Intracellular transduction mechanisms in migraine

Members
Christina Kruuse, Carina Jørgensen, Lars Schack Kruse, Julie Carøe Kristensen.

Background
Studies in humans help to explore possible migraine and headache provoking factors, in order to understand migraine pathophysiology. It is known that pain signalling in humans involve second messenger signalling through both types of second messengers; cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). However, the function and interaction of these signalling pathways and the cellular location in either neuronal or vascular cells is not fully understood. The aim is thus to localize and investigate function of tissue and cells assumed relevant in initiation of the pain process in order to investigate potential treatment targets. In collaboration with Department of Clinical Biochemistry Glostrup, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology and Functional Imaging Unit and Dept Clinical Physiology and Nuclear medicine we describe the presence of some of the intracellular signalling molecules, involved in the pain process, the effects of modulating the signalling cascade in pain and regulation of cerebral artery diameter in cell and tissue based systems as well as in humans.

Current projects
We are currently looking at the distribution and function of phosphodiseterases (PDE), which are responsible for controlling the cAMP and cGMP levels in the cells. In particular how they may relate to the pain sensing structures in the brain and play a part in the induction and possible maintenance of headache and migraine.