Targeting S1PR1 to treat migraine with jaw (TMD) pain
Molecular basis for functional S1PR1 antagonists in the treatment of comorbid migraine and temporomandibular disorders
This work is testing whether blocking the S1PR1 receptor can reduce pain for people who have both migraine and temporomandibular disorder (jaw pain).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176866 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will create and use preclinical models that mimic having both migraine and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) to study overlapping pain. They will test drugs that block the S1PR1 receptor to see whether pain behaviors and markers of nerve inflammation are reduced. The team will examine molecular pathways, including NLRP3/IL-1β and astrocyte signaling along the trigeminal pain pathway, to understand how treatments work. Findings are intended to point to safe treatments that could move toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who experience both migraine and temporomandibular disorder (jaw) pain, particularly those with chronic or hard-to-treat symptoms.
Not a fit: People who have only one of these conditions (only migraine or only TMD) or whose jaw pain is due to structural dental problems rather than neuroinflammatory pain mechanisms may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that reduce pain and inflammation for people living with both migraine and TMD.
How similar studies have performed: Related S1PR1-targeting approaches showed promise in spinal neuropathic pain models, but applying them to trigeminal migraine/TMD comorbidity is new and untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akerman, Simon — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Akerman, Simon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.