Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is involved in the underlying pathophysiology of all vascular headaches, including migraines. Elevated levels of CGRP during migraine are restored to normal coincident with headache relief after treatment with the antimigraine drug sumatriptan. We have used primary cultures of trigeminal neurons under conditions simulating migraine pathology and therapy to study the mechanisms controlling the CGRP promoter. Using reporter genes in transient transfection assays, we demonstrate that an 18 bp enhancer containing a helix-loop-helix element is both necessary and sufficient for full promoter activity. NGF treatment and cotransfection with an upstream activator of the extracellular signal-regulated MAP kinases (MAPKs) activated the enhancer. Treatment with sumatriptan repressed NGF- and MAPK-stimulated CGRP promoter activity. Repression was also observed using a synthetic MAPK-responsive reporter gene. Sumatriptan regulation of CGRP gene expression did not couple to a G(i)/G(o) pathway, but rather caused a prolonged increase in intracellular calcium. The importance of the prolonged calcium signal in repression of MAPK activity was demonstrated by using the ionophore ionomycin to mimic sumatriptan action. We propose that activation of MAPK pathways may increase CGRP gene expression during migraine, and that sumatriptan can diametrically oppose that activation via a prolonged elevation of intracellular calcium.
...
PMID:Stimulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide enhancer by mitogen-activated protein kinases and repression by an antimigraine drug in trigeminal ganglia neurons. 1257 9

Gastrodia elata (G. elata) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating headaches, dizziness, tetanus, and epilepsy. In this study, differential methanol (MeOH) extracts of G. elata were found to prevent serum-deprived rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell apoptosis by the MTT assay and Hoechst staining. A serine/threonine kinase inhibitor attenuated this protection. G. elata resulted in phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2-p38 MAPKs (members of the serine/threonine kinase family), respectively, as revealed by Western blot analysis. An upstream ERK inhibitor attenuated G. elata-induced ERK phosphorylation but not protective effect. Although JNK and p38 inhibitors attenuated their related enzyme activities during serum deprivation, only JNK inhibitor prevented serum-deprived apoptosis. Thus, G. elata prevents serum-deprived apoptosis through activation of the serine/threonine kinase-dependent pathway and suppression of JNK activity.
...
PMID:Gastrodia elata prevents rat pheochromocytoma cells from serum-deprived apoptosis: the role of the MAPK family. 1526 68

Expression of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in trigeminal ganglion is implicated in neurovascular headaches and temporomandibular joint disorders. Elevation of cytokines contributes to the pathology of these diseases. However, a connection between cytokines and CGRP gene expression in trigeminal ganglion nerves has not been established. We have focused on the effects of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNFR1 receptors were found on the majority of CGRP-containing rat trigeminal ganglion neurons. Treatment of cultures with TNF-alpha stimulated CGRP secretion. In addition, the intracellular signaling intermediate from the TNFR1 receptor, ceramide, caused a similar increase in CGRP release. TNF-alpha caused a coordinate increase in CGRP promoter activity. TNF-alpha treatment activated the transcription factor NF-kappaB, as well as the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. The importance of TNF-alpha induction of MAP kinase pathways was demonstrated by inhibiting MAP kinases with pharmacological reagents and gene transfer with an adenoviral vector encoding MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1). We propose that selective and regulated inhibition of MAP kinases in trigeminal neurons may be therapeutically beneficial for inflammatory disorders involving elevated CGRP levels.
...
PMID:Tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide expression and secretion from rat trigeminal ganglion neurons. 1627 6

