Lymphocyte subsets in pediatric migraine

Neurol Sci. 2013 Jul;34(7):1151-5. doi: 10.1007/s10072-012-1218-3. Epub 2012 Oct 16.

Abstract

Aseptic inflammation due to activated immune cells has been implicated in the pathomechanism of migraine. We measured the prevalence of regulatory T cells (Tregs), along with that of CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocytes and their Th1/Th2 commitment in pediatric migraine. Children and adolescents suffering from migraine without aura, migraine with aura and hemiplegic migraine ictally (n = 53, 27, and 20, respectively), also interictally (n = 33) were recruited and compared to 24 healthy children. Our results indicated comparable prevalence of Tregs, CD4(+) and Th1/Th2 committed cells. CD8(+) prevalence was lower, and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was higher in ictal phase irrespective of the subtype of migraine. No association between CD8(+) prevalence and gender, body weight, disease onset and attack duration in migraine subtypes was found. CD8(+) prevalence was normal in patients in interictal phase. These results suggest the absence of major systemic alteration of adaptive immunity in children and adolescents suffering from migraine; however, a transient decrease of CD8(+) prevalence during the ictal phase was detected irrespective of the subtype of migraine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • Male
  • Migraine Disorders / blood*
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Migraine Disorders / immunology
  • Migraine Disorders / pathology