The p38/MK2 Axis in Monocytes of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients: An Explorative Study
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Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
2
Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Janey Prodoehl
Medicina 2021, 57(4), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040396
Received: 9 March 2021
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Revised: 12 April 2021
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Accepted: 16 April 2021
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Published: 19 April 2021
Background and Objectives: The aetiology and pathomechanism of fibromyalgia syndrome 12 (FMS) as one of chronic pain syndromes still need to be further elucidated. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has been proposed as a novel approach in pain management. Since the major symptom of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients is pain, it became of interest whether MAPK pathways, such as the stress-activated p38 MAPK/MK2 axis, are activated in FMS patients. Therefore, this study aimed at determining p38 MAPK/MK2 in FMS patients. Materials and Methods: Phosphorylation of MAPK-activated protein kinases 2 (MK2), a direct target of p38 MAPK, was measured in monocytes of FMS and healthy controls (HCs) to monitor the activity of this pathway. Results: The mean level of phosphorylated MK2 was fivefold higher in FMS patients as compared to HCs (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that antidepressants did not influence the activity of MK2 in FMS patients. Conclusions: This result indicates that the p38/MK2 pathway could be involved in the pathomechanism of FMS, could act as a clinical marker for FMS, and could be a possible target for pain management in FMS patients.
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Keywords:
fibromyalgia; pain; p38; MAPK; depression; mood
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MDPI and ACS Style
Nugraha, B.; Scheibe, R.; Korallus, C.; Gaestel, M.; Gutenbrunner, C. The p38/MK2 Axis in Monocytes of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients: An Explorative Study. Medicina 2021, 57, 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040396
AMA Style
Nugraha B, Scheibe R, Korallus C, Gaestel M, Gutenbrunner C. The p38/MK2 Axis in Monocytes of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients: An Explorative Study. Medicina. 2021; 57(4):396. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040396
Chicago/Turabian StyleNugraha, Boya, Renate Scheibe, Christoph Korallus, Matthias Gaestel, and Christoph Gutenbrunner. 2021. "The p38/MK2 Axis in Monocytes of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients: An Explorative Study" Medicina 57, no. 4: 396. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040396
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