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Reduced platelet phenolsulphotransferase activity towards dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in migraine
A L Jones1, R C Roberts, D W Colvin
1Department of Biochemical Medicine, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Objective:
The sulphation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, and of the prototypical xenobiotic 4-nitrophenol, by phenolsulphotransferases was measured in platelet homogenates prepared from a group of migraine sufferers and a group of control subjects.
Results:
The activity of the M form of phenolsulphotransferase, responsible for the sulphation of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine was significantly reduced in the migraine population, by 28% with dopamine as substrate and by 20% with 5-hydroxytryptamine. The activity of the P form of the enzyme towards 4-nitrophenol was the same in both groups. We also report that the selective inhibition of P form phenolsulphotransferase by red wine is much more potent than previously thought, with a 2000-fold dilution of dealcoholised red wine having the ability to inhibit sulphation by this enzyme by 50%.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that a reduced capacity for sulphation and inactivation of biogenic amines and catecholamines may be related to susceptibility to migraine.