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Background and Purpose: Triptans are 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists (that also display 5-HT1F receptor affinity) with antimigraine action, contraindicated in patients with coronary artery disease due to their vasoconstrictor properties. Conversely, lasmiditan was developed as an antimigraine 5-HT1F receptor agonist. To assess the selectivity and cardiovascular effects of lasmiditan, we investigated the binding, functional activity, and in vitro/in vivo vascular effects of lasmiditan and compared it to sumatriptan.Experimental Approach: Binding and second messenger activity assays of lasmiditan and other serotoninergic agonists were performed for human 5-HT1A , 5-HT1B , 5-HT1D , 5-ht1E , 5-HT1F , 5-HT2A , 5-HT2B , and 5-HT7 receptors, and the results were correlated with their potency to constrict isolated human coronary arteries (HCAs). Furthermore, concentration-response curves to lasmiditan and sumatriptan were performed in proximal and distal HCA, internal mammary, and middle meningeal arteries. Finally, anaesthetized female beagle dogs received i.v. infusions of lasmiditan or sumatriptan in escalating cumulative doses, and carotid and coronary artery diameters were measured.Key Results: Lasmiditan showed high selectivity for 5-HT1F receptors. Moreover, the functional potency of the analysed compounds to inhibit cAMP increase through 5-HT1B receptor activation positively correlated with their potency to contract HCA. In isolated human arteries, sumatriptan, but not lasmiditan, induced contractions. Likewise, in vivo, sumatriptan decreased coronary and carotid artery diameters at clinically relevant doses, while lasmiditan was devoid of vasoconstrictor activity at all doses tested.Conclusions and Implications: Lasmiditan is a selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist devoid of vasoconstrictor activity. This may represent a cardiovascular safety advantage when compared to the triptans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine is two to three times more prevalent in women than in men, but the mechanisms involved in this gender disparity are still poorly understood. In this respect, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a key role in migraine pathophysiology and, more recently, the functional interactions between ovarian steroid hormones, CGRP and the trigeminovascular system have been recognized and studied in more detail.Aims: To provide an overview of CGRP studies that have addressed gender differences utilizing animal and human migraine preclinical research models to highlight how the female trigeminovascular system responds differently in the presence of varying ovarian steroid hormones.Conclusions: Gender differences are evident in migraine. Several studies indicate that fluctuations of ovarian steroid hormone (mainly estrogen) levels modulate CGRP in the trigeminovascular system during different reproductive milestones. Such interactions need to be considered when conducting future animal and human experiments, since these differences may contribute to the development of gender-specific therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migraine is a neurovascular disorder that involves activation of the trigeminovascular system and cranial vasodilation mediated by release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The gold standard for acute migraine treatment are the triptans, 5-HT 1B/1D/(1F) receptor agonists. Their actions are thought to be mediated through activation of: (i) 5-HT 1B receptors in cranial blood vessels with subsequent cranial vasoconstriction; (ii) prejunctional 5-HT 1D receptors on trigeminal fibers that inhibit trigeminal CGRP release; and (iii) 5-HT 1B/1D/1F receptors in central nervous system involved in (anti)nociceptive modulation. Unfortunately, coronary arteries also express 5-HT 1B receptors whose activation would produce coronary vasoconstriction; hence, triptans are contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular disease. In addition, since migraineurs have an increased cardiovascular risk, it is important to develop antimigraine drugs devoid of vascular (side) effects. Ditans, here defined as selective 5-HT 1F receptor agonists, were developed on the basis that most of the triptans activate trigeminal 5-HT 1F receptors, which may explain part of the triptans' antimigraine action. Amongst the ditans, lasmiditan: (i) fails to constrict human coronary arteries; and (ii) is effective for the acute treatment of migraine in preliminary Phase III clinical trials. Admittedly, the exact site of action is still unknown, but lasmiditan possess a high lipophilicity, which suggests a direct action on the central descending antinociceptive pathways. Furthermore, since 5-HT 1F receptors are located on trigeminal fibers, they could modulate CGRP release. This review will be particularly focussed on the similarities and differences between the triptans and the ditans, their proposed sites of action, side effects and their cardiovascular risk profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine prevalence and levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a peptide involved in migraine pathophysiology, differ between men and women, and appear to be affected by changes in sex hormones. The present study investigated the sex-specific responses to CGRP in human isolated arteries. Methods: CGRP-induced relaxation of 62 (28 men and 34 women) human isolated middle meningeal arteries (HMMA) and 139 (69 men and 70 women) human isolated coronary arteries (HCA) was compared between men and women in groups <50 years and ≥50 years of age as a proxy for pre- and postmenopausal status in women, as well as matched-age groups for men. Results: In HCA, no differences were observed between male and female tissue, or between the different age groups. However, in HMMA, the maximum response was significantly smaller and CGRP was less potent in females <50 compared with males <50 years of age. No differences were observed between the older age groups. Conclusions: Sex differences were observed for CGRP-induced relaxation of HMMA, but not HCA. These differences could arise from differential receptor expression in the vascular beds combined with the effect of sex hormones on CGRP and subsequent receptor desensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]