Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders. Despite its prevalence, the basic physiology of the molecules and mechanisms that contribute to migraine headache is still poorly understood, making the discovery of more effective treatments extremely difficult. The consistent presence of head-specific pain during migraine suggests an important role for activation of the peripheral nociceptors localized to the head. Accordingly, this review will cover the current understanding of the biological mechanisms leading to episodic activation and sensitization of the trigeminovascular pain pathway, focusing on recent advances regarding activation and modulation of ion channels.
Keywords: TWIK-related spinal cord potassium channel; acid sensing ion channel; dural afferent; transient receptor potential cation channel A1; transient receptor potential cation channel V1; transient receptor potential cation channel V4.
© 2014 American Headache Society.