Impact of migraine attacks on the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cortical spreading depression can cause migraine attack, and up-regulate matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in animal. This study aimed to determine the impact on the structure and function of the blood-brain barrier by measuring plasma MMP-9 levels in patients at the acute and late stages of migraine attacks in order to elucidate the pathological mechanisms involved.

METHODS:

We recruited a case-control cohort of 38 adult migraine patients and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Five milliliter blood samples were collected at the acute and late stages of migraine (days 1 - 7), and also from the control subjects. Solid phase double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine plasma MMP-9 levels. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS version 9.1.

RESULTS:

Initial plasma MMP-9 levels of migraine patients were significantly higher than those of controls ((12.612 ± 0.016) µg/L vs. (6.069 ± 0.023) µg/L, respectively, P < 0.05). High MMP-9 expression was observed during days 1 - 6 of migraine attacks, with highest expression occurring on day 3 ((17.524 ± 0.035) µg/L). During attacks, MMP-9 levels were similar in migraine patients with and without aura (P > 0.05); in addition, levels were not correlated with degree of headache pain (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

We hypothesize that migraine could lead to increased plasma MMP-9 levels resulting in blood-brain barrier damage. MMP-9 levels increase during days 1 - 6 of migraine attacks, peaking on day 3. Therefore, MMP-9 could be used as a biological marker to guide treatment of migraine attacks.

• Authors: Hong-Mei Gao, Le Li, Ke-Ling Zhang, Xu-Hui Chen, Shu-Qing Tian, Zhong-Ling Zhang
• Journal: Chinese medical journal (Chin Med J (Engl)) Vol. 123 Issue 18 Pg. 2559-61 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 2542-5641 [Electronic] China
• PMID: 21034616 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9

Topics

• Adult
• Blood-Brain Barrier (metabolism)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Migraine Disorders (physiopathology)
• Young Adult