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Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) - an emerging molecule in primary headaches

Edited by: Messoud Ashina

Here, we introduce the The Journal of Headache and Pain thematic series on pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) as an emerging molecule in primary headaches. Over the past decade PACAP has emerged as a key signaling in migraine and cluster headache and this thematic series summarizes the most important aspects of PACAP physiological functions from its discovery in the central nervous system to experimental studies with relevance to primary headaches.
Neuer InhaltThis collection of articles has not been sponsored and articles have undergone the journal's standard peer-review process overseen by the Editor-in-Chief and Guest Editor. The Editor-in-Chief and Guest Editor declare no competing interests.

  1. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is widely distributed in the nervous system and is involved in migraine pathophysiology. Understanding the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) i...

    Authors: Faisal Mohammad Amin and Henrik Winther Schytz
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:35
  2. Pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 27- or 38-amino acid neuropeptide, which belongs to the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/glucagon/secretin family. PACAP shows particularl...

    Authors: Takahiro Hirabayashi, Tomoya Nakamachi and Seiji Shioda
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:28
  3. The discovery that intravenous (IV) infusions of the neuropeptide PACAP-38 (pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide-38) induced delayed migraine-like headaches in a large majority of migraine patients ha...

    Authors: James A. Waschek, Serapio M. Baca and Simon Akerman
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:23
  4. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide implicated in a wide range of functions, such as nociception and in primary headaches. Regarding its localization, PACAP has been observ...

    Authors: Lars Edvinsson, János Tajti, Levente Szalárdy and László Vécsei
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:21
  5. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an ubiquitous peptide involved, among others, in neurodevelopment, neuromodulation, neuroprotection, neurogenic inflammation and nociception. Prese...

    Authors: Dora Reglodi, Alexandra Vaczy, Eloísa Rubio-Beltran and Antoinette MaassenVanDenBrink
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:19
  6. In migraineurs pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide1–38 (PACAP1–38) is a potent migraine provoking substance and the accompanying long lasting flushing suggests degranulation of mast cells. Infusion ...

    Authors: Inger Jansen-Olesen and Sara Hougaard Pedersen
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2018 19:16
  7. To review the role of PACAP38 in human models of primary headaches, discuss possible mechanisms of PACAP38-induced migraine, and outline future directions.

    Authors: HÃ¥kan Ashina, Song Guo, Anne L. H. Vollesen and Messoud Ashina
    Citation: The Journal of Headache and Pain 2017 18:110