The genetic regulation of SCN in cluster headache may be affected by Th1/Th2 cytokine derangement

Abstract

T lymphocytes participate not only in immune responses but also in the development of several pathologic reactions. Human T helper cells, on the basis of the cytokines they release, fall into two phenotypes, namely TH1 and TH2. The aim of the present research was to assess whether T lymphocytes are involved in cluster headache pathogenesis. We studied 12 cluster headache patients and 6 control cases in terms of T lymphocyte subsets and their related cytokine release. Our results show that during a cluster headache attack, the TH1 subset is activated, whereas in the periods between and out of the crisis, the TH2 cells become predominant. The possible role played by T lymphocytes and cytokines in the biomolecular phenomenon leading to cluster headache is discussed.