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Objectives: To evaluate the intracellular levels of the high energy adenosine triphosphate nucleotide ATP and essential divalent cations, calcium and magnesium, in platelets of patients affected by primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMs)., Design and Method: Platelet ATP and cation concentrations were measured in 25 patients affected by FMs and 25 healthy volunteers through a chemiluminescent and a fluorimetric assay, respectively., Results: Significant lower ATP levels were observed inside platelets of FM patients (fmol ATP/plt: 0.0169+/-0.0012 vs. healthy controls, fmol ATP/plt: 0.0306+/-0.0023, mean+/-SEM) (*** P<0.0001). A trend towards higher calcium concentrations (P=0.06) together with significant increased magnesium levels were also reported in platelets of patients by comparison with controls (P=0.02)., Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that disturbances in the homeostasis of platelet ATP metabolism-signaling and calcium-magnesium flows might have a relevance in the pathogenesis of FMs.

Objectives: The presence of tubby protein in human lymphocytes was investigated and their electrophoretic mobility property between normal weight and obese subjects was compared., Design and Methods: 2-DE proteome map of lymphocytes has been generated and western blot analysis was conducted using anti-tub polyclonal antibody., Results and Conclusions: We found the presence of tubby protein both in normal weight and in obese subjects; however in the latter an isoelectric point shift toward the acidic end was observed.