title: Neurogenic inflammation in the context of migraine.
abstract: Despite considerable research into the pathogenesis of idiopathic headaches, such as migraine, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying them remain poorly understood. Although it is well established that the trigeminal nerve becomes activated during migraine, the consequences of this activation remain controversial. One theory, based on preclinical observations, is that activation of trigeminal sensory fibers leads to a painful neurogenic inflammation within the meningeal (dural) vasculature mediated by neuropeptide release from trigeminal sensory fibres and characterized by plasma protein extravasation, vasodilation, and mast cell degranulation. Effective antimigraine agents such as ergots, triptans, opioids, and valproate inhibit preclinical neurogenic dural extravasation, suggesting that this activity may be a predictor of potential clinical efficacy of novel agents. However, several clinical trials with other agents that inhibit this process preclinically have failed to show efficacy in the acute treatment of migraine in man. Alternatively, it has been proposed that painful neurogenic vasodilation of meningeal blood vessels could be a key component of the inflammatory process during migraine headache. This view is supported by the observation that jugular plasma levels of the potent vasodilator, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are elevated during the headache and normalized by successful sumatriptan treatment. Preclinically, activation of trigeminal sensory fibers evokes a CGRP-mediated neurogenic dural vasodilation, which is blocked by dihydroergotamine, triptans, and opioids but unaffected by NK1 receptor antagonists that failed in clinical trials. These observations suggest that CGRP release with associated neurogenic dural vasodilation may be important in the generation of migraine pain, a theory that would ultimately be tested by the clinical testing of a CGRP receptor antagonist.
authors: Whole Animal Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Merck Sharp and Dohme Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom. david_williamson@merck.com
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Williamson
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Hargreaves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000077300:Bosentan; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020078:Neurogenic Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000819:agonists; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012886:Skull / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000096642:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1F
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D000077300:Bosentan; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D009294:Narcotics; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D018170:Sumatriptan; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000096642:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1F; C085263:CP 122288