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Cerebrospinal fluid phospholipase C activity increases in migraine
Alfred N Fonteh1, Rainbow Chung, Tara L Sharma
1Molecular NeurologyProgram, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA 91101-1830, USA. afonteh@hmri.org
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|October 13, 2010
Summary
This study found increased phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during migraine attacks. These findings suggest PC-PLC alterations in CSF may reflect receptor changes in migraine pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Receptor signaling, including adrenaline, serotonin, cannabinoid, and estrogen, is implicated in migraine.
- Phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity is influenced by these receptors.
- Previous research has not investigated PC-PLC in the context of migraine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) activity in migraine patients.
- To determine if PC-PLC levels differ in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between migraineurs and controls.
- To explore the relationship between PC-PLC activity and migraine status (ictal vs. interictal).
Main Methods:
- PC-PLC activity was measured in blood and CSF samples from migraineurs (ictal and interictal) and healthy controls.
- The effect of a PC-PLC inhibitor (D609) was assessed to confirm enzyme presence.
- CSF PC-PLC activity was quantified using relative fluorescence units (RFU)/µg/min.
Main Results:
- PC-PLC activity was confirmed in CSF and significantly inhibited by D609.
- CSF PC-PLC activity was elevated in ictal migraineurs compared to controls (p=0.002).
- Paired analysis showed higher CSF PC-PLC activity during ictal states versus interictal states (p=0.02).
- CSF PC-PLC activity during ictal states negatively correlated with migraine frequency (r=-0.82).
- Plasma PC-PLC activity was significantly lower than CSF and did not change in migraineurs, suggesting the brain as the source of CSF changes.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of PC-PLC activity in CSF and its alteration in migraine.
- Elevated CSF PC-PLC activity during migraine attacks suggests a role in the pathophysiology.
- Changes in CSF PC-PLC are proposed to mirror overall receptor fluctuations associated with migraine.
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