Migraine genetics: Status and road forward

Migraine is considered a multifactorial genetic disorder. Different platforms and methods are used to unravel the genetic basis of migraine. Initially, linkage analysis in multigenerational families followed by Sanger sequencing of protein-coding parts (exons) of genes in the genomic region shared by affected family members identified high-effect risk DNA mutations for rare Mendelian forms of migraine, foremost hemiplegic migraine. More recently, genome-wide association studies testing millions of DNA variants in large groups of patients and controls have proven successful in identifying many dozens of low-effect risk DNA variants for the more common forms of migraine with the number of associated DNA variants increasing steadily with larger sample sizes. Currently, next-generation sequencing, utilising whole exome and whole genome sequence data, and other omics data are being used to facilitate their functional interpretation and the discovery of additional risk factors. Various methods and analysis tools, such as genetic correlation and causality analysis, are used to further characterise genetic risk factors.

We describe recent findings in genome-wide association studies and next-generation sequencing analysis in migraine. We show that the combined results of the two most recent and most powerful migraine genome-wide association studies have identified a total of 178 LD-independent (r² < 0.1) genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which 99 were unique to Hautakangas et al., 11 were unique to Choquet et al., and 68 were identified by both studies. When considering that Choquet et al. also identified three SNPs in a female-specific genome-wide association studies then these two recent studies identified 181 independent SNPs robustly associated with migraine. Cross-trait and causal analyses are beginning to identify and characterise specific biological factors that contribute to migraine risk and its comorbid conditions.

This review provides a timely update and overview of recent genetic findings in migraine.