Potential use of microRNA-590 biomarkers verses plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide for diagnosis of migraine
Authors: Deeb Hany Mohamed El , Amr Rasha Said , Gaber Dina Elsayed 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Many biomarkers have been investigated for migraine diagnosis, giving insights into the pathophysiology of migraine, treatment response, and for the development of new treatment strategies. Over the years, many substances, for example, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, glio transmitters, and hormones, have been suggested as possible biomarkers for migraine. The literature demonstrates that miRNAs may play a role in migraine. The aim of this study was to compare serum mi RNA and calcitonin gene-related peptide in Migraineurs. 43 Migraineurs and 43 age and sex-matched controls were included in the study serum miRNA 590 of Migraineurs and controls were assessed by high content serum miRNA arrays. miRNA was compared to serum calcitonin gene-related peptide in both groups. Expression of miRNA-590 in serum is detected by real time PCR (q-PCR) Measurement of serum CGRP by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique.

Results
43 patients (86% females) mean age was 35.56 ± 9.45 and 43 controls (93% females) mean age was37.26 ± 9.15 which were age and sex matched with no statistically significant difference regarding age and sex (fisher extract) FE p = 0.483, p = 0.400, respectively. Regarding the level of miR-590-5p among patients and controls, Table 1 shows that miR-590-5p was significantly higher among cases (mean = 5.90 ± 21.22) than among controls mean = 3.32 ± 5.73 and *p = 0.027 reading the level of CGRP among patients and controls Table 2 shows that CGRP was significantly higher among cases (mean = 172 ± 110) than among controls mean = 66.43 ± 8.89 and *p ≤ 0.001. Regarding the relation between migraine type with miR-590-5p and CGRP among cases miR-590-5p had a higher mean among cases with episodic migraine mean = 11.58 ± 32.40 in comparison with chronic migraine mean = 1.81 ± 1.68 and this was statistically significant *p = 0.013.Table 1
Comparison between the two studied groups according to miR-590-5p and CGRP

Cases(n = 43)
Control(n = 43)
U
P

miR-590-5p

Mean ± SD
5.90 ± 21.22
3.32 ± 5.73
669.0*
0.027*

Median (Min.–Max.)
1.56 (0.25–140)
0.58 (0.06–22.32)

CGRP

Mean ± SD
172 ± 110
66.43 ± 8.89
0.0*
< 0.001*

Median (Min.–Max.)
148 (99.5–813)
63.0 (54.1–82.4)

SD: Standard deviation; U: Mann Whitney test; p: p value for comparing between the two studied groups
*Statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05
Table 2
Distribution of the studied cases according to different parameters in cases group (n = 43)

n. (%)

Migraine type

Chronic
25 (58.1%)

Episodic
18 (41.9%)

Chronic illness
13 (30.2%)

Type of illness (n = 13)

Diabetes
2 (15.4%)

Hypertension
3 (23.1%)

Cholesterol
2 (15.4%)

Thyroid
3 (23.1%)

Polyarthralgia
1 (7.7%)

Osteo Malacia
1 (7.7%)

Facial palsy
1 (7.7%)

Drugs

Abortive
29 (67.4%)

Prophylactic
26 (60.5%)

Topiramate
21 (48.8%)

Tryptizol
10 (23.3%)

Ketolac
8 (18.6%)

Oral contraceptives
4 (9.3%)

Triptan
18 (41.9%)

Inderal
3 (7%)

Compliance
20 (46.5%)

Status migrainosis
11 (25.6%)

Duration of migraine (years)

Mean ± SD
8.81 ± 7.81

Median (Min.–Max.)
6 (1–30)

Number of headache /months

Mean ± SD
15.86 ± 10.54

Median (Min.–Max.)
15 (1–30)

Severity of migraine

Mean ± SD
8.26 ± 1.33

Median (Min.–Max.)
8 (5–10)

Conclusions
MicroRNA-590 can be used as a biomarker of migraine and has a comparable result to CGRP.