Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033036 (APC)
 10,214 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Over a 5-year period, we investigated 77 consecutive patients (36 males, 41 females, mean age 40.9 years) referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of CNS vasculitis. Extensive workup including MRI, echocardiography, laboratory tests, angiography ( n=53), and biopsies at appropriate sites ( n=26) was performed based on individual history and symptoms. Prominent symptoms were stroke ( n=61), encephalopathy ( n=14), and headaches ( n=2). Vasculitis was finally diagnosed in 13 patients (17%) including isolated angiitis of the CNS ( n=3), giant cell arteritis ( n=4), and septic arteritis ( n=3). Thirty-two patients (42%) presented noninflammatory vasculopathies including moyamoya ( n=6), Sneddon's syndrome ( n=5), dissection ( n=4), CADASIL ( n=2), and collagen vascular disease ( n=9). Coagulopathy was found in 14 cases (18%) including antiphospholipid syndrome ( n=8) and APC resistance ( n=4). Other causes were cardiogenic embolism ( n=8), multiple sclerosis ( n=5), and migraine stroke ( n=3). Only a minority of patients referred for evaluation of suspected CNS vasculitis actually present with inflammatory vascular disease. Main differential diagnosis includes noninflammatory vasculopathies, coagulopathies, and cardiac disease. Since septic processes may be responsible for the symptoms, "blind" treatment with immunosuppressive agents should be strictly avoided.
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PMID:[Diagnosis and differential cerebral vasculitis diagnosis]. 1477 Feb 79

The parasympathetic nervous system is probably involved in migraine pathogenesis. Its activation releases a mixture of signalling molecules including vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), which subsequently stimulate VPAC(1), VPAC(2) and PAC(1) receptors. The objective of the present study was to investigate the in vivo effect of VIP, PACAP-27, PACAP-38, the selective VPAC(1) agonist ([Lys15, Arg16, Leu27]-VIP(1-7)-GRF(8-27)) and a PAC(1) agonist, maxadilan on rat middle meningeal artery (MMA) diameter using the closed cranial window model. Selective antagonists were used for further characterization of the responses. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments were also conducted to determine expression of mRNA of PACAP receptors in the MMA. The results showed that VIP, PACAP-38, PACAP-27 and the VPAC(1) specific agonist evoked significant dilations with the rank order of potency; VIP = PACAP-38 > PACAP-27 = [Lys15, Arg16, Leu27]-VIP(1-7)-GRF(8-27). Significant inhibition of dilation was only observed for the VPAC(1) antagonist PG97-269 on PACAP-38-induced dilation of MMA. The VPAC(2) antagonist PG99-465 and PAC(1) antagonist PACAP(6-38) did not significantly block VIP- or PACAP-induced dilation. Expression of mRNA of all three receptors was detected in the MMA. In conclusion, the VPAC(1) receptor seems to be predominant in mediating MMA dilation. A selective VPAC(1) antagonist may be a candidate molecule in the treatment of migraine headache.
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PMID:The in vivo effect of VIP, PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 and mRNA expression of their receptors in rat middle meningeal artery. 1922 Mar 6

The origin of migraine pain has not yet been clarified, but accumulating data point to neuropeptides present in the perivascular space of cranial vessels as important mediators of nociceptive input during migraine attacks. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is present in sensory trigeminal neurons and may modulate nociception at different levels of the nervous system. Human experimental studies have shown that PACAP-38 infusion induces marked dilatation of extracerebral vessels and delayed migraine-like attacks in migraine patients. PACAP selectively activates the PAC(1) receptor, which suggests a possible signaling pathway implicated in migraine pain. This review summarizes the current evidence supporting the involvement of PACAP in migraine pathophysiology and the PAC(1) receptor as a possible novel target for migraine treatment.
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PMID:The PACAP receptor: a novel target for migraine treatment. 2043 Mar 18

