The Association Between miRNA-223 Levels and Pain Severity in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Molecular Approach

Abstract

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic syndrome commonly characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Current evidence suggests that FMS diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation and patient-reported symptoms. MicroRNAs, which serve as key regulators of gene expression, have been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of FMS and other chronic pain syndromes. In this pilot study, miRNA-223-3p expression levels were examined in patients with FMS, and their relationship with pain intensity-assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)was evaluated. To obtain a broader understanding of the inflammatory response, serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels were also measured. miRNA-223-3p expression levels were significantly reduced in the FMS group compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05), whereas IL-1 beta levels did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.1135). The negative correlation between miRNA-223-3p and VAS scores indicates that lower miRNA levels are associated with increased pain severity. Overall, these results suggest that reduced miRNA-223-3p expression levels may be linked to neuroimmune processes and heightened pain perception in FMS. The findings provide valuable preliminary insights that may guide future studies with larger sample sizes.