Reduced platelet phenolsulphotransferase activity towards dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in migraine

✍ Scribed by A. L. Jones; G. L. Rubin; M. W. H. Coughtrie; R. C. Roberts; W. Colvin

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 613 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0031-6970
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00192368

✦ Synopsis

Objective: The sulphation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, and of the prototypical xenobiotic 4-nitrophenol, by phenolsulphotransferases was measured in platelet homogenates prepared from a group of migraine sufferers and a group of control subjects. Results: The activity of the M form of phenolsulphotransferase, responsible for the sulphation of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine was significantly reduced in the migraine population, by 28% with dopamine as substrate and by 20% with 5-hydroxytryptamine. The activity of the P form of the enzyme towards 4-nitrophenol was the same in both groups. We also report that the selective inhibition of P form phenolsulphotransferase by red wine is much more potent than previously thought, with a 2000-fold dilution of dealcoholised red wine having the ability to inhibit sulphation by this enzyme by 50%. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that a reduced capacity for sulphation and inactivation of biogenic amines and catecholamines may be related to susceptibility to migraine.