Project description
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, whole body pain disorder affecting about 2% of the population. Despite how common fibromyalgia is, diagnostic tests do not exist, and treatment options have limited effects. We recently identified a role for autoantibodies (molecules which bind one’s own antibodies) in FM pain.
However, why these autoantibodies develop and their specific targets remain unknown. Recent studies have also linked the gut microbiome with FM pain. Our research hypothesizes that FM autoantibodies develop because of a structural similarity between gut bacteria antibody targets and human autoantibody targets. This study will investigate the localized and systemic antibody response to gut bacteria in fibromyalgia patients. We will identify bacteria that are bound by fibromyalgia antibodies and determine the human and bacterial targets of fibromyalgia autoantibodies. The long-term goal of this research is to shed light on the relationship between gut microbiota, pain and autoantibodies in fibromyalgia. By identifying the targets of fibromyalgia autoantibodies, we will be able to develop diagnostic tests and targeted therapeutic interventions. Currently, FM patients face challenges in diagnosis and pain management, and this study seeks to provide a crucial step forward in improving their quality of life.
3 Questions to Dr. Emerson Krock
Please introduce yourself, your research project and your experience with the Biocodex Microbiota Foundation Grant.
The central goal of my laboratory is to determine the role of neuroimmune and microbiome interactions in chronic pain. I completed my PhD at McGill University and pursued my postdoctoral training at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. In 2023, I was recruited back to McGill as an Assistant Professor in the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain and the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. My lab integrates approaches from neuroscience, immunology, and microbiology, utilizing animal models, human samples, and clinical data.
What inspired you to pursue this specific research project?
I have previously received fellowship funding from the International Association for the Study of Pain, CIHR, and FRQS. My current research is supported by the Rita Allen Foundation, the Louise and Alan Edwards Foundation, NSERC, the Biocodex Microbiota Foundation, the Quebec Pain Research Network, and CFI.
How has the Biocodex Microbiota Foundation Grant support contributed to the success and advancement of your research?
The project funded by the Biocodex Microbiota Foundation investigates how pain-inducing autoantibodies develop through cross-reactivity with gut bacteria in fibromyalgia. While we have previously identified a role for autoantibodies in fibromyalgia pain, the reasons for their development and their precise targets remain unknown. Colleagues at McGill have shown that the gut microbiome of fibromyalgia patients differs from that of pain-free controls, leading us to hypothesize that the gut microbiota may influence the immune system to produce antibodies that contribute to pain. With support from the Biocodex Microbiota Foundation, we aim to identify bacterial taxa that drive this antibody response. Notably, this funding has been instrumental in fully launching our research project. As an early career investigator incorporating microbiota research into my program, I appreciate the Foundation’s early-stage support.
In what ways do you think your work will influence the microbiota-related research in the future?
Our research ultimately seeks to uncover the mechanisms by which pain-inducing autoantibodies develop in fibromyalgia and identify their specific targets. This knowledge will enable us to develop novel diagnostic tests for fibromyalgia and explore new therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we expect our research to reveal previously unknown mechanisms by which the gut microbiota regulates widespread pain.
Dr. Krock's team
