Lack of association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms and migraine.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate if 2 functional endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms might be risk factors for migraine.


BACKGROUND
Nitric oxide synthase promotes the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a potent vasodilator and mediates several processes involved in migraine pathophysiology. Only one study has suggested an association with migraine with aura.


METHODS
We performed a sex- and age-matched case-control study using 2 eNOS polymorphisms (rs1800779 and rs1799983), which are in linkage disequilibrium. Genotypes were obtained with allele-specific probes in a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Genotypic and allelic distributions were compared with chi(2) method. We also estimated the reconstructed haplotypes and calculated ORs for individual haplotypes.


RESULTS
A total of 337 migraine patients (188 with aura) and 341 healthy controls were recruited. We found no significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and alleles for either polymorphism among clinical subgroups. Neither rs1800779 nor rs1799983 polymorphisms increased the risk for suffering from migraine aura.


CONCLUSIONS
As others have previously reported, we failed to demonstrate genetic association of the eNOS gene with migraine.
Toriello
María
M
Services of Neurology, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
Oterino
Agustín
A
Pascual
Julio
J
Castillo
Jesús
J
Colás
Rafael
R
Alonso-Arranz
Ana
A
Ruiz-Alegría
Carlos
C
Quintela
Estrella
E
Montón
Fernando
F
Ruiz-Lavilla
Nuria
N
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III