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has long been postulated to play an integral role in the pathophysiology of migraine. While clinical findings are consistent with such a role, the specific pathogenic mechanisms of CGRP in migraine have remained speculative until recently. Through advances in molecular neuroscience, the pathogenic mechanisms of CGRP in migraine have begun to be elucidated. This paper discusses the hypothesized role of CGRP in migraine and reviews recent findings on the molecular mechanisms of this neuropeptide in migraine pathophysiology. Studies in cultured trigeminal neurons demonstrate that CGRP is released from trigeminal ganglia cells, that CGRP transcription is increased under conditions mimicking neurogenic inflammation, that migraine pharmacotherapies can both reduce CGRP release and inhibit CGRP transcription, and that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an endogenous inflammatory mediator implicated in migraine, can stimulate CGRP transcription. Together, the results suggest that, in migraine, activation of trigeminal nerves release CGRP and other peptides that cause the release of proinflammatory mediators. These mediators further increase CGRP synthesis and release over hours to days in correspondence with the 4- to 72-hour duration of a typical migraine episode. The increased CGRP synthesis and release might be mediated by activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, which, in turn, can be modulated by endogenous inflammatory substances such as TNF-alpha and affected by drugs such as sumatriptan.
Headache 2006 Jun
PMID:Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and migraine. 1692 57

Angelica dahurica (Umbelliferae) has been used to treat headache of common cold, supraorbital neuralgia, painful swelling on the body, nasal stuffiness, leukorrhea and arthralgia due to wind-dampness in Korean traditional medicine. It is also claimed to be effective in the treatment of acne, erythema, headache, toothache, sinusitis, colds and flu. The present study focused whether the ethyl acetate extract from Angelica Dahuricae Radix (EAAD) inhibits production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, as well as expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. EAAD inhibited LPS-induced NO, PGE(2) and TNF-alpha production as well as expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. EAAD inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in THP-1 cells. Furthermore, EAAD suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), I-kappaBalpha degradation, and NF-kappaB activation in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that EAAD has the inhibitory effects on LPS-induced TNF-alpha, NO and PGE(2) production, and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in macrophage through blockade in the phosphorylation of MAPKs, following I-kappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation.
...
PMID:Ethyl acetate extract from Angelica Dahuricae Radix inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor-alphavia mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappaB in macrophages. 1722 75

Intracranial headaches such as that of migraine are generally accepted to be mediated by prolonged activation of meningeal nociceptors but the mechanisms responsible for such nociceptor activation are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that meningeal nociceptors can be activated locally through a neuroimmune interaction with resident mast cells, granulated immune cells that densely populate the dura mater. Using in vivo electrophysiological single unit recording of meningeal nociceptors in the rat we observed that degranulation of dural mast cells using intraperitoneal administration of the basic secretagogue agent compound 48/80 (2 mg/kg) induced a prolonged state of excitation in meningeal nociceptors. Such activation was accompanied by increased expression of the phosphorylated form of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK), an anatomical marker for nociceptor activation. Mast cell-induced nociceptor interaction was also associated with downstream activation of the spinal trigeminal nucleus as indicated by an increase in c-fos expression. Our findings provide evidence linking dural mast cell degranulation to prolonged activation of the trigeminal pain pathway believed to underlie intracranial headaches such as that of migraine.
...
PMID:Mast cell degranulation activates a pain pathway underlying migraine headache. 1745 86

Nitric oxide (NO) is a marker of pulmonary inflammation. In asthma, the levels of exhaled NO are elevated and the source of this increased NO is inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) within airway epithelial cells. Epimagnolin and fargesin are compounds isolated from the ethanol extract of Magnoliae flos, the seed of the Magnolia plant and are used to treat nasal congestion, headache and sinusitis in Asian countries. This study investigated whether epimagnolin and fargesin inhibit extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and decrease iNOS expression and NO production in stimulated human respiratory epithelial cells. An immortal Type II alveolar cell line of human origin (A549) was stimulated by cytomix (CM), composed of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, with or without concurrent exposure to M. flos extract (epimagnolin or fargesin). CM-induced levels of NO production, iNOS expression and ERK activation were evaluated. A549 cells stimulated with CM showed increases in iNOS mRNA and protein expression, and NO synthesis. However, treatment with epimagnolin or fargesin decreased levels of iNOS mRNA and protein expression, and NO synthesis. CM stimulated a rapid increase in the activity of ERK, whereas epimagnolin and fargesin inhibited ERK phosphorylation. Epimagnolin and fargesin inhibit iNOS expression and decrease production of NO via ERK pathway in cytokine-stimulated human respiratory epithelial cells.
...
PMID:Extracts of Magnoliae flos inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase via ERK in human respiratory epithelial cells. 1897 18

