Endo-cannabinoid system profile and clinical phenotype of children with developmental disorders.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 51020:Cognitive and brain science-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Ohashi Kei 名古屋市立大学, 医薬学総合研究院(医学), 助教 (10824576)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / 内因性カンナビノイド / 神経発達症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed the endo-cannabinoid profile of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors, theendo-cannabinoid metabolizing enzymes FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase) and MAGL (monoacylgrycerol pipase)) expression levels (mRNA) and clinical phenotype. Although no significant correlation was found between the overall strength of autistic tendency and the expression level of each mRNA, statistically significant correlations were found between the expression level of CB1 receptor mRNA and the subscale "attentional switching" and between the expression level of CB2 receptor mRNA and "attentional switching" and "imagination".

Free Research Field

神経発達症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

自閉スペクトラム症の特定の臨床症状と内因性カンナビノイドプロファイルに関連性があることが示された。この後はより詳細に内因性カンナビノイドプロファイルを明らかにすることで、自閉スペクトラム症の病態の解明や治療薬の開発につなげられる可能性が示唆された。