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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Fresh Research - CH and Trace Amines
        
(Message started by: floridian on Nov 19^th, 2004, 8:21am)

Title: Fresh Research - CH and Trace Amines
Post by floridian on Nov 19^th, 2004, 8:21am

A summary article that reinforces the idea that high levels of 'elusive amines' (tyramine, octopamine, synephrine) play a role in clusters and migraines.

The body can produce all of these, and they can occur in the diet; the basic building block is the amino acid tyrosine, which is then converted > tyramine > octopamine > synephrine.

Tyramine is found in some cheeses, cured meats, red wine, and chocolate (all triggers for migraine). Synephrine is found in large amounts in bitter orange, but is also present in other citrus, including Seville oranges (comon variety produced in Southern Europe, Middle East). Some 'ephedra free' products are now using bitter orange/synephrine as a substitute for ephedra, but they may have similar effects on susceptible individuals. Like ephedrine, these elusive amines stimulate the alpha and beta adrenaline receptors.

Foods that contain lots of elusive amines:
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/maoi.html#avoid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat6.section.3275

Quote:

Neurol Sci. 2004 Oct;25(Supplement 3):s89-s92.

Contributions of biochemistry to the pathogenesis of primary headaches.

D'Andrea G, Perini F, Terrazzino S, Nordera GP. Headache and Cerebrovascular Diseases Center, Villa Margherita Neurological Clinic, Arcugnano (VI), Italy, giovinavi@libero.it.

We briefly summarise biochemical anomalies of serotonin, norepinephrine, glutamic and aspartic acids, the main neurotransmitters of inhibitory and excitatory neuronal circuitries, found in primary headaches and their relationship with pathogenesis of migraine and cluster headache (CH). In addition, the high levels of circulating tyramine, octopamine and synephrine (elusive amines), recently reported in both migraine types and CH, are discussed in relation to the other "classic" amines findings. In particular it is suggested how abnormal levels of elusive amines may participate in the pathophysiology of migraine and CH acting through their specific trace amine receptors and alpha and beta receptors. The possible hypothesis that emerges from the analysis of these biochemical findings is that an imbalance of systems, with opposite neurophysiological functions related to the pain and other yet unknown functions, may constitute the biochemical phenotype of migraine with and without aura, and CH.

Here's a slightly older take on the same topic:

Quote:

Neurol Sci. 2004 Oct;25(Supplement 3):s279-s280.

Elusive amines and cluster headache: mutational analysis of trace amine receptor cluster on chromosome 6q23.

Aridon P, D'Andrea G, Rigamonti A, Leone M, Casari G, Bussone G. Human Molecular Genetics Unit, DIBIT-San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

Cluster headache (CH) is characterised by unilateral pain and ipsilateral autonomic features. To date, no molecular genetic evidence has been shown for CH. Small pedigrees and low penetrance render the identification of the CH-gene quite difficult. Nonetheless the association of CH and migraine to a new class of amine, namely trace or elusive amines such as tyramine, octopamine and synephrine, has recently been demonstrated. In particular, in comparison to healthy control subjects, all these neurotransmitters have been found to be greatly elevated in CH sufferers in plasma and platelets both in active and remission periods. A cluster of gene-encoding G-protein-coupled receptors that bind and are activated by trace amines was identified in the long arm of chromosome 6q23. We evaluated two families with CH by linkage analysis to 6q23 region and the mutation scanning of the TAR 1, TAR 3, TAR 4, TAR 5, PNR and GPR58 genes by denaturing high liquid chromatography is in progress in 16 familial cases.