The CGRP Family of Neuropeptides and their Receptors in the Trigeminovascular System

Abstract

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family of peptides includes CGRP itself, calcitonin (CT), adrenomedullin (AM), and amylin (AMY). The peptides share several aspects of G-protein-coupled receptors. The 7-transmembrane (7TM) part of the receptor has either the calcitonin receptor like-receptor (CLR) or the calcitonin receptor (CTR) which for function needs an accessory protein, receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) 1, 2, or 3. The RAMPs interact to produce different effects via signal transduction and receptor trafficking. Current research has shown that CGRP has a pivotal role in primary headaches while the role of the other peptides or receptors is unclear. The purpose of this paper is to describe their expression in the trigeminal system and to discuss their putative role in migraine.