Analysis of endothelial precursor cells in chronic migraine: A case-control study. (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oterino, Agustin; Toriello, Maria; Palacio, Enrique; Quintanilla, Vicente G; Ruiz-Lavilla, Nuria; Montes, Silvia; Vega, Maria S de la; Martinez-Nieto, Rosa; Castillo, Jesus; Pascual, Julio
• Is Part Of: Cephalalgia. Volume 33:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 236
• Page End: 244
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: Migraine -- endothelium -- cardiovascular risk; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102412469737
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0333-1024

Abstract

Background: Migraine has been considered a vascular risk factor especially in young women. Factors predisposing to endothelial damage in migraine are still being debated. The insufficiency of circulating endothelial precursor circulating cells (EPCs) suggested a link between migraine and cardiovascular risk. This research aimed to study a subtype of EPCs, those expressing e-selectin, to assess endothelial activation and, therefore, endothelial dysfunction in migraine. Methods: Consecutive headache patients ( n = 99) and 35 adjusted controls were recruited. Total EPCs, defined as CD34+/KDR+ cells, and EPC colony-forming units (CFUs) were assayed. We identified as "early" EPCs those CD62E– EPCs, and "late" EPCs, CD62E+, a surrogate marker for endothelial damage. Plasmatic calcitonin-gene related protein (CGRP) and vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analyzed. Results: We did not find differences in the total number of CFUs among clinical groups. Means of total CD34+/KDR+ and "early" EPCs were not significant among clinical groups. Nevertheless, the mean of "late" EPCs was lower (log10 -transformed mean = 1.715; SD = 0.393) in the control group than in the migraine patients (log10 -transformed mean = 2.167; SD = 0.685), even after adjustment by VEGF plasma level and other confounding factors. Linear regression analyses disclosed significant predictors for "late" EPCs for controls vs migraine (β = 0.452 SE ± 0.13; p = 0.001). We did not observe differences between migraine with or without aura. Conclusion: We observed higher number of activated EPCs in migraine patients than in controls. CD62E+ EPCs might be considered a marker for vascular damage in migraine patients.