Exogenous Hsp70 attenuates nitroglycerin-induced migraine-like symptoms in mice

Although the connection between heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and vestibular migraine is not clear, HSP70 is neuroprotective in other scenarios. This study aimed to investigate the potential of exogenous HSP70 for treating migraine-like symptoms in a mouse model of nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine. HSP70 levels were assessed in patients with vestibular migraine and healthy individuals by ELISA. Migraine was induced in mice by NTG, and HSP70 expression was examined in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) tissue of mice treated with NTG and NTG together with exogenous HSP70. The effects of exogenous HSP70 on migraine-like symptoms were assessed through behavioral assays. Finally, the impact of HSP70 on oxidative stress and NF-κB signaling in mice with migraine was investigated. Serum HSP70 in patients with vestibular migraine was significantly lower than that of healthy individuals. NTG administration significantly suppressed HSP70 expression in mouse TNC tissue, which was reversed by exogenous HSP70. HSP70 alleviated NTG-induced mechanical hypersensitivity, light aversion, and anxiety-like behavior. Finally, exogenous HSP70 suppressed NTG-induced oxidative stress and NF-κB signaling. Our study suggests that exogenous HSP70 may be a potential therapy for alleviating migraine symptoms and our promising finding warrants further investigation of HSP70 for clinical application.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The study suggests that exogenous HSP70 may be a potential therapy for alleviating migraine symptoms and our promising finding warrants further investigation of HSP70 for clinical application.