title: Establishing a relationship between bacteria in the human gut and complex regional pain syndrome.
abstract: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a serious and painful condition involving the peripheral and central nervous systems. Full comprehension of the disorder's pathophysiology remains incomplete, but research implicates the immune system as a contributor to chronic pain. Because of the impact gastrointestinal bacteria have in the development and behavior of the immune system, this study compares the GI microbial communities of 16 participants with CRPS (5 of whom have intestinal discomforts) and 16 healthy controls using 454 sequencing technology. CRPS subjects were found to have significantly less diversity than their healthy counterparts. Statistical analysis of the phylogenetic classifications revealed significantly increased levels of Proteobacteria and decreased levels of Firmicutes in CRPS subjects. Clustering analysis showed significant separation between healthy controls and CRPS subjects. These results support the hypothesis that the GI microbial communities of CRPS participants differ from those of their healthy counterparts. These variations may hold the key to understanding how CRPS develops and provide information that could yield a potential treatment.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Reichenberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Guillermo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Marielle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Perreault
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schwartzman
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hershberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University, United States. Electronic address: gailr@ece.drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D004247:DNA