Emily Chan
These cells contain a special protein called VE-Cadherin, which keeps the cells stuck together. When exposed to CGRP, the VE-Cadherin groups together into a tight arrangement, blocking the passage of fluid. The team also looked at brain tissue from mice with induced migraines to confirm their findings.
They injected CGRP and a traceable dye into the mice’s lymphatic vessels. This resulted in much less fluid being drained from the skull. According to Caron, lymphatic dysfunction is much more prevalent in women than men.
So, perhaps biological differences could play a role in the development of neurological disorders like migraines.
“If this were true, then new therapeutic strategies or drug targets that enhance meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic flow in women would be desirable,” Caron said.
The study has raised questions about why migraines affect women more than men. More research is needed to determine the connections between the lymphatic system and female life stages. With further research, there is hope that more effective treatments can be developed.
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