Currently available drugs for the acute treatment of migraine, i.e. ergot alkaloids and triptans, are cranial vasoconstrictors. Although cranial vasoconstriction is likely to mediate-at least a part of-their therapeutic effects, this property also causes vascular side-effects. Indeed, the ergot alkaloids and the triptans have been reported to induce myocardial ischemia and stroke, albeit in extremely rare cases, and are contraindicated in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors. In view of these limitations, novel antimigraine drugs devoid of vascular (side) effects are being explored. Currently, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, which do not have direct vasoconstrictor effects, are under clinical development. Other classes of drugs, such as 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists, glutamate receptor antagonists, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, VPAC/PAC receptor antagonists and gap junction modulators, have also been proposed as potential targets for acute antimigraine drugs. Although these prospective drugs do not directly induce vasoconstriction, they may well induce indirect vascular effects by inhibiting or otherwise modulating the responses to endogenous vasoactive substances. These indirect vascular effects might contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of the previously mentioned compounds, but may alternatively also lead to vascular side-effects. As described in the current review, some of the prospective antimigraine drugs with a proposed non-vascular mechanism of action may still have direct or indirect vascular effects.
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PMID:Potential mechanisms of prospective antimigraine drugs: a focus on vascular (side) effects. 2113 Aug 7

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) are potent vasodilators in animals and humans. PACAP infusion but not VIP infusion precipitates migraine attacks in migraine patients. The vascular effects of VIP and the two varieties of PACAP (PACAP-27 and PACAP-38) were investigated versus selective antagonists in segments of rat middle cerebral arteries (MCA), basilar arteries (BA) and middle meningeal arteries (MMA) using myographs. The luminal and abluminal effects of VIP were studied using perfusion myograph. mRNA expression of the relevant receptors (VPAC(1), VPAC(2) and PAC(1)) was examined by in situ hybridization. There was no significant difference in relaxant potency of the peptides in the MCA. In BA the relaxant potency was VIP>PACAP-27=PACAP-38. Relaxant responses were either absent or very weak in MMA. VIP was found to be somewhat more potent in BA than in the MCA. Maxadilan, a selective PAC(1)-receptor agonist, showed no relaxant effect in either vessel. The VPAC(2)-antagonist PG 99-465 alone proved ineffective in the MCA, while it had a weak effect on BA. The VPAC(1)-antagonist PG 97-269 inhibited relaxation induced by both VIP and the PACAPs in cerebral vessels. In combination, the two antagonists demonstrated better effect than either alone. VIP applied luminally via perfusion myograph caused no dilatation, indicating lack of endothelial involvement. In situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of mRNA for all three receptors in the smooth muscle cells of the vessels. In conclusion, migraine-like headache induced by PACAP-38 infusion is unlikely to be caused by direct vasodilator action on intracranial vessels.
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PMID:Pharmacological characterization and expression of VIP and PACAP receptors in isolated cranial arteries of the rat. 2191 46

Here, we review the role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide-38 (PACAP38) in migraine and cluster headache (CH). Mounting evidence implicates signaling molecule PACAP38 in the pathophysiology of migraine. Human provocation studies show PACAP38 induces migraine attacks in migraine patients without aura and marked and sustained dilation of extracerebral arteries. PACAP38 selectively targets the PAC1 receptor making this receptor a promising candidate for targeted migraine therapy. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to pursue this possible treatment pathway. PACAP38 provocation studies in CH could elucidate possible involvement of PACAP38 in CH pathophysiology and predict efficacy of PACAP38 antagonists in this primary headache.
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PMID:PACAP38: Emerging Drug Target in Migraine and Cluster Headache. 2848 45

The neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been implicated in a wide range of functions including vasodilatation, neuroprotection, nociception and neurogenic inflammation. PACAP activates three distinct receptors, the PAC1 receptor, which responds to PACAP, and the VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors, which respond to both PACAP and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The trigeminovascular system plays a key role in migraine and contains the trigeminal nerve, which is the major conduit of craniofacial pain. PACAP is expressed throughout the trigeminovascular system and in higher brain regions involved in processing pain. Evidence from human clinical studies suggests that PACAP may act outside the blood-brain barrier in the pathogenesis of migraine. However, the precise mechanisms involved remain unclear. PACAP potentially induces migraine attacks by activating different receptors in different cell types and tissues. This complexity prompted this review of PACAP receptor pharmacology, expression and function in the trigeminovascular system. Current evidence suggests that the PAC1 receptor is the likely pathophysiological target of PACAP in migraine. However, multiple PACAP receptors are expressed in key parts of the trigeminovascular system and further work is required to determine their contribution to PACAP physiology and the pathology of migraine.
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PMID:Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptors in the trigeminovascular system: implications for migraine. 2897 76

Here, we review the role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide-38 (PACAP38) in migraine pathophysiology and data implicating PAC1 receptor as a future drug target in migraine. Much remains to be fully elucidated about migraine pathophysiology, but recent attention has focused on signaling molecule PACAP38, a vasodilator able to induce migraine attacks in patients who experience migraine without aura. PACAP38, with marked and sustained effect, dilates extracerebral arteries but not the middle cerebral artery. The selective affinity of PACAP38 to the PAC1 receptor makes this receptor a highly interesting and potential novel target for migraine treatment. Efficacy of antagonism of this receptor should be investigated in randomized clinical trials.
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PMID:Targeted Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide Therapies for Migraine. 2946 74

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide implicated in a wide range of functions, such as nociception and in primary headaches. Regarding its localization, PACAP has been observed in the sensory trigeminal ganglion (TG), in the parasympathetic sphenopalatine (SPG) and otic ganglia (OTG), and in the brainstem trigeminocervical complex. Immunohistochemistry has shown PACAP-38 in numerous cell bodies of SPG/OTG, co-stored with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and, to a minor degree, with choline acetyltransferase. PACAP has in addition been found in a subpopulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive cells in the trigeminal system. The PACAP/VIP receptors (PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2) are present in sensory neurons and in vascular smooth muscle related to the trigeminovascular system. It is postulated that PACAP is involved in nociception. In support, abolishment of PACAP synthesis or reception leads to diminished pain responses, whereas systemic PACAP-38 infusion triggers pain behavior in animals and delayed migraine-like attacks in migraine patients without marked vasodilatory effects. In addition, increased plasma levels have been documented in acute migraine attacks and in cluster headache, in accordance with findings in experimental models of trigeminal activation. This suggest that the activation of the trigeminal system may result in elevated venous levels of PACAP, a change that can be reduced when headache is treated. The data presented in this review indicate that PACAP and its receptors may be promising targets for migraine therapeutics.
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PMID:PACAP and its role in primary headaches. 2952 78

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP38) is a widely distributed neuropeptide involved in neuroprotection, neurodevelopment, nociception and inflammation. Moreover, PACAP38 is a potent inducer of migraine-like attacks, but the mechanism behind this has not been fully elucidated.Migraine is a neurovascular disorder, recognized as the second most disabling disease. Nevertheless, the antibodies targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor are the only prophylactic treatment developed specifically for migraine. These antibodies have displayed positive results in clinical trials, but are not effective for all patients; therefore, new pharmacological targets need to be identified.Due to the ability of PACAP38 to induce migraine-like attacks, its location in structures previously associated with migraine pathophysiology and the 100-fold selectivity for the PAC1 receptor when compared to VIP, new attention has been drawn to this pathway and its potential role as a novel target for migraine treatment. In accordance with this, antibodies against PACAP38 (ALD 1910) and PAC1 receptor (AMG 301) are being developed, with AMG 301 already in Phase II clinical trials. No results have been published so far, but in preclinical studies, AMG 301 has shown responses comparable to those observed with triptans. If these antibodies prove to be effective for the treatment of migraine, several considerations should be addressed, for instance, the potential side effects of long-term blockade of the PACAP (receptor) pathway. Moreover, it is important to investigate whether these antibodies will indeed represent a therapeutic advantage for the patients that do not respond the CGRP (receptor)-antibodies.In conclusion, the data presented in this review indicate that PACAP38 and PAC1 receptor blockade are promising antimigraine therapies, but results from clinical trials are needed in order to confirm their efficacy and side effect profile.
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PMID:PACAP38 and PAC1 receptor blockade: a new target for headache? 3008 6


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