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. 2024 Jun 7;25(1):95.
doi: 10.1186/s10194-024-01800-8.

Altered immunity in migraine: a comprehensive scoping review

Woo-Seok Ha  1 , Min Kyung Chu  2
Affiliations

Altered immunity in migraine: a comprehensive scoping review

Woo-Seok Ha et al. J Headache Pain. .

Abstract

Background: The pathogenesis of migraine remains unclear; however, a large body of evidence supports the hypothesis that immunological mechanisms play a key role. Therefore, we aimed to review current studies on altered immunity in individuals with migraine during and outside attacks.

Methods: We searched the PubMed database to investigate immunological changes in patients with migraine. We then added other relevant articles on altered immunity in migraine to our search.

Results: Database screening identified 1,102 articles, of which 41 were selected. We added another 104 relevant articles. We found studies reporting elevated interictal levels of some proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α. Anti-inflammatory cytokines showed various findings, such as increased TGF-β and decreased IL-10. Other changes in humoral immunity included increased levels of chemokines, adhesion molecules, and matrix metalloproteinases; activation of the complement system; and increased IgM and IgA. Changes in cellular immunity included an increase in T helper cells, decreased cytotoxic T cells, decreased regulatory T cells, and an increase in a subset of natural killer cells. A significant comorbidity of autoimmune and allergic diseases with migraine was observed.

Conclusions: Our review summarizes the findings regarding altered humoral and cellular immunological findings in human migraine. We highlight the possible involvement of immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of migraine. However, further studies are needed to expand our knowledge of the exact role of immunological mechanisms in migraine pathogenesis.

Keywords: Allergy; Autoimmune diseases; Immunity; Inflammation; Lymphocytes; Migraine; Neuroinflammation.

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Conflict of interest statement

MKC was the site investigator for a multicenter trial sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Korea, and the Ildong Pharmaceutical Company. He has received lecture honoraria from Eli Lilly and Company, Handok-Teva, and the Ildong Pharmaceutical Company over the past 24 months. He received grants from the Yonsei University College of Medicine (6-2021-0229), the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) (HV22C0106), and an NRF grant from the Korean government (MSIT) (2022R1A2C1091767). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA literature search flowchart. PRISMA, preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The immunological changes in migraine during the interictal period. CCL, chemokine ligand; NK, natural killer; CGRP, calcitonin gene-related peptide; PACAP, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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