TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of cytokines in migraine

T2 - A systematic review

AU - Thuraiaiyah, Janu

AU - Erritzøe-Jervild, Mai

AU - Al-Khazali, Haidar Muhsen

AU - Schytz, Henrik Winther

AU - Younis, Samaira

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © International Headache Society 2022.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Cytokines are important endogenous substances that are involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Neurogenic inflammation has been proposed to play a role in migraine involving altered cytokine levels. Therefore, we aimed to provide a systematic review on the current knowledge on cytokine levels in migraine patients during and outside attacks. Methods: Databases of PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies investigating cytokine levels in migraine patients during and outside attacks. Results: Screening yielded identification of 45 articles investigating 18 cytokines in total. We found that the interictal level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10, was decreased, while the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 was increased in migraine patients compared to controls. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6, were increased outside attacks compared to controls. Ictal levels of cytokines were unchanged or varying compared to the interictal state in migraine patients. Three studies reported dynamic cytokines levels during the course of an attack. Conclusion: The findings of the current review underline a possible involvement of cytokines in the proposed inflammatory mechanisms of migraine. However, future studies are needed to expand our knowledge of the exact role of cytokines in the migraine pathophysiology with focus on cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10 while applying refined methodology.

AB - Background: Cytokines are important endogenous substances that are involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Neurogenic inflammation has been proposed to play a role in migraine involving altered cytokine levels. Therefore, we aimed to provide a systematic review on the current knowledge on cytokine levels in migraine patients during and outside attacks. Methods: Databases of PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies investigating cytokine levels in migraine patients during and outside attacks. Results: Screening yielded identification of 45 articles investigating 18 cytokines in total. We found that the interictal level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10, was decreased, while the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 was increased in migraine patients compared to controls. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6, were increased outside attacks compared to controls. Ictal levels of cytokines were unchanged or varying compared to the interictal state in migraine patients. Three studies reported dynamic cytokines levels during the course of an attack. Conclusion: The findings of the current review underline a possible involvement of cytokines in the proposed inflammatory mechanisms of migraine. However, future studies are needed to expand our knowledge of the exact role of cytokines in the migraine pathophysiology with focus on cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10 while applying refined methodology.

KW - chemokine

KW - cytokine

KW - Headache

KW - inflammation

KW - migraine

KW - pathophysiology

U2 - 10.1177/03331024221118924

DO - 10.1177/03331024221118924

M3 - Review

C2 - 35962530

AN - SCOPUS:85135956529

VL - 42

SP - 1565

EP - 1588

JO - Cephalalgia

JF - Cephalalgia

SN - 0800-1952

IS - 14

ER -