Low fetuin-A level in migraine: a case-control study

Neurol Sci. 2014 Feb;35(2):271-5. doi: 10.1007/s10072-013-1504-8. Epub 2013 Aug 8.

Abstract

Migraine is a type of primary headache which is caused by the alterations in trigeminovascular system. Migraine attacks are associated with neurovascular inflammation of the cerebral and extracerebral vessels, but its pathophysiological mechanisms have not still been fully delineated. Also, migraine has been found to be associated with higher risks for various metabolic disorders. Thus, we aimed to investigate the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), fetuin-A, ghrelin, and omentin levels which have important roles in metabolic disorders and inflammation, and to examine their relationship with migraine subtypes and attack frequency. Forty-nine migraine patients and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Migraine diagnosis was confirmed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II diagnostic criteria. Analyses of MMP9,MMP3, ghrelin, omentin, and fetuin-A were performed by the ELISA method. Fetuin-A, MMP-9, and MMP-3 levels were significantly lower in migraine than controls (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups with respect to omentin and ghrelin (p > 0.05). In migraine patients, serum fetuin-A levels were positively correlated with MMP-9 and negatively correlated with MMP-3. MMP-3, MMP-9, fetuin-A, omentin and ghrelin levels did not correlate with age, disease duration, or frequency of migraine headache (p > 0.05). Migraine patients have lower fetuin-A, MMP-3 and MMP-9 levels than healthy individuals. Migraine patients have low fetuin-A levels, which may be related to the pathogenesis of migraine. The importance and impact of our findings on the pathogenesis, characteristics, and treatment of migraine needs to be investigated in further detailed studies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / blood
  • Ghrelin / blood
  • Humans
  • Lectins / blood
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / blood
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / blood
  • Migraine Disorders / blood*
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis
  • Migraine with Aura / blood
  • Migraine with Aura / diagnosis
  • Migraine without Aura / blood
  • Migraine without Aura / diagnosis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / analysis*

Substances

  • AHSG protein, human
  • Cytokines
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Ghrelin
  • ITLN1 protein, human
  • Lectins
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
  • MMP3 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
  • MMP9 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9