TRPV1, CGRP and SP in scalp arteries of patients suffering from chronic migraine.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 receptor (TRPV1) and the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) appear to be differently involved in migraine pain. A role of neurovascular scalp structures is also suggested by several data. We performed a quantitative study of TRPV1-like immunoreactive (LI), CGRP-LI and SP-LI innervation of scalp arterial samples from patients affected with chronic migraine (CM).

METHODS:

Short segments of scalp arteries were collected from 17 participants undergoing vascular surgery for treatment-resistant CM and from 6 controls who underwent neurosurgery for various indications. The immunoreactivity of the arterial innervation to TRPV1, CGRP, SP and to the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) was examined. Immunoreactive nerve fibres in vessel cross-sections were quantified by computerised image analysis.

RESULTS:

A significant increase of TRPV1-LI nerve fibres was found in the arterial wall from CM compared with control patients (p<0.05), while no significant difference was found for CGRP and SP.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study yields the first evidence for the existence of a TRPV1-LI innervation in human scalp arteries and provides the first quantitative assessment of the TRPV1-LI, CGRP-LI and SP-LI innervation of those vessels. The increase of TRPV1-LI periarterial nociceptive fibres of scalp arteries may represent, at least in some participants, a structural condition favouring CM (and possibly migraine), for example, by causing a higher sensitivity to algogenic agents.

• Authors: Marina Del Fiacco, Marina Quartu, Marianna Boi, M Pina Serra, Tiziana Melis, Riccardo Boccaletti, Elliot Shevel, Carlo Cianchetti
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) Vol. 86 Issue 4 Pg. 393-7 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1468-330X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25288608 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Chemical References

• TRPV Cation Channels
• TRPV1 protein, human
• Substance P
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Arteries (metabolism)
• Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Migraine Disorders (genetics, metabolism)
• Nerve Fibers (metabolism)
• Regional Blood Flow
• Scalp (blood supply)
• Substance P (genetics, metabolism)
• TRPV Cation Channels (genetics, metabolism)
• Young Adult