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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

P2X7 Receptor Activation Triggers a Neuroinflammatory Cascade Driving Migraine Pathophysiology: Implications for

Yihan Hu1, Yine Song1, Shaoru Zhao1

  • 1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Beijing, China.

Current Neuropharmacology
|May 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Purinergic receptor P2X7R drives neuroinflammation in migraine by activating glial cells and releasing inflammatory cytokines. Inhibiting P2X7R shows promise for treating migraine by targeting core disease mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Migraine is a neurological disorder linked to neuroinflammation.
  • Purinergic receptor P2X7R (P2X7R) is a key regulator of neuroimmune responses, expressed in brain cells like microglia and astrocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on P2X7R-mediated neuroinflammation and glial cell modulation in migraine pathophysiology.
  • To explore P2X7R as a potential therapeutic target for migraine.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative literature review synthesizing studies on P2X7R in migraine.
  • Analysis of P2X7R's role in glial activation, cytokine release, and neuronal sensitization.

Main Results:

  • P2X7R activation triggers neuroinflammation via Pannexin-1 (PANX1) and NLRP3 inflammasome, releasing IL-1β and TNF-α.
  • P2X7R signaling pathways (p38 MAPK, NF-κB) amplify glial responses, contributing to cortical spreading depression (CSD) and trigeminovascular activation.
  • Inhibition of P2X7R in animal models reduced CSD, pain, and cognitive deficits, suggesting a role in migraine chronification.

Conclusions:

  • P2X7R is a central regulator of neuroinflammation in migraine, linking glial activation, cytokine release, and neuronal sensitization.
  • While promising, current evidence is largely from animal models, necessitating further human translational research.
  • P2X7R inhibition represents a potential disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for migraine.
Keywords:
Purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7cortical spreading depressionglial cellsmigraineneuroinflammationtrigeminovascular system

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