Background Methylprednisolone (MPD) is a rapid acting highly effective cluster
headache preventive and also suppresses the recurrence of migraine attacks.
Previously, we could demonstrate that elevated CGRP plasma levels in a cluster
headache bout are normalized after a course of high dose corticosteroids. Here
we assess whether MPD suppresses interleukin-1β (IL-1β)- and prostaglandin E2
(PGE2)-induced CGRP release in a cell culture model of trigeminal ganglia
cells, which could account for the preventive effect in migraine and cluster
headache. Metoprolol(MTP), a migraine preventive with a slow onset of action,
was used for comparison. Methods Primary cultures of rat trigeminal ganglia
were stimulated for 24 h with 10 ng/ml IL-1β or for 4 h with 10 μM PGE2
following the exposure to 10 or 100 μM MPD or 100 nM or 10 µM MTP for 45 min
or 24 h. CGRP was determined by using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Results
MPD but not MTP blocked IL-1β-induced CGRP release from cultured trigeminal
cells. PGE2-stimulated CGRP release from trigeminal ganglia cell culture was
not affected by pre-stimulation whether with MPD or MTP. Conclusion MPD but
not MTP suppresses cytokine (IL-1β)-induced CGRP release from trigeminal
ganglia cells. We propose that blockade of cytokine mediated trigeminal
activation may represent a potential mechanism of action that mediates the
preventive effect of MTP on cluster headache and recurrent migraine attacks
