An Association Study of ESR1-XbaI and PvuII Gene Polymorphism in Migraine Susceptibility in the Jammu Region

Migraine is a neurovascular disorder and is clinically characterized by episodic attacks of mild to severe headaches. Due to the involvement of multiple environmental and genetic factors, it has become a much more complex neurological condition to understand. Apart from the environmental variables, a plethora of genes have been implicated, and one such example is ESR1. The present study was focused to find out the association of two important polymorphisms, namely, PvuII and XbaI of the ESR1 with migraine in the population of Jammu and Kashmir (UT).

The PCR-RFLP genotyping method was utilized to detect PvuII and XbaI polymorphism, and the result was confirmed by statistical analysis.

Although we did not find a signification association of ESR-PvuII polymorphism with migraine susceptibility {OR: 1.14 at 95% CI [0.76-1.71] (p value 0.5)}, a strong association was found with the clinical subtype of migraine; migraine with aura (MA) {OR: 2.014 at 95% CI [1.069-3.792] (p value 0.028)}. Furthermore, a significant association of ESR-XbaI polymorphism was observed with migraine {OR: 1.908 at 95% CI [1.252-2.907] (p value 0.002) and its both clinical subtypes; migraine without aura (MO) {OR: 1.870 at 95% CI [1.186-2.950] (p value 0.006)} and MA {OR: 2.014 at 95% CI [1.069-3.792] (p value 0.028)}.

In conclusion, ESR1-XbaI polymorphism is significantly associated with migraine risk including both subtypes (MA and MO) in the North Indian population of Jammu.