IL-17A, IL-17RA, and IL-22 as biomarkers in migraine: associations with disease activity and clinical features.

Migraine is increasingly seen as a neuroinflammatory disorder linked to immune processes. This study examined levels of Th17-related cytokines, specifically IL-17A, IL-17RA, and IL-22. Researchers included 99 patients with migraine and 50 healthy controls. They measured serum levels of these cytokines using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed significantly higher levels of IL-17A, IL-17RA, and IL-22 in migraine patients compared to controls. IL-22 levels positively correlated with attack frequency, while correlating negatively with disease duration. IL-17A levels showed a negative correlation with attack severity. Conversely, IL-17RA levels positively correlated with attack severity. Multivariate analysis revealed IL-22 and IL-17RA as independent factors related to migraine. IL-17RA had modest discriminatory performance in ROC analysis. This suggests Th17-related cytokines are involved in migraine pathophysiology. Therefore, IL-17RA could serve as a potential independent biomarker for migraine. Clinical relevance: This research suggests that IL-17A and IL-17RA may help assess migraine severity and frequency, guiding personalized treatment strategies for patients.