Acid-sensing ion channels and migraine

Abstract

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by extracellular protons (H⁺), which belong to epithelial sodium channels/degenerin (ENaC/DEG) superfamily. ASICs are widely distributed in central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, digestive system and some tumor tissues. Different ASIC subunits play important roles in various pathophysiological processes such as touch, sour taste, learning and memory, including inflammation, ischemic stroke, pain, learning and memory decline, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and tumor. Research over the last 2 decades has achieved substantial advances in migraine pathophysiology. It is now largely accepted that inflammatory pathways play a key role and three main events seem to take place: cortical spreading depression (CSD), activation of the trigeminovascular system (i.e. dural nociceptors), peripheral and central sensitization of this pain pathway. However, the exact mechanisms that link these three events to each other and to inflammation have so far remained to be studied. This article takes an overview of newly research advances in structure, distribution and the relationship with migraine of ASICs.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2015.09.013