title: Neutrophil-free radical generation and enzymatic antioxidants in migraine patients.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to elucidate the role of circulating neutrophils if any in oxidative stress in migraine by evaluating free radical generation and activities of enzymatic antioxidants in the blood in 55 patients with migraine and 60 healthy controls. Free radical generation was assessed by flow cytometry, while activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was estimated in blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) by standard procedures. Platelet SOD was also measured. No significant change was found in free radical generation and in the activity of catalase, SOD and GPx in migraine patients. Univariate analysis of PMN catalase level revealed that migraineurs with a positive family history had significantly lower catalase activity compared with those with a negative family history. No correlation was found in the activity of antioxidant enzymes with age, duration of disease, time since last attack and headache index. The platelet SOD also did not show any significant change in patients of migraine without aura. Platelet aggregation in the presence or absence of PMNs was also not altered significantly. Thus the findings of the present study suggest that neutrophils are not the cause of oxidative stress observed in migraine patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (Upgraded King George's Medical College), Lucknow, India. raheshshukla_rakesh@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Barthwal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S A V
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nag
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Srimal
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dikshit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase