title: Increased cutaneous miR-let-7d expression correlates with small nerve fiber pathology in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
abstract: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic widespread pain condition probably comprising subgroups with different underlying pathomechanisms. There is increasing evidence for small nerve fiber impairment in subgroups of patients with FMS. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate molecular factors determining nerve de- and re-generation. We investigated whether systemic and cutaneous miRNA expression in patients with FMS is related to small nerve fiber pathology. We confirmed previous findings of disturbed small fiber function and reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density in subgroups of patients with FMS. We found 51 aberrantly expressed miRNAs in white blood cells of patients with FMS, of which miR-let-7d correlated with reduced small nerve fiber density in patients with FMS. Furthermore, we demonstrated miR-let-7d and its downstream target insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor as being aberrantly expressed in skin of patients with FMS with small nerve fiber impairment. Our study gives further evidence of small nerve fiber pathology in FMS subgroups and provides a missing link in the pathomechanism that may lead to small fiber loss in subgroups of patients with FMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leinders
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doppler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic Am Arkauwald, Bad Mergentheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximiliane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deckart
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rittner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Üçeyler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071075:Small Fiber Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger