Elevated levels of circulating trace amines in primary headaches

D’Andrea, Giovanni; Terrazzino, Salvatore; Leon, Alberta; Fortin, Dino; Perini, Francesco; Granella, Franco; Bussone, Gennaro

doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000125188.79106.29

Cited by 66 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Taking in mind that hypothalamus contains the maximal concentration of trace amines and their receptors, we measured plasma levels of tyramine, octopamine, synephrine and dopamine in CH patients in remission and active periods. All patients, in the two phases of the disease, showed very high levels of trace amines and DA in plasma and platelets [30,60]. All these results suggest that also in CH patients is present an anomaly of tyrosine metabolism.…”

Section: Elusive Amines and Chmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…This hypothesis is also supported by the evidences that in such areas of CNS TAARs, g-protein receptors activated by elusive amines, and dopamine receptors are abundantly distributed. Their activation may be related to the high levels of DA, octopamine and synephrine found in plasma and platelets of migraine without aura sufferers during headache-free periods [30,31].…”

Section: Glutamate and Auramentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biochemistry of primary headaches: role of tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism

D’Andrea¹,

Cevoli

Colavito³

et al. 2015

Neurol Sci

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The pathogenesis of migraine as well as cluster headache (CH) is yet a debated question. In this review, we discuss the possible role of the of tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism in the pathogenesis of these primary headaches. These include the abnormalities in the synthesis of neurotransmitters: high level of DA, low level of NE and very elevated levels of octopamine and synephrine (neuromodulators) in plasma of episodic migraine without aura and CH patients. We hypothesize that the imbalance between the levels of neurotransmitters and elusive amines synthesis is due to a metabolic shift directing tyrosine toward an increased decarboxylase and reduced hydroxylase enzyme activities. The metabolic shift of the tyrosine is favored by a state of neuronal hyperexcitability and a reduced mitochondrial activity present in migraine. In addition we present biochemical studies performed in chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache patients to verify if the same anomalies of the tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism are present in these primary headaches and, if so, their possible role in the chronicity process of CM and CTTH. The results show that important abnormalities of tyrosine metabolism are present only in CM patients (very high plasma levels of DA, NE and tryptamine). Tryptamine plasma levels were found significantly lower in both CM and CTTH patients. In view of this, we propose that migraine and, possibly, CH attacks derive from neurotransmitter and neuromodulator metabolic abnormalities in a hyperexcitable and hypoenergetic brain that spread from the frontal lobe, downstream, resulting in abnormally activated nuclei of the pain matrix. The low tryptamine plasma levels found in CM and CTTH patients suggest that these two primary chronic headaches are characterized by a common insufficient serotoninergic control of the pain threshold.

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Section: Elusive Amines and Chmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Glutamate and Auramentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochemistry of primary headaches: role of tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism

D’Andrea¹,

Cevoli

Colavito³

et al. 2015

Neurol Sci

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…A study on patients with cluster-type headache and migraine found increased plasma levels of biogenic amines (especially tyramine, octopamine, and synephrine). Therefore, more research is warranted to determine the role of biogenic amines in headache (38). Although some biogenic amines have been associated with headache, no studies to date have provided an evidence base.…”

Section: Biogenic Aminesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship Between Migraine and Nutrition

Özturan¹,

Şanlıer²,

Coşkun³

2016

tnd

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“…The TA 1 receptor has not been directly linked with any pathophysiological process, although trace amines are known to be associated with the hypertensive "beer, wine, and cheese effect" and are thought to play a role in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (O'Reilly et al, 1991) and depression (Boulton, 1980;Premont et al, 2001) as well as primary headache (D'Andrea et al, 2004). Modulation of trace amine systems may be a potential therapeutic avenue (Branchek and Blackburn, 2003;Berry, 2007), particularly because the receptors are likely to be amenable as drug targets (Davenport, 2003).…”

Section: Pathophysiological Rolementioning

confidence: 99%