Abstrakt

Environmental versus genetic influences on autoimmunity.

Hegele Zudin

Insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in primary headaches is important to identify drug targets for improving treatment of patients, but essentially lacking. Genetic research is increasingly successful in pinpointing these mechanisms. Most progress has been made for Familial Hemiplegic Migraine, a rare subtype of migraine with aura. Three genes (CACNA1A, ATP1A2 and SCN1A) have been identified that all encode ion transporters. Cellular and transgenic mouse studies suggest that neuronal hyperexcitability and increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression, the correlate of migraine aura, are important molecular mechanisms in migraine.