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Changes in Neutrophil Met‐Enkephalin Containing Peptides in Episodic Cluster Headache
Author(s) -
Figuerola Maria de Lourdes,
Vindrola Osvaldo,
Beatrizini Marta,
Leston Jorge Alberto
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1991.hed3106406.x
Subject(s) - enkephalin , cluster headache , proenkephalin , radioimmunoassay , met enkephalin , medicine , opioid peptide , endocrinology , trypsin , chemistry , enzyme , opioid , receptor , biochemistry , migraine
SYNOPSIS We have previously demonstrated an increase in plasma met‐enkephalin levels during the pain attacks in episodic cluster headache.2 The present study was undertaken in order to clarify the source of the plasma met‐enkephalin increase. Recent evidence has shown that peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells contain peptides derived from the proenkephalin A system, which can be released by specific stimuli. We studied neutrophil met‐enkephalin containing peptides (NMECP) in 27 episodic cluster headache patients: 24 in a cluster period (6 of them during a pain attack), and 3 in the remission period. Neutrophil met‐enkephalin containing pep‐tide levels (after sequential enzymatic digestion with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B) were determined by radioimmunoassay with specific antiserum. Neutrophil peptide concentration (pmol/mg prot) was lower (p<0.01) in patients during the pain attack (14.4 ± 0.36) than after their pain had subsided {36.7 ± 0.31) and lower than in the remission period patients (35.8 ± 0.4). We conclude that neutrophil met‐enkephalin containing pep‐tides decrease during pain in episodic cluster headache, and that they may be involved in the concomitant plasma met‐enkephalin increase.