Oct 17, 2021 20:00:00

The mysterious cause that 'people who often have migraine headaches are less likely to develop diabetes' has been found, and it may be useful for research on diabetes prevention and treatment methods.

At first glance, there seems to be no relationship between migraine headaches, which are intermittent

headaches, and type 2 diabetes , which is caused by poor pancreatic function. However, studies investigating the effects of substances that cause headaches on the pancreas have revealed a link between the two symptoms. It is hoped that this discovery can be applied to research on the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

How migraines protect against diabetes --American Chemical Society
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2021/august/how-migraines-protect-against-diabetes.html

Previous studies have shown that migraine headaches are more common in young women and that women have a lower risk of migraine headaches after menopause. In addition, the French woman 74,247 people a 2018 that were followed up over a period of 10 years research in, people that migraine occurs often compared to those who do not, it also became clear risk of type 2 diabetes is low .. However, it was not known what the mechanism was between migraine and type 2 diabetes.

Therefore, a research team led by Assistant Professor Tan Doe of the University of Tennessee in the United States has found that

calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) , which is a neurotransmitter closely related to migraine pain, and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP). ), We conducted research focusing on two peptides. CGRP and PACAP are present not only in the nervous system but also in the pancreas.

To investigate the effects of peptides closely related to migraine on the pancreas, Dr. Doe's research team developed and experimented with a method to obtain data by culturing a small number of β cells in the mouse pancreas. As a result, it was found that CGRP reduces insulin secretion. Mice have two types of insulin, 'mouse insulin 1' and 'mouse insulin 2', of which CGRP suppresses 'mouse insulin 2', which is similar to human insulin. ..

Insulin is secreted at the same time as another peptide called amylin, which causes type 2 diabetes by damaging β-cells, resulting in reduced insulin production and reduced amylin, which protects pancreatic β-cells. Is believed to be.

It was also found that PACAP also has the effect of preventing type 2 diabetes. Confusingly, PACAP stimulates insulin secretion, as opposed to CGRP, but it also helps β-cell proliferation. Associate Professor Doe speculates that PACAP may prevent type 2 diabetes by promoting beta-cell proliferation and preventing the exhaustion of existing beta-cells.

Dr. Doe, who presented the results of this study at the American Chemical Society's Autumn Meeting held on August 26, 2021, said, 'Despite the confirmed positive effects on diabetes, CGRP and PACAP are directly used as therapeutic agents for diabetes. It cannot be used because these peptides cause migraine pain, but if you know how these peptides affect insulin secretion, they control insulin but not cause headaches. Will be able to develop. '