title: Kynurenines and headache.
abstract: In parallel to serotonin synthesis, the major route of tryptophan catabolism is the kynurenine pathway, which produces neuroactive metabolites. Among these substances, kynurenic acid has potential neuroprotective action blocking glutamate release and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Glutamate is a key player in migraine pathogenesis; it is crucial in the communication of first and second-order neurons, and it has an important role in the genesis of cortical spreading depression, which is the electrophysiological correlate for migraine aura and may be involved in the activation of the trigeminal system. Thus, kynurenines may affect the pathogenesis directly, by acting on glutamate receptors and exerting other neuromodulatory effects, and indirectly via an altered serotonin metabolism. This work summarizes our current results regarding the role of the kynurenine system in trigeminal activation and other events occurring during migraine headache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u. 6, Szeged, 6725, Hungary. apardutz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Arpád
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Párdutz
authors.forename: Annamária
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fejes
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bohár
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tar
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toldi
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vécsei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D007737:Kynurenine