Exercise-induce hyperalgesia, complement system and elastase activation in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a secondary analysis of experimental comparative studies

摘要

Background and aims: The interaction between the immune system and pain has been thoroughly explored in the recent decades. The release of inflammatory mediators from immune cells has the capability of activating neurons and glial cells, in turn sensitizing the nervous system. Both immune system alterations and pain modulation dysfunctions have been shown in myalgic encepha-lomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) following exercise. However, no studies tried to explore whether these two phenomena are linked and can explain exercise-induced symptoms worsening in people with ME/ CFS. We hypothesized that exercise-induced changes in descending pain modulation is associated to changes in immune system functions.