Conventional and genetic association between migraine and stroke with druggable genome-wide Mendelian randomization

Abstract

The genetic relationship between migraine and stroke remains underexplored, particularly in the context of druggable targets. Previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes and a lack of focus on genetic-targeted therapies for these conditions. We analyzed the association and causality between migraine and stroke using multivariable logistic regression in the UK Biobank cohort and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Integrating expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) data from blood and brain regions, we explored the phenotypic and genetic links between migraine medications, drug target, and stroke. Additionally, we explored novel druggable genes for migraine and evaluated their effects on migraine signaling molecules and stroke risk. Migraine was significantly associated with stroke, particularly ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), with MR analysis confirming a causal link to ICH. HTR1A emerged as a potential link between antidepressants (preventive medications for migraine) and stroke. We identified 17 migraine-related druggable genes, with 5 genes (HMGCR, TGFB1, TGFB3, KCNK5, IMPDH2) associated with nine existing drugs. Further MR analysis identified correlation of CELSR3 and IMPDH2 with cGMP pathway marker PRKG1, and identified KCNK5, PLXNB1, and MDK as novel migraine-associated druggable genes significantly linked to the stroke risks. These findings established the phenotypic and genetic link between migraine, its medication and stroke, identifying potential targets for single and dual-purpose therapies for migraine and stoke, and emphasized the need for further research to validate these associations.