Proteomics in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Arriana Gkouvi; Sotirios G Tsiogkas; Dimitrios P Bogdanos; Helen Gika; Dimitrios G Goulis; Maria G Grammatikopoulou

doi:10.1007/s11916-024-01244-4

Proteomics in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2024 Apr 23. doi: 10.1007/s11916-024-01244-4. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Arriana Gkouvi¹, Sotirios G Tsiogkas¹, Dimitrios P Bogdanos², Helen Gika^{3

4}, Dimitrios G Goulis⁵, Maria G Grammatikopoulou^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece.
² Unit of Immunonutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece. bogdanos@med.uth.gr.
³ Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Biomic_AUTh, Balkan Center Thermi B1.4, GR-57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁵ Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

PMID: 38652420
DOI: 10.1007/s11916-024-01244-4

Abstract

Purpose of review: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disease of unknown pathophysiology, with the diagnosis being based on a set of clinical criteria. Proteomic analysis can provide significant biological information for the pathophysiology of the disease but may also reveal biomarkers for diagnosis or therapeutic targets. The present systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence regarding the proteome of adult patients with FMS using data from observational studies.

Recent findings: An extensive literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, CENTRAL, and clinicaltrials.gov from inception until November 2022. The study protocol was published in OSF. Two independent reviewers evaluated the studies and extracted data. The quality of studies was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale adjusted for proteomic research. Ten studies fulfilled the protocol criteria, identifying 3328 proteins, 145 of which were differentially expressed among patients with FMS against controls. The proteins were identified in plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva samples. The control groups included healthy individuals and patients with pain (inflammatory and non-inflammatory). The most important proteins identified involved transferrin, α-, β-, and γ-fibrinogen chains, profilin-1, transaldolase, PGAM1, apolipoprotein-C3, complement C4A and C1QC, immunoglobin parts, and acute phase reactants. Weak correlations were observed between proteins and pain sensation, or quality of life scales, apart from the association of transferrin and a2-macroglobulin with moderate-to-severe pain sensation. The quality of included studies was moderate-to-good. FMS appears to be related to protein dysregulation in the complement and coagulation cascades and the metabolism of iron. Several proteins may be dysregulated due to the excessive oxidative stress response.

Keywords: A2-macroglobulin; Calgranulin; Complement C4-A; Fibrinogen; Haptoglobin; Hydroxytyrosol; Pain; Proteome; Thrombospondin-1; Transaldolase; Transferrin.

Publication types

Review