Allelic variation in the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor gene and migraine

The 5-HT2C (serotonin-2C) receptor has been implicated along with other components of the 5-HT system in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of migraine. To investigate whether the 5-HT2C receptor gene contributes to the risk of migraine we performed an association study of allelic variation at codon 23 (Cys or Ser) of the gene in 242 migraineurs, including 73 with aura, and 129 controls. No differences nor trends in allele or genotype frequencies were seen in the migraineurs compared to the controls. Neither did the frequencies vary significantly in migraineurs with and without aura, or if men and women were analysed separately. In conjunction with an earlier negative linkage study, these data indicate that the 5-HT2C receptor gene does not contribute to the genetic predisposition to migraine.