Opening of ATP sensitive potassium channels causes migraine attacks with aura.

Migraine afflicts more than one billion individuals worldwide and is a leading cause of years lived with disability. In about a third of individuals with migraine aura occur in relation to migraine headache. The common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying migraine headache and migraine aura are yet to be identified. Based on recent data, we hypothesized that levcromakalim, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, would trigger migraine attacks with aura in patients. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 17 patients aged 21-59 years and diagnosed with migraine with aura exclusively were randomly allocated to receive an infusion of 0.05 mg/min levcromakalim or placebo (isotonic saline) on two different days (ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04012047). The primary end points were the difference in incidence of migraine attacks with or without aura, headache and the difference in the area under the curve for headache intensity scores (0-12 h). Seventeen patients completed the study. Fourteen of 17 (82%) patients developed migraine attacks with and without aura after levcromakalim compared with 1 of 17 (6%) after placebo (P < 0.001). Ten patients (59%) developed migraine with aura after levcromakalim compared with none after placebo (P = 0.002). One additional patient reported 'possible' aura, only partially fulfilling the criteria. Levcromakalim is likely a novel migraine aura-inducing substance in humans. These findings highlight the ATP-sensitive potassium channel as a shared target in migraine aura and migraine headache. Likely, ATP-sensitive potassium channel opening leads to triggering of aura and headache, respectively, via distinct mechanisms.

Cerebrovascular effects of glibenclamide investigated using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in healthy volunteers.

Glibenclamide inhibits sulfonylurea receptor (SUR), which regulates several ion channels including SUR1-transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (SUR1-TRPM4) channel and ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel. Stroke upregulates SURl-TRPM4 channel, which causes a rapid edema formation and brain swelling. Glibenclamide may antagonize the formation of cerebral edema during stroke. Preclinical studies showed that glibenclamide inhibits KATP channel-induced vasodilation without altering the basal vascular tone. The in vivo human cerebrovascular effects of glibenclamide have not previously been investigated.In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over study, we used advanced 3 T MRI methods to investigate the effects of glibenclamide and KATP channel opener levcromakalim on mean global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intra- and extracranial artery circumferences in 15 healthy volunteers. Glibenclamide administration did not alter the mean global CBF and the basal vascular tone. Following levcromakalim infusion, we observed a 14% increase of the mean global CBF and an 8% increase of middle cerebral artery (MCA) circumference, and glibenclamide did not attenuate levcromakalim-induced vascular changes. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the vital role of KATP channels in cerebrovascular hemodynamic and indicate that glibenclamide does not inhibit the protective effects of KATP channel activation during hypoxia and ischemia-induced brain injury.

Opening of BKCa channels alters cerebral hemodynamic and causes headache in healthy volunteers.

INTRODUCTION: Preclinical data implicate large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in the pathogenesis of headache and migraine, but the exact role of these channels is still unknown. Here, we investigated whether opening of BKCa channels would cause headache and vascular effects in healthy volunteers. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, 21 healthy volunteers aged 18-39 years were randomly allocated to receive an intravenous infusion of 0.05 mg/min BKCa channel opener MaxiPost and placebo on two different days. The primary endpoints were the difference in incidence of headache and the difference in area under the curve (AUC) for headache intensity scores (0-12 hours) and for middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (VMCA) (0-2 hours) between MaxiPost and placebo. The secondary endpoints were the differences in area under the curve for superficial temporal artery and radial artery diameter (0-2 hours) between MaxiPost and placebo. RESULTS: Twenty participants completed the study. Eighteen participants (90%) developed headache after MaxiPost compared with six (30%) after placebo (p = 0.0005); the difference of incidence is 60% (95% confidence interval 36-84%). The area under the curve for headache intensity (AUC0-12 hours, p = 0.0003), for mean VMCA (AUC0-2 hours, p = 0.0001), for superficial temporal artery diameter (AUC0-2 hours, p = 0.003), and for radial artery diameter (AUC0-2 hours, p = 0.03) were significantly larger after MaxiPost compared to placebo. CONCLUSION: MaxiPost caused headache and dilation in extra- and intracerebral arteries. Our findings suggest a possible role of BKCa channels in headache pathophysiology in humans. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03887325.

Targeting BKCa Channels in Migraine: Rationale and Perspectives.

Large (big)-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels are expressed in migraine-related structures such as the cranial arteries, trigeminal ganglion and trigeminal spinal nucleus, and they play a substantial role in vascular tonus and neuronal excitability. Using synthetic BKCa channels openers was associated with headache as a frequent adverse effect in healthy volunteers. Additionally, BKCa channels are downstream molecules in migraine signalling pathways that are activated by several compounds known to provoke migraine, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). Also, there is a high affinity and a close coupling between BKCa channels and ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, the role of which has recently been established in migraine pathophysiology. These observations raise the question as to whether direct BKCa channel activation can provoke migraine in migraine patients, and whether the BKCa channel could be a potential novel anti-migraine target. Hence, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical studies on BKCa channel openers or blockers in migraine patients are needed.