Plasma cytokine fluctuations over time in healthy controls and patients with fibromyalgia

Fumiharu Togo, Benjamin H. Natelson, Gail K. Adler, John E. Ottenweller, Don L. Goldenberg, Zbigniew R. Struzik, Yoshiharu Yamamoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined the pattern of cytokine secretion across the 24-hr day for women with widespread pain and tenderness having the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM) and matched healthy controls. Subjects were given time to habituate to being in a clinical research laboratory environment and then were sampled for cytokines without their being disturbed for a 24-hr period including an 8-hr sleep period. Cytokine levels were uniformly low but characterized by bursts of secretion. Bursting occurred either in singlets or in doublets with a range from 88 to 131 mins between doublet bursts. There was an element of synchronization of these bursts with most occurring at the beginning of sampling. FM patients showed a shift to increased IL-10 in the nighttime compared to controls. The relation between this anti-inflammatory cytokine to the pro-inflammatory cytokines studied also differed between groups: FM patients showed an increased ratio of IL-10 burst amplitude to that of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β IL-8, and TNF-α. We interpret this to indicate a skew away from the normal balance favoring pro-inflammatory cytokines in controls toward one favoring an anti-inflammatory response in FM. These changes toward anti-inflammatory predominance in FM may explain their common complaint of disturbed sleep because these cytokines are known to disrupt sleep.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)232-240
Number of pages9
JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine
Volume234
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biological rhythms
  • Cytokines
  • Pain
  • Ultradian

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Plasma cytokine fluctuations over time in healthy controls and patients with fibromyalgia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this