J Clin Neurol.  2011 Sep;7(3):143-147. 10.3988/jcn.2011.7.3.143.

Polymorphism of the Glutamate Transporter Protein EAAT2 and Migraine Transformation into Chronic Daily Headache

• Shin HE
• Han SJ
• Lee KS
• Park JW

• KMID: 2287629
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2011.7.3.143

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The progression of migraine into chronic daily headache involves multiple risk factors, but the main contributor is not known. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in central sensitization, which is an important process in the pathogenesis of migraine transformation. The glutamate transporter protein excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is the primary modulator of glutamatergic neurotransmission, and genetic polymorphisms of its gene, EEAT2, have been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of EAAT2 polymorphisms on migraine transformation into chronic daily headache.
METHODS
We included 74 migraine patients with episodic attack (M-E) and 59 migraine patients with chronic daily headache (M-CDH). After amplifying EAAT2 by polymerase chain reaction, we assessed its genotype frequencies based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms. We reclassified all migraine patients into two groups according to their EAAT2 genotype, either with the A allele (n=62) or without it (n=71), and compared the clinical variables between the two groups.
RESULTS
The genotype frequencies of EAAT2 polymorphisms did not differ between the M-E and M-CDH groups. Comparison between EEAT2 genotypes revealed that the frequency of analgesic usage was significantly higher among migraine patients with the A allele (12.9+/-1.6 days/month) than in those without the A allele (8.1+/-1.2 days/month; p=0.019). The other clinical variables of migraine did not differ between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that EEAT2 polymorphism contributes to the tendency toward frequent analgesic usage in migraine patients. This implies a potential genetic influence on the progression of migraine into chronic daily headache through the development of medication-overuse headache.

Keyword

glutamate transporter protein; chronic daily headache; migraine; polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
Central Nervous System Sensitization
Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
Genotype
Glutamic Acid
Headache
Headache Disorders
Humans
Migraine Disorders
Neurotransmitter Agents
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Genetic
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Risk Factors
Synaptic Transmission
Amino Acid Transport System X-AG
Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
Glutamic Acid
Neurotransmitter Agents

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