A New Immunological Aspect of Cluster Headache: The Increase of Monocyte and NK Cell Populations

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Our recent work focused on some immunological aspects of CH patients. We found a decrease in the expression of HLA‐B14 antigen on lymphocytes of these patients. In previous studies, we showed that testosterone plasma levels are low in these patients during the crises. It is possible to postulate a correlation between the variation of some hormonal parameter and changes of circulating leukocytes subsets (as in pregnancy and in the pre‐eclamptic syndrome). The following lymphocyte and monocyte subsets were studied using the monoclonal antibodies of Becton Dickinson series: Leu1 +, Leu2+, Leu3a+, Leu7+, Leu10+, ratio helper/ suppressor, LeuM3 +. We compared, using the ANOVA test, the values obtained during a phase of headache crisis versus those obtained out of crisis. A significant increase in lymphocyte subset Leu7+ (20.9±2.5 vs. 13.8±1.1, p<0.05) and in monocyte subset LeuM3 + (26.3 ± 1.4 vs. 20.8 ± 1.2, p<0.05) was observed during the phase of crisis.

Deficiency of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in a Subclass of Menstrual Migraineurs

“…Methysergide, a Food and Drug Administration‐approved migraine preventive, acts on 5‐HT 2 ‐like receptors and cytokine‐secreting monocytes 33,34 . Glucocorticoids used to break status migraine inhibit proinflammatory cytokine production 35‐37 . No data is available for other prophylactic agents.…”

“…This may be due to an acquired or genetic disorder of cytokine production. In fact, alterations of subsets of cytokine‐producing immune cells have been documented in patients with vascular headache 35,39 . Also, changes in immune cell function and receptor expression on those cells have been found in patients with vascular headache, possibly resulting in altered cytokine secretion 33,34 .…”

Gene Expression Profiling in Cluster Headache: A Pilot Microarray Study

“…Local dilatation of cranial vessels has been believed to contribute to headache attacks, 11–14 and several authors have suggested that the pathological process may be situated in the retro‐orbital region 15,16 . Inflammation and immunological mechanisms have also been suggested to play a role in CH pathophysiology 16–24 . CH is effectively treated with corticosteroids possessing a well‐known activity on the immune system.…”

Migraine: An Overview

“…About the cluster headache, among other theories, it seems worthy of interest the immunological theory, dealing mostly with interleukins and cytokines receptors and involving the complex relationships between neuro-psychic, endocrine and immunological systems [69], as it is demonstrated by the reduced response of cortisol to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine [70]. During the attack there is the activation of the hypothalamic grey ipsilateral to the side affected [71].…”