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CGRP in Human Models of Migraine

  • Håkan AshinaEmail author
  • Henrik Winther Schytz
  • Messoud Ashina
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology book series (HEP, volume 255)

Abstract

Over the past three decades, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has emerged as a key molecule. Provocation experiments have demonstrated that intravenous CGRP infusion induces migraine-like attacks in migraine with and without aura patients. In addition, these studies have revealed a heterogeneous CGRP response, i.e., some migraine patients develop migraine-like attacks after CGRP infusion, while others do not. The role of CGRP in human migraine models has pointed to three potential sites of CGRP-induced migraine: (1) vasodilation via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and possibly cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); (2) activation of trigeminal sensory afferents, and (3) modulation of deep brain structures. In the future, refined human experimental studies will continue to unveil the role of CGRP in migraine pathogenesis.

Keywords

CGRP Human provocation models Migraine 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  • Håkan Ashina
    • 1
    Email author
  • Henrik Winther Schytz
    • 1
  • Messoud Ashina
    • 1
  1. 1.Danish Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark

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