Migraine signaling pathways: purine metabolites that regulate migraine and predispose migraineurs to headache

Migraine is a debilitating disorder that afflicts over 1 billion people worldwide, involving attacks that result in a throbbing and pulsating headache. Migraine is thought to be a neurovascular event associated with vasoconstriction, vasodilation, and neuronal activation. Understanding signaling in migraine pathology is central to the development of therapeutics for migraine prophylaxis and for mitigation of migraine in the prodrome phase before pain sets in. The fact that both vasoactivity and neural sensitization are involved in migraine indicates that agonists which promote these phenomena may very well be involved in migraine pathology. One such group of agonists is the purines, in particular, adenosine phosphates and their metabolites. This manuscript explores what is known about the relationship between these metabolites and migraine pathology and explores the potential for such relationships through their known signaling pathways.

Automated summary

Migraine is a debilitating disorder characterized by throbbing and pulsating headaches, affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide. It is believed to be a neurovascular event involving vasoconstriction, vasodilation, and neuronal activation. Understanding the signaling pathways in migraine pathology is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies for migraine prevention and alleviating prodromal pain. The involvement of both vasoactivity and neural sensitization in migraine suggests that agonists promoting these phenomena may play a role in migraine pathology. This manuscript explores the relationship between purine metabolites and migraine pathology, using known signaling pathways.