[Two-pore-domain potassium channels and molecular mechanisms underlying migraine].

Biol Aujourdhui. 2019;213(1-2):51-57. doi: 10.1051/jbio/2019020. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

[Article in French]

Royal P1, Ávalos Prado P1, Wdziekonski B1, Sandoz G1.

Author information

1. Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Biologie Valrose, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice, France – Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Nice, France.

Abstract

Migraine is a common, disabling neurological disorder with genetic, environmental and hormonal components and a prevalence estimated at ∼15%. Migraine episodes are notably related, among several factors, to electric hyperexcitability in sensory neurons. Their electrical activity is controlled by ion channels that generate current, specifically by the two-pore-domain potassium, K2P, channels, which inhibit electrical activity. Mutation in the gene encoding TRESK, a K2P channel, causes the formation of TRESK-MT1, the expected non-functional C-terminal truncated TRESK channel, and an additional unexpected protein, TRESK-MT2, which corresponds to a non-functional N-terminal truncated TRESK channel, through a mechanism called frameshift mutation-induced Alternative Translation Initiation (fsATI). TRESK-MT1 is inactive but TRESK-M2 targets two other ion channels, TREK1 and TREK2, inducing a great stimulation of the neuronal electrical activity that may cause migraines. These findings identify TREK1 and TREK2 as potential molecular targets for migraine treatment and suggest that fsATI should be considered as a distinct class of mutations.

PMID: 31274103
DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2019020