Urinary leukotriene E4 and prostaglandin F2a concentrations in children with migraine: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVES: Pro-inflammatory mediators are thought to play both peripheral and central roles in migraine pathophysiology. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes, known as the eicosanoids, are degradation products of arachidonic acid and constitute signalization components of inflammatory pathways. This study was designed to assess concentrations of leukotriene E4 (LT-E4) and prostaglandin F2a (PG-F2a) in children with migraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved patients aged ≤18 years who presented to the Ondokuz Mayis University Children's Hospital with migrainous headache between January and October 2011. Urinary LT-E4 and PG-F2a concentrations were measured in patients during a headache episode and at a headache-free time and in a control group. RESULTS: The patient group consisted of 38 girls and 26 boys aged 5-18 years diagnosed with migraine and having at least 6 months of headache, whereas the control group consisted of 21 girls and 29 boys. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) urinary LT-E4 concentrations were significantly higher in patients during a migraine episode than in controls (1466.8±1052.5 pg/ml vs 811.6±460.0 pg/ml, P<0.001). In patients with migraine, both urinary LT-E4 (P<0.001) and PG-F2a (P=0.021) levels were significantly higher during headache than during non-headache periods. CONCLUSION: Urinary LT-E4 and PG-F2a were both significantly higher in children with migraine during headache than during non-headache periods. The elevation in the levels of these inflammatory mediators was compatible with the hypothesis relating neuroinflammation in trigeminal vascular blood vessels with migraine pathophysiology. Leukotriene antagonists may be effective in the prophylaxis of migraine attacks.

Analysis of BAFF and TRAIL expression levels in multiple sclerosis patients: evaluation of expression under immunomodulatory therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and B cell-activating factor (BAFF), the members of tumor necrosis factor superfamily, play essential roles in immune homeostasis and may have potential contributions to the autoimmune process in multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) patients and 19 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. The expression of TRAIL on peripheral blood lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. The serum levels of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and soluble BAFF (sBAFF) were determined by ELISA. Further, we evaluated the effect of IFN-ß on sTRAIL, sBAFF levels and on TRAIL surface expression in these patients on the third and sixth months following the treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: These preliminary results signify that MS patients are heterogenous in TRAIL expression. Additionally, during the IFN-ß treatment, the soluble form of TRAIL increases concomitantly as its surface expression decreases on lymphocytes. The basal sBAFF levels of patients were significantly higher than the control group and no significant change was observed. Thus, the changes in TRAIL expression may be a potential parameter indicating the response to IFN-ß1 therapy at individual level.