title: Linked activation of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase in peripheral monocytes of asymptomatic migraine without aura patients.
abstract: Many reports indicate that nitric oxide (NO) could be involved in migraine without aura (MWA), an extremely diffuse clinical event. Since monocyte may be a relevant source of NO, we analysed monocyte activation in MWA patients, in a period in which they were free of symptoms. NO basal production by MWA peripheral monocytes was significantly higher than in healthy subjects (91.25+/-8.6 microM/10(6) cells vs. 22.6+/-3.2 microM/106 cells). Interestingly, even the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), was higher in MWA patients than in healthy subjects (3137+/-320 pg/10(6) cells vs. 1531+/-220 pg/10(6) cells). The incubation of monocytes from healthy subjects and MWA patients with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester caused a marked decrease of both NO and PGE2 release. We hypothesise that NOS and cyclooxygenase pathways in monocytes are linked and are, in MWA patients, up-regulated, even in a symptoms-free period. NO and PGE2 hyperproduction could therefore be involved in the neurovascular modifications leading to migraine attacks.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Technologies, CNR, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stirparo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favilla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009573:Nitrites; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester