Gut bacteria play 'key role' in pain condition - mice study
Researchers in Canada have shown that gut bacteria from patients with fibromyalgia can trigger pain and immune reactions when transplanted into mice, suggesting a role for the microbiome in the condition.
Fibromyalgia affects up to 4% of the population, mostly women, and is a long-term condition that is difficult to treat and causes pain all over the body.
Although prior research has identified differences in gut microbiota between patients and healthy individuals, there has been little research into whether those differences actively contribute to symptoms until now.
The team at McGill University, an EARA member, transplanted gut microbiota from 14 women with fibromyalgia into bacteria-free female mice.
Mice receiving the fibromyalgia microbiota developed persistent pain behaviour, including sensitivity to mechanical stress, heat, and cold, as well as muscle and spontaneous pain.
However, the pain symptoms were reversed when fibromyalgia microbiota was replaced with healthy donor samples.
This study, in Neuron, suggests gut microbiota play a key role in fibromyalgia symptoms and a small human trial with the same women patients has shown promise.
The team now plans to confirm results through bigger clinical trials to develop a therapy that can help this condition.
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