Ricerc@Sapienza

Background: Previous studies focused on food as the trigger of a migraine attack did not consider polyamines as possible activators and sensitizers of the trigeminal-vascular system through their interaction with NMDA glutamate receptors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess serum levels of nine polyamines and to evaluate their role as possible triggers and crisis maintainers in episodic and chronic migraine patients. Materials and methods: The study included 50 patients with episodic migraine (EM), 50 patients with chronic migraine (CM) and 50 healthy controls (HC).

Agmatine (AGM) produces a dual effect on the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) mechanism in rat liver mitochondria: at low concentrations, it induces the phenomenon, at high ones, inhibits it. The prevention at high concentrations is evidenced by the significant inhibition of mitochondrial swelling induced by Ca2+ and phosphate; in this condition, AGM both prevents the release of Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) and enhances the release of other pro-apoptotic factors, such as cytochrome c (cyt c) and Smac/DIABLO.