Does migraine treatment by blocking CGRP neuropeptide signaling also affect anti-infective immunity?
Abstract
Based on pathophysiological knowledge about migraine, a completely new treatment for this disease has been developed. It is a targeted therapy with monoclonal pain antibodies blocking CGRP neuropeptide signaling, which is involved in the migraine headaches development in a very significant and key way.
However, it turned out that the CGRP neuropeptide has pleiotropic effects and impacts immune system functions as well. Hypothetically, such an intervention in the neuroimmune axis homeostasis of the predisposed individuals (e.g. individuals with pre-existing immunodeficiency) could lead to increased susceptibility to infections by pathogenic microorganisms.
Since the most information we currently have is on the relationship between the neuropeptide CGRP and the antiviral immune response, this work will be focused on infections with these types of pathogens.