Schizonepeta tenuifolia (ST) is a well-known herb to treat the cold and its associated headache. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ST in mouse peritoneal macrophages is not clear. In this study, we demonstrated that ST inhibited lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 production. The maximal inhibition rate of TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by ST (2 mg/ml) was 48.01 +/- 2.8% and 56.45 +/- 2.8%, respectively. During the inflammatory process, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages. However, treated with ST decreased the protein level of COX-2 and iNOS, as well as the production of PGE(2) and NO in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. In addition, ST inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPK. Taken together, the results of this study suggest an important molecular mechanism by which ST reduces inflammation, which may explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.
...
PMID:Anti-inflammatory activity of Schizonepeta tenuifolia through the inhibition of MAPK phosphorylation in mouse peritoneal macrophages. 1905 42

The mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), is activated in experimental models of chronic pain, and is also activated by oestrogen. We used an established model of inflammatory trigeminal pain, injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the masseter muscle, to determine whether ERK activation may play a role in hormone-related trigeminal pain disorders. We measured withdrawal responses to stimulation of the masseter (V3, primary allodynia) and whisker pad (V2, secondary allodynia) using graded monofilaments. Oestrogen treatment in the presence of inflammation increased withdrawal response to stimulation of both masseter and whisker pad compared with inflammation alone, indicating an additive effect of inflammation and oestrogen on both primary and secondary allodynia. We examined ERK activation in trigeminal ganglia from each treatment group using western blot and immunohistochemistry. Both masseter inflammation and oestrogen treatment increased ERK activation, and combined treatment had an additive effect. Both masseter inflammation and oestrogen increased the percentage of pERK immunoreactive neurons in divisions 1 and 2 (V1/2), and combined treatment increased pERK immunoreactivity in V1/2 compared with inflammation alone. We stereotactically administered ERK antagonist U0126, or inactive control U0124, to the trigeminal ganglion of CFA+E2-treated rats. U0126 decreased withdrawal responses to mechanical stimulation of the whisker pad compared with U0124-treated rats. Because the secondary allodynia in V2 after inflammation in V3 was reduced by antagonizing ERK activation in the periphery, these data suggest a peripheral component to secondary allodynia mediated through ERK activation.
Cephalalgia 2009 May
PMID:Oestrogen increases nociception through ERK activation in the trigeminal ganglion: evidence for a peripheral mechanism of allodynia. 1921 May 15

Oestrogen increases facial allodynia through its actions on activation of the MAPK extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) in trigeminal ganglion neurons. This goal of study was to determine which oestrogen receptor is required for behavioural sensitization. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in nuclei of larger neurons and cytoplasm of smaller neurons, and the novel oestrogen receptor G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in small diameter neurons that also contained peripherin, a marker of unmyelinated C-fibres. Specific agonists for ERalpha (PPT) and GPR30 (G-1), but not ERbeta (DPN), activated ERK in trigeminal ganglion neurons in vitro. Both G-1 and PPT treatment increased allodynia after CFA injections into the masseter of ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment with oestrogen increased expression of ERalpha but not GPR30, while masseter inflammation increased GRP30 but not ERalpha. Differential modulation of these ERK-coupled receptors by oestrogen and inflammation may play a role in painful episodes of temporomandibular disorder and migraine.
Cephalalgia 2009 Jul
PMID:Role of the oestrogen receptors GPR30 and ERalpha in peripheral sensitization: relevance to trigeminal pain disorders in women. 1922 Mar 8


1 2 3 4 5 Next >>