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Updated: May 16, 2026
16:13
Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro
Published on: June 13, 2011
[Cortical spreading depression and molecular genetics in migraine]
Hisanori Kowa1, Kenji Nakashima
1Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University.
Rinsho Shinkeigaku = Clinical Neurology
|December 1, 2012
Summary
Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a wave of brain cell activity linked to migraine aura. Animal models show CSD can trigger headache mechanisms, suggesting a role in migraine pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Pathophysiology
Context:
- Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a neuronal depolarization wave.
- CSD shares characteristics with functional imaging findings in migraine patients, particularly visual aura.
- The trigeminovascular system is involved in migraine headaches, but triggers are unclear.
Purpose:
- To explore the role of CSD in migraine pathophysiology.
- To investigate the genetic basis of migraine, focusing on ion transporter genes.
- To identify potential migraine susceptibility genes through genetic association studies.
Summary:
- CSD, a wave of brain cell depolarization, is implicated in migraine visual aura.
- Animal models demonstrate CSD activates trigeminovascular pathways, potentially causing headache.
- Familial hemiplegic migraine genes encode ion transporters, indicating ion imbalance in migraine.
- Monogenic syndromes and genetic associations offer insights into migraine's molecular underpinnings.
Impact:
- CSD is a potential mechanism linking brain activity changes to migraine aura and headache.
- Identifying genes involved in ion transport may reveal novel therapeutic targets for migraine.
- Genome-wide association studies are crucial for discovering new migraine susceptibility genes.
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