Update on the genetics of the fibromyalgia syndrome.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness, is a complex condition considered to represent a paradigm of centralized pain. FMS has demonstrated a clear familial aggregation, and hence it is considered to have a genetic background. Multiple candidate-gene studies have been conducted in this field, focusing on target genes that play a role in the transmission and processing of pain. While many of these have focused in the past on markers related to neurotransmitter systems such as catecholamines (catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)) and serotonin, novel target genes have recently emerged. In addition, genome-wide sequencing scanning (genome-wide association study (GWAS)) is increasingly being harnessed for the study of chronic pain, including FMS. Micro RNAs are another novel field of research related to posttranscriptional inhibition of gene expression, which are currently regarding the pathogenesis of FMS.
Institute of Rheumatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: ajacob@post.tau.ac.il.
Jacob N
JN
Ablin
Department of Medicine H, Soroka Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: dbuskila@bgu.ac.il.
Dan
D
Buskila
D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans
Centralized pain; Fibromyalgia; Neuropathic pain