, the observation of an increased incidence of this condition during long COVID revived the hypothesis of an infectious pathogenesis. This narrative review will, therefore, discuss the evidence supporting the immune-mediated pathogenesis of FM in light of the most current data available in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marino Paroli
- Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy; (C.G.); (D.A.); (R.C.)
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Langgartner D, Amoroso M, Kempter E, Kustermann M, Scheurer J, Lowry CA, Strauß G, Reber SO. Mycobacterium vaccae protects against glucocorticoid resistance resulting from combined physical and psychosocial trauma in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 109:221-234. [PMID: 36736929 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress-related somatic and psychiatric disorders are often associated with a decline in regulatory T cell (Treg) counts and chronic low-grade inflammation. Recent preclinical evidence suggests that the latter is at least partly mediated by stress-induced upregulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)2 in newly generated neutrophils and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), as well as glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in predominantly PMN-MDSCs following stress-induced upregulation of TLR4 expression. Here we show in mice exposed to the chronic subordinate colony housing (CSC) paradigm that repeated intragastric (i.g.) administrations of a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659, a saprophytic microorganism with immunoregulatory properties, protected against the stress-induced reduction in systemic Tregs, increase in basal and LPS-induced in vitro splenocyte viability, as well as splenic in vitro GC resistance. Our findings further support the hypothesis that i.g. M. vaccae protects against CSC-associated splenic GC resistance via directly affecting the myeloid compartment, thereby preventing the CSC-induced upregulation of TLR4 in newly generated PMN-MDSCs. In contrast, the protective effects of i.g. M. vaccae on the CSC-induced upregulation of TLR2 in neutrophils and the subsequent increase in basal and LPS-induced in vitro splenocyte viability seems to be indirectly mediated via the Treg compartment. These data highlight the potential for use of oral administration of M. vaccae NCTC 11659 to prevent stress-induced exaggeration of inflammation, a risk factor for development of stress-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mattia Amoroso
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Elena Kempter
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Monika Kustermann
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), The Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMRVAMC), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO 80045, USA; VIVO Planetary Health, of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), West NY, NJ 07093, USA
| | - Gudrun Strauß
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
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