A male-specific mechanism of meningeal nociceptor sensitization promoting migraine headache.

BACKGROUND

We wished to explore possible sexual dimorphism in mechanisms sensitizing or activating meningeal nociceptors that can promote the headache phase of migraine.

METHODS

Male and female C57BL6J mice received either supradural orexin B and an inflammatory mediator cocktail (IM) with migraine-like pain behaviors and photophobia recorded. Expression of orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) in trigeminal ganglion (TG) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) levels in trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) were evaluated. Orexin B-induced excitability of TG cells was assessed with patch-clamp electrophysiology. Intranasal delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids was used to edit the expression of OX2R in the TG.

RESULTS

Supradural orexin B induced migraine-like pain behaviors, photophobia and increased TNC ERK phosphorylation exclusively in males. Blockade of orexin signaling with supradural suvorexant, a dual orexin receptor antagonist, prevented, but did not reverse, migraine-like pain in males induced by supradural IM cocktail. OX2R expression was higher in male TG and orexin B increased TG neuron excitability in males. Intranasal OX2R CRISPR/Cas9 reduced TG receptor expression and orexin B-induced TNC ERK phosphorylation and prevented migraine-like pain induced by supradural orexin B in males.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies reveal a male-specific mechanism of TG nociceptor sensitization and migraine-like pain behavior mediated by orexin B/OX2R signaling. Sexually dimorphic mechanisms of trigeminal nociceptor sensitization and activation offer opportunities to improve patient outcomes by considering patient sex and may influence clinical trial design and interpretation.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: C.M.K., G.L., L.K.M., K.B., A.M. and E.N. declare that they have no personal, financial, or relational conflicts of interest with this work. F.P. has served as a consultant or received research funding from Voyager, SiteOne Therapeutics, Nektar, Amgen, Acadia, Blackthorn, Teva, Eli Lilly, Hoba, Allergan, Ipsen, and Proximagen and has served as a founder of Catalina Pharma, Axon Therapeutics, Scientific Advisory Board Regulonix, and Condor Pharma. D.W.D. reports the following conflicts within the past 12 months: Consulting: AEON, Amgen, Clexio, Cerecin, Ctrl M, Allergan, Alder, Biohaven, Linpharma, Lundbeck, Promius, Eli Lilly, eNeura, Novartis, Impel, Satsuma, Theranica, Vedanta, WL Gore, Nocira, XoC, Zosano, Upjohn (Division of Pfizer), Pieris, Revance, Equinox. Honoraria: CME Outfitters, Curry Rockefeller Group, DeepBench, Global Access Meetings, KLJ Associates, Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning, Majallin LLC, Medlogix Communications, MJH Lifesciences, Miller Medical Communications, Southern Headache Society (MAHEC), WebMD Health/Medscape, Wolters Kluwer, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press. Research Support: Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, Henry Jackson Foundation, Sperling Foundation, American Migraine Foundation, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Stock Options/Shareholder/Patents/Board of Directors: Ctrl M (options), Aural analytics (options), ExSano (options), Palion (options), Healint (Options), Theranica (Options), Second Opinion/Mobile Health (Options), Epien (Options/Board), Nocira (options), Matterhorn (Shares/Board), Ontologics (Shares/Board), King-Devick Technologies (Options/Board), Precon Health (Options/Board). Patent 17189376.1-1466:vTitle: Botulinum Toxin Dosage Regimen for Chronic Migraine Prophylaxis.