Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms and risk for migraine

Oxidative Stress and Migraine

The pathogenesis of migraine is not completely understood, but inflammation and oxidative stress seem to be involved, according to data from an experimental model of the disease. This narrative review summarizes data from studies on oxidative stress markers in migraine patients, case-control association studies on the possible association of candidate genes related to oxidative stress with the risk for migraine, studies showing the presence of oxidative stress in experimental models of migraine, and studies on the efficacy of antioxidant drugs in migraine therapy. Many studies have addressed the value of concentrations of prooxidant and antioxidant substances or the activity of antioxidant enzymes in different tissues (mainly in serum/plasma or in blood cells) as possible biomarkers for migraine, being thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances (TBARS) such as malonyl dialdehyde acid (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal, and nitric oxide (this at least during migraine attacks in patients with migraine with aura (MWA) the most reliable. In addition, the possible usefulness of antioxidant treatment is not well established, although preliminary short-term studies suggest a beneficial action of some of them such as Coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin. Both topics require further prospective, multicenter studies with a long-term follow-up period involving a large number of migraine patients and controls.

Migraine and thyroid dysfunction: Co-occurrence, shared genes and biological mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Migraine and thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, are common medical conditions and are known to have high heritability. Thyroid function measures, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4), are also known to be genetically influenced. Although observational epidemiological studies report an increased co-occurrence of migraine and thyroid dysfunction, a clear and combined interpretation of the findings is currently lacking. A narrative review is provided of the epidemiological and genetic association evidence linking migraine, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid hormones TSH and fT4.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed database for epidemiological, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies using the terms migraine, headache, thyroid hormones, TSH, fT4, thyroid function, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

RESULTS

Epidemiological studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between migraine and thyroid dysfunction. However, the nature of the relationship remains unclear, with some studies suggesting migraine increases the risk for thyroid dysfunction whilst other studies suggest the reverse. Early candidate gene studies have provided nominal evidence for MTHFR and APOE, whilst more recently genome-wide association studies have provided robust evidence for THADA and ITPK1 being associated with both migraine and thyroid dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

These genetic associations improve our understanding of the genetic relationship between migraine and thyroid dysfunction, provide an opportunity to develop biomarkers to identify migraine patients most likely to benefit from thyroid hormone therapy, and indicate that further cross-trait genetic studies have excellent potential to provide biological insight into their relationship and inform clinical interventions.

Increased serum diamine oxidase activity in nonallergic patients with migraine

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Histamine has shown a possible role in the etiopathogenesis of migraine. It has been reported an association between some polymorphisms in the diamine oxidase (DAO) gene and migraine, especially in women. Two studies addressing DAO activity in migraine patients showed conflicting results. We investigated the possible relationship of serum DAO activity and histamine levels and 3 polymorphisms in the DAO gene with the risk for migraine.

METHODS

We studied the frequencies of DAO rs10156191, rs1049742 and rs1049793 genotypes and allelic variants in 298 migraine patients and 360 healthy controls (using a TaqMan-based qPCR assay), and serum DAO activity and histamine levels in a subset of 99 migraine patients and 115 controls with strict exclusion criteria, and analysed the relationship of these variables with several clinical features of migraine.

RESULTS

The frequencies of the DAO genotypes and allelic variants analysed were similar in migraine patients and controls. Serum DAO activity was significantly higher in migraine patients (Vmax/Km 4.24 ± 2.93 vs. 3.60 ± 7.64, p < 0.001), especially in females (Vmax/Km 4.63 ± 2.96 vs. 3.18 ± 2.32, p < 0.0001), while serum histamine was similar in both study groups.

CONCLUSION

Serum DAO activity was increased in patients with migraine, especially in females, while serum histamine levels were normal. None of the studied polymorphisms was associated with the risk for migraine.

Glucose-Related Traits and Risk of Migraine—A Potential Mechanism and Treatment Consideration

Migraine and glucose-related (glycaemic) traits (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and type 2 diabetes) are common and complex comorbid disorders that cause major economic and social burdens on patients and their families. Studies on the relationship between migraine and glucose-related traits have yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of this review is to synthesise and discuss the information from the available literature on the relationship between fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with migraine. Publications on migraine and fasting glucose, migraine and fasting insulin, and migraine and T2D were identified from a PubMed and Google Scholar database search and reviewed for this article. Multiple publications have suggested that the comorbidity of migraine and glucose-related traits may have a similar complex pathogenic mechanism, including impaired glucose homeostasis, insulin resistance, reduced cerebrovascular reactivity, abnormal brain metabolism, shared genetic factors, neurotransmitters, and sex hormones. Furthermore, several studies have found a bi-directional link between migraine with insulin resistance and T2D. There is strong evidence for a biological association between migraine headache and glucose-related traits, and burgeoning evidence for shared genetic influences. Therefore, genetic research into these comorbid traits has the potential to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets and provide biological insight into their relationships. We encourage healthcare professionals to consider the co-occurrence of migraine with glucose-related traits in the evaluation and treatment of their patients.

Association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) rs2070744 and the risk for migraine

Because nitric oxide could play an important role in the pathogenesis of migraine (suggested by experimental, neuropathological, biochemical, and pharmacological data), and a recent meta-analysis showed an association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2070744 in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) gene (chromosome 7q36.1) and the risk for migraine in Caucasians, we attempted to replicate the possible association between this SNP and the and the risk for migraine in the Caucasian Spanish population. The frequencies for the NOS3 rs2070744 genotypes and allelic variants were assessed in 283 migraine patients and 287 healthy controls with a TaqMan-based qPCR Assay. The putative influence on genotype frequency of age at onset of migraine attacks, gender, family history of migraine, absence or presence of aura, and triggering of migraine attacks by ethanol, were also analyzed. The frequencies of NOS3 rs2070744 genotypes and allelic variants were not associated with the risk for migraine (OR [95%] CI for the minor allele = 0.91 [0.72-1.15]) and were not influenced by age at onset of migraine, gender, presence of aura, or triggering of migraine attacks by ethanol. NOS3 rs2070744CC genotypes were significantly more frequent in patients with a family history of migraine. NOS3 rs2070744 SNP is not associated with the risk for migraine in Caucasian Spanish people although it might be related to family history.

Redox Mechanisms in Migraine: Novel Therapeutics and Dietary Interventions

SIGNIFICANCE

Migraine represents the third most prevalent and the seventh most disabling human disorder. Approximately 30% of migraine patients experience transient, fully reversible, focal neurological symptoms (aura) preceding the attack. Recent Advances: Awareness of the hypothesis that migraine actually embodies a spectrum of illnesses-ranging from episodic to chronic forms-is progressively increasing and poses novel challenges for clarifying the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine as well as for the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Several theories have evolved to the current concept that a combination of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors may play a role in migraine pathogenesis, although their relative importance is still being debated.

CRITICAL ISSUES

One critical issue that deserves a particular attention is the role of oxidative stress in migraine. Indeed, potentially harmful oxidative events occur during the migraine attack and long-lasting or frequent migraine episodes may increase brain exposure to oxidative events that can lead to chronic transformation. Moreover, a wide variety of dietary, environmental, physiological, behavioral, and pharmacological migraine triggers may act through oxidative stress, with clear implications for migraine treatment and prophylaxis. Interestingly, almost all current prophylactic migraine agents exert antioxidant effects.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Increasing awareness of the role of oxidative stress and/or decreased antioxidant defenses in migraine pathogenesis and progression to a chronic condition lays the foundations for the design of novel prophylactic approaches, which, by reducing brain oxidative phenomena, could favorably modify the clinical course of migraine. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 1144-1183.

Genetic bases of the nutritional approach to migraine

Migraine is a common multifactorial and polygenic neurological disabling disorder characterized by a genetic background and associated to environmental, hormonal and food stimulations. A large series of evidence suggest a strong correlation between nutrition and migraine and indicates several commonly foods, food additives and beverages that may be involved in the mechanisms triggering the headache attack in migraine-susceptible persons. There are foods and drinks, or ingredients of the same, that can trigger the migraine crisis as well as some foods play a protective function depending on the specific genetic sensitivity of the subject. The recent biotechnological advances have enhanced the identification of some genetic factors involved in onset diseases and the identification of sequence variants of genes responsible for the individual sensitivity to migraine trigger-foods. Therefore many studies are aimed at the analysis of polymorphisms of genes coding for the enzymes involved in the metabolism of food factors in order to clarify the different ways in which people respond to foods based on their genetic constitution. This review discusses the latest knowledge and scientific evidence of the role of gene variants and nutrients, food additives and nutraceuticals interactions in migraine.

Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS, NOS1) rs693534 and rs7977109 Variants and Risk for Migraine

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Many biochemical, pharmacological, neuropathological, and experimental data suggest a possible role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of migraine. We investigated the possible association between functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS1 or nNOS; chromosome 12q24.22) and the risk for migraine.

METHODS

We studied the frequency of the of rs7977109 and rs693534 genotypes and allelic variants in 197 patients with migraine and 308 healthy controls using a TaqMan-based qPCR assay. As a secondary analysis, we studied the possible influence of gender, age at onset of migraine, positive family history of migraine, and presence or absence of aura on the genotypes frequency.

RESULTS

The frequencies of rs7977109 and rs693534 genotypes and allelic variants were not associated with the risk for migraine with OR for minor alleles = 0.94 (95% CI 0.72-1.23) and = 0.88 (0.68-1.15), respectively, and the lack of association was not influenced by gender, age at onset of migraine, positive family history of migraine, and presence or absence of aura.

CONCLUSION

NOS1 rs7977109 and rs693534 genotypes and allelic variants are not associated with the risk for migraine in Caucasian Spanish people.