Over-expression of IL-6 coding gene in the peripheral blood of migraine with aura patients

Abstract

Migraine is a common disorder which is placed among the top ten reasons of years lived with disability. Cytokines are among the molecules that contribute in the pathophysiology of migraine. In the current study, we evaluated expression levels of IL-6 coding gene in the peripheral blood of 120 migraine patients (54 migraine without aura and 66 migraine with aura patients) and 40 healthy subjects. No significant difference was detected in expression of IL-6 between total migraine patients and healthy controls (Posterior beta = 0.253, P value = 0.199). The interaction effect between gender and group was significant (Posterior beta =-1.274, P value = 0.011), therefore, we conducted subgroup analysis within gender group. Such analysis revealed that while expression of this gene is not different between male patients and male controls (Posterior beta =-0.371, P value > 0.999), it was significantly over-expressed in female patients compared with female controls (Posterior beta = 0.86, P= 0.002). Expression of IL-6 was significantly higher in patients with aura compared with controls (Posterior beta = 0.63, adjusted P value = 0.019). However, expression of this cytokine coding gene was not different between patients without aura and healthy subjects (Posterior beta = 0.193, adjusted P value = 0.281). Therefore, IL-6 might be involved in the pathophysiology of migraine among females and migraine with aura among both sexes.

Exploring Novel Therapeutic Targets in the Common Pathogenic Factors in Migraine and Neuropathic Pain

“…An investigation of the IL-6 coding gene in the peripheral blood of M0 and MA patients demonstrated no significant differences in the expression of IL-6 between total migraine patients and healthy controls. However, the expression of IL-6 was significantly higher in the MA patients versus the controls [ 177 ]. A clinical study investigating cytokine-coding gene expression in blood among M0 and MA patients revealed that the expression of IL-4, tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and TNF-alpha was increased in patients compared to that in controls, but there was no difference in the expression levels of IL-1beta, IL-17, and IL-2.…”

Exploring Novel Therapeutic Targets in the Common Pathogenic Factors in Migraine and Neuropathic Pain

“…Investigation of the IL-6 coding gene in peripheral blood of M0 and MA patients demonstrated no significant differences in expression of IL-6 between total migraine patients and healthy controls. However, the expression of IL-6 was significantly higher in MA patients versus controls [124]. A clinical study investigating cytokinecoding gene expression in blood among M0 and MA patients revealed that the expression of IL-4, tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and TNF-alpha was increased in patients compared to controls, but there was no difference in expression levels of IL-1beta, IL-17 and IL-2.…”

Can COVID-19 vaccines relieve severe tension-type headache and migraine?

“…On the other hand, several studies reported that patients with various types of chronic headache have elevated levels of IL-6 [11] , [12] , [13] . High levels of IL-6 have even been considered a reliable way to measure intensity and impact of headache due to COVID-19 [14] .…”