REDUCED PLATELET PHENOLSULFOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY TOWARDS DOPAMINE AND5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE IN MIGRAINE

Objective: The sulphation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and 5-hydr oxytryptamine, and of the prototypical xenobiotic 4-nitrophenol, by ph enolsulphotransferases was measured in platelet homogenates prepared f rom a group of migraine sufferers and a group of control subjects. Res ults: The activity of the M form of phenolsulphotransferase, responsib le for the sulphation of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine was signific antly reduced in the migraine population, by 28% with dopamine as subs trate 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 al so report that the selective inhibition of P form phenolsulphotransfer ase by red wine is much more potent than previously thought, with a 20 00-fold dilution of dealcoholised red wine having the ability to inhib it sulphation by this enzyme by 50%. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a reduced capacity for sulphation and inactivation of biogenic am ines and catecholamines may be related to susceptibility to migraine.