Association between plasma concentrations of linoleic acid-derived oxylipins and the perceived pain scores in an exploratory study in women with chronic neck pain.

Hellström F, Gouveia-Figueira S, Nording ML, Björklund M, Fowler CJ

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 17 (-) 103 [2016-02-25; online 2016-02-25]

Chronic musculoskeletal pain may be associated with changes in the balance of algogenic and anti-nociceptive compounds, and such changes may be visible in plasma samples. We have undertaken an exploratory study to measure the levels of endocannabinoids, related N-acylethanolamines and oxylipins (primarily those derived from linoleic acid) in plasma samples from women with chronic neck pain (NP) and chronic widespread pain (CWP), and to investigate whether the observed levels are associated with the pain experienced by these women. Blood samples from 35 women with NP, 15 with CWP and 27 age-matched controls were analysed for the lipids using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Current pain ("NRSday") and the average pain during the last week ("NRSweek") were rated by the participants using a numerical rating scale. There were no significant differences in the plasma concentrations of the fifteen lipids investigated between the women with pain and the controls. However, significant correlations were seen for the NP group between the NRSday scores and the plasma concentrations of the linoleic acid derivatives 9- and 13-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acid (Spearman's rho values 0.51 [P = 0.0016]) and 0.53 [P = 0.0011], respectively). The data obtained in this exploratory study indicate that although no group differences are seen in plasma lipid concentrations, there is an association between the NRSday scores and the 9- and 13-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acid levels. Whether or not the association reflects a causality (i.e. that the circulating lipids contribute to the perceived pain of the pain participants), requires further investigation.

Swedish Metabolomics Centre (SMC) [Service]

PubMed 26916287

DOI 10.1186/s12891-016-0951-9

Crossref 10.1186/s12891-016-0951-9

pmc: PMC4766716
pii: 10.1186/s12891-016-0951-9