Antioxidant and cytokine levels in plasma of patients with attack and non-attack periods

Abstract

Oxidative stress and inflammation are two possible mechanisms in the etiology of patients with migraine. However, there are conflicting data between reactive oxygen species and cytokine generation in patients with migraine. The current study aimed to determine the cytokine, oxidant, and antioxidant levels in plasma of migraine patients with attack and non-attack periods. In the current study, we used control (n=30), patients with attack (n=30), and passive (n=30) periods. In the plasma samples of control and patients, we measured lipid peroxidation (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), vitamin A, vitamin E, -carotene, and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels in the plasma of control and patients with migraine. The GSH, GSHPx, and vitamin E levels were low in the patients with non-attack period as compared to control subject, although MDA levels were high in the patients with non-attack period. The concentrations of vitamin A and -carotene did not differ in the control and patient groups. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in the non-attack group than in the control. In addition, the levels of cytokines were further increased in the attack group as compared to control and non-attack groups. In conclusion, we found signs of inflammation and oxidative stress in the plasma of migraine patients suggesting that this headache form might relate with inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways.