Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells correlate with salience network activity in chronic visceral pain: A pilot study

Conclusions & InferencesBased on rodent studies, one may speculate that chronically activated stress signaling pathways in IBS maintain a pro‐inflammatory state in the periphery. Alternatively, primed monocytes may migrate to the brain during stress, inducing regional neuroinflammatory changes in salience regions involved in the modulation of visceral sensitivity. Results show a difference in correlation between PBMC gene expression levels and salience network connectivity in patients with IBS vs. HCs. Inflammatory genes (IL6 and APOL2) are positively correlated with connectivity within salience network in IBS patients (strengthened connectivity). Genes with anti‐inflammatory properties (KRT8, APOA4, KRT8A) and 1 inflammatory gene (APOL2) are negatively correlated with connectivity within salience network in HCs (weakened connectivity.
Source: Neurogastroenterology and Motility - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research