Association between migraine and endothelin type A receptor (ETA -231 A/G) gene polymorphism.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have described an association between migraine and endothelin, a potent vasoconstrictor.


OBJECTIVE
To test the association between migraine and gene polymorphisms of the endothelin system.


METHODS
A population-based study of elderly individuals (n = 1,188) in Nantes (western France) was conducted. Lifetime migraine was defined according to the International Headache Society criteria, after an interview with a headache specialist. Five polymorphisms in genes encoding endothelin 1, endothelin type A (ET(A)), and type B receptors were determined in more than 90% of the sample. RESULTS Migraine was diagnosed in 140 participants (11.9%). The ETA (-231 A/G) polymorphism was the only polymorphism significantly associated with migraine. There was a trend of decreasing prevalence of migraine with number of copies of the G allele (AA genotype: 15.7% of participants with migraine, AG: 9.7%, GG: 2.9%; p < 0.001). Carrying the G allele was associated with a sex- and age-adjusted odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.74). The association was observed in both sexes and was stronger in participants with a family history of severe headaches than in those without.


CONCLUSIONS
A variant of the ET(A) receptor gene modulates the risk for migraine. These results offer new insights into the pathophysiology of the vascular component of migraine.
Tzourio
C
C
INSERM U 360, Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France. tzourio@chups.jussieu.fr
El Amrani
M
M
Poirier
O
O
Nicaud
V
V
Bousser
M G
MG
Alpérovitch
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000235:genetics
D019332:Endothelin-1; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D009569:Nitric Oxide