Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels

Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by unilateral pain usually with aura, that affects approximately one in six individuals in India. The underlying biomechanical processes of migraine are still poorly understood, and new research is constantly being published. One of the major fac...

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Main Authors: Girishwaran M., S. Sajitha Lulu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1622994/full
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author Girishwaran M.
S. Sajitha Lulu
author_facet Girishwaran M.
S. Sajitha Lulu
author_sort Girishwaran M.
collection DOAJ
description Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by unilateral pain usually with aura, that affects approximately one in six individuals in India. The underlying biomechanical processes of migraine are still poorly understood, and new research is constantly being published. One of the major factors in migraine pathogenesis is the dysfunction of ion channels in the trigeminal nuclei and sensory cortices. Potassium channels are modulators and regulators of neuronal signaling and conductance, playing an important role in maintenance of the membrane potential and neuronal conduction. Therefore, potassium channel dysfunctions are potential factors in migraine pathogenesis, and thus targets for specific antimigraine prophylaxis. This review reveals that potassium channels play a significant role in pathogenesis and management of migraine. Dysfunctions in KATP channels, K2P channels including TRESK and TREK-1, small and large conductance calcium-sensitive potassium channels (SKCa and BKCa), and voltage-gated potassium channels (KV) are known to affect the incidence and progression of migraine in the general populace. KATP openers can induce migraine like phenotype, but KATP blockers have so far not been effective in reducing the intensity of migraine headache. Potassium channels are a potential druggable target for migraine prophylaxis with several compounds currently in preclinical trials.
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spelling doaj-art-119382d360bd440984668d699360a5552025-08-20T03:32:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-07-011610.3389/fneur.2025.16229941622994Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channelsGirishwaran M.S. Sajitha LuluMigraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by unilateral pain usually with aura, that affects approximately one in six individuals in India. The underlying biomechanical processes of migraine are still poorly understood, and new research is constantly being published. One of the major factors in migraine pathogenesis is the dysfunction of ion channels in the trigeminal nuclei and sensory cortices. Potassium channels are modulators and regulators of neuronal signaling and conductance, playing an important role in maintenance of the membrane potential and neuronal conduction. Therefore, potassium channel dysfunctions are potential factors in migraine pathogenesis, and thus targets for specific antimigraine prophylaxis. This review reveals that potassium channels play a significant role in pathogenesis and management of migraine. Dysfunctions in KATP channels, K2P channels including TRESK and TREK-1, small and large conductance calcium-sensitive potassium channels (SKCa and BKCa), and voltage-gated potassium channels (KV) are known to affect the incidence and progression of migraine in the general populace. KATP openers can induce migraine like phenotype, but KATP blockers have so far not been effective in reducing the intensity of migraine headache. Potassium channels are a potential druggable target for migraine prophylaxis with several compounds currently in preclinical trials.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1622994/fullmigrainepotassium channelsdruggable targetsglibenclamidelevcromakalimacrylamide (S-1)
spellingShingle Girishwaran M.
S. Sajitha Lulu
Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
Frontiers in Neurology
migraine
potassium channels
druggable targets
glibenclamide
levcromakalim
acrylamide (S-1)
title Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
title_full Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
title_fullStr Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
title_full_unstemmed Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
title_short Migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
title_sort migraine is a dysfunction of neuronal potassium ion channels
topic migraine
potassium channels
druggable targets
glibenclamide
levcromakalim
acrylamide (S-1)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1622994/full
work_keys_str_mv AT girishwaranm migraineisadysfunctionofneuronalpotassiumionchannels
AT ssajithalulu migraineisadysfunctionofneuronalpotassiumionchannels