Dagmar Koethe1,2, Franziska Pahlisch2,3, Martin Hellmich4, Cathrin Rohleