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Novel Therapeutic Targets Against Spreading Depression
Shih-Pin Chen1,2,3,4, Cenk Ayata1,5
1Neurovascular Research Lab, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
Headache
|August 27, 2017
Summary
Migraine aura is linked to cortical spreading depression (SD). Novel drug targets and rigorous testing models show promise for suppressing SD and developing new migraine treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
- Cortical spreading depression (SD) is a key mechanism in migraine aura and a headache trigger.
- SD serves as a platform for experimental migraine drug screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel therapeutic targets for suppressing cortical spreading depression (SD).
- To outline experimental models and quality measures for testing SD-suppressing drugs.
- To provide an overview of emerging strategies for migraine treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of novel therapeutic targets.
- Analysis of experimental models for SD research.
- Discussion of quality control measures for drug efficacy testing.
Main Results:
- Identified promising therapeutic targets including acid-sensing ion channels, casein kinase Iδ, and P2X7-pannexin 1 complex.
- Highlighted the role of neuromodulation as a potential therapeutic strategy.
- Emphasized the need for standardized models and quality measures in SD research.
Conclusions:
- Novel targets show potential for suppressing SD, offering new avenues for migraine therapy.
- Rigorous experimental models and quality measures are essential for validating drug efficacy.
- Further research into these targets and models could lead to improved migraine management.
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