Biochemical Profiling of Migraine Patients

Previous evidence showed that endocannabidiome system (eCBome) is altered in migraine patients demonstrating: i) altered gene expression of catabolizing enzymes (MAGL and FAAH) in patients with episodic and chronic migraine compared to healthy controls; ii) altered peripheral levels of the endocannabinoid-like lipid palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) with evidence of increased PEA levels during the acute migraine phase.

Despite the high effectiveness and tolerability of mAbs monoclonal antibodies directed against the Calcitonin gene related peptide (mAbs), evidence from RCTs and real-life studies demonstrates that mAbs fail in 40% of patients. These patients may bear a non CGRP- dependent phenotype, potentially linked to eCBome dysfunction.

Primary aim is to perform a deep phenotyping of the whole cohort of migraine patients comparing the subgroups of those patients who will be Responders to mAbs treatment (namely those patients who achieved a reduction of monthly migraine days >/= 50%) compared to the Non-Respoder group (namely those patients who achieved a reduction of monthly migraine days < 50%) .

Neuropeptides, microRNAs, inflammatory cytokines, and kynurenine metabolites will be evaluated. These findings will allow the identification of a multibiomarkers panel signature of migraine patients resisting to specifically targeted preventive treatments and potentially unveiling other molecular targets.

STUDY DESIGN:

This study is part of the SPHERA project with funding from the Italian Ministry of Health (GR-2021-12372429). Patients will be enrolled from those attending the outpatient clinic of IRCCS Mondino Institute (Pavia) and Neurology Department of the University of L'Aquila (Avezzano).

Data will be collected before mAbs starting (baseline-T0) and after three months (T1) of mAbs treatment. First, Repsonder and Non-responder groups will be identified, then a biochemical profiling of the two subgroups will be performed at T0 and T1.

METHODS:

All patients will undergo a biochemical profiling that will include analysis of:

• eCBome system: mRNS levels of FAAH, MAGL, DAGL, NAPE, NAAA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells,
• plasma levels of AEA, 2-AG, PEA and OEA; CGRP, PACAP, and VIP; IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-4, and IL-10; kynurenic and quinolinic acids;
• miR-382-5p, miR-34a, miR-30a, and miR-155 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells,
• shotgun analysis of microbiota in patients' faeces.

Biochemical sampling will be collected between 9 and 11 a.m. to avoid circadian rhythm influence. All evaluation will be performed in migraine interictal phase.

The following collection methods will be adopted:

• mRNA and microRNA analysis in PBMCs. Blood samples will be collected within ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid tubes, with a first isolation of PBMCs and total RNA. Ubiquitin C and U6 will act as housekeeping genes for genes coding for the eCBome enzymes and miRNAs.
• kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid, AEA, PEA, 2-AG and OEA will be determined according to Gao published method (Gao, 2020). Kinurenine metabolite levels will be measured according to the method described by Fuertig (Fuertig, 2016).
• CGRP alpha, PACAP-38 and VIP levels will be measured using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
• IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-10 cytokine will be measured by the Ella Automated Immunoassay System with a Simple Plex assay panel.
• Microbiome analysis: after correct collection and preservation of stool specimens, they will be delivered to the Translational Neurovascular Research Unit (IRCCS Mondino Foundation) for DNA extraction.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Sample size calculation is defined for primary outcome (MAGL expression), while a power analysis is performed for the co-primary outcome (FAAH expression).

According to preliminary data from the work of Greco 2021 suggesting a ratio between Non-responders and Responders: 2:3 and MAGL gene expression: 8±10 RQ in Non-responders and 3±4 RQ in Responders, the minimum sample size is of 88 migraine patients (53 Responders and 35 NON-Responders) in order to have a confidence interval 95% and power of 80%.

Normality analysis will be performed to evaluate parametric or non-parametric methods.

A univariate analysis will be performed to search for differences in demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters between Non-Responder and Responder groups at T0. Main statistical analysis will include a multivariate approach to control for confounders. The level of significance will be set at alpha = 0.05 considering correction for multiple comparisons where appropriate.