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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

Migraine pain, meningeal inflammation, and mast cells

Dan Levy1

  • 1Headache Research Laboratory, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, E/CLS639, Boston, MA 02215, USA. dlevy1@bidmc.harvard.edu

Current Pain and Headache Reports
|May 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Meningeal mast cells, a type of immune cell, may trigger migraine pain by activating nerve cells in the brain's lining. Further research clarifies their role in migraine pathophysiology.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Migraine pain is linked to meningeal inflammation and trigeminal nerve activation.
  • The source of inflammation and factors activating meningeal nociceptors are unclear.
  • Meningeal mast cells' role in migraine pathophysiology has been hypothesized but not fully explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence connecting meningeal mast cells to migraine.
  • To highlight experimental data on meningeal mast cells' function in migraine.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on meningeal mast cells and migraine.
  • Analysis of experimental data implicating immune cells in migraine pain.

Main Results:

  • Meningeal mast cells are implicated in modulating meningeal nociceptor activity.
  • These immune cells are suggested to be key players in the genesis of migraine pain.

Conclusions:

  • Meningeal mast cells are potent modulators of meningeal nociceptors.
  • Further investigation into meningeal mast cells is crucial for understanding migraine.
  • Targeting meningeal mast cells may offer new migraine treatment strategies.

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