A study published in the journal Science has uncovered the mechanism linking the neurological symptoms of migraine aura to the subsequent headache, potentially paving the way for new treatment options.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Center for Translational Neuromedicine have identified how a disruption in brain fluid flow and a spreading wave of neuronal disturbance lead to migraine headaches. The study also revealed new proteins that may be responsible for triggering these debilitating headaches.
Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, the lead author of the study, said, “We’ve described the interaction between the central and peripheral nervous system caused by increased concentrations of proteins released in the brain during an episode of spreading depolarization, which is responsible for migraine aura.”
The research, conducted in mice, challenges previous assumptions about how migraine pain signals are transmitted from the brain to the rest of the body. It suggests a new route for this communication and identifies potential new drug targets for migraine treatment.
A key discovery was the identification of a previously unknown gap in the blood-brain barrier that allows cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flow directly into the trigeminal ganglion, exposing sensory nerves to proteins released by the brain. The researchers found twelve proteins that can bind with receptors on sensory nerves in the trigeminal ganglion, potentially activating these cells and causing pain.
Interestingly, the study observed that proteins released on one side of the brain primarily reach nerves in the trigeminal ganglion on the same side, potentially explaining why migraine pain often occurs on one side of the head.
Dr. Martin Kaag Rasmussen, first author of the study, said, “Defining the role of these newly identified ligand-receptor pairs may enable the discovery of new pharmacological targets, which could benefit the large portion of patients not responding to available therapies.”
With an estimated one in ten people experiencing migraines, and a quarter of these cases preceded by aura, this research could have far-reaching implications for millions of sufferers worldwide. The findings provide new targets for suppressing sensory nerve activation and may lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies for migraines.
The researchers also observed that the transport of proteins released in one side of the brain reaches mostly the nerves in the trigeminal ganglion on the same side, potentially explaining why pain occurs on one side of the head during most migraines.
(Inputs from ANI)
