title: Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in the nucleus trigeminalis caudalis in an animal model of migraine.
abstract: The infusion of nitroglycerin (NTG) induces an inflammatory state in perivascular meningeal tissues of rat via the activation, inter alia, of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB). This phenomenon has been related to the mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of migraine, a common neurovascular disorder. In the present study, we sought to elucidate whether NF-kappaB activation might have a role in the determinism of migraine attacks also at the neuronal level. Therefore, we investigated the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB in the brainstem of rats systemically injected with NTG and killed 4h later. Activation of NF-kappaB in brain areas was detected by means of both the immunohistochemical technique and the Western blot analysis. A significant increase of nuclear immunostaining of p65, an indicator of NF-kappaB activation, was detected in lamina I and II of nucleus trigeminalis caudalis in rats injected with NTG when compared with the control group. Western blot analysis confirmed the activation of the NF-kappaB pathway showing an increase in the optical density of p65 in nuclear extracts of lower brainstem of rats injected with the nitric oxide (NO) donor. The present study contributes to expand on our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which NTG may trigger migraine-like headaches in migraineurs. Furthermore, these findings pave the way to new bio-molecular and pharmacological avenues for the development of innovative migraine therapies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Mondino Foundation and University Centre for the Study of Adaptive Disorder and Headache (UCADH), Via Palestro 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tassorelli
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandrini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014279:Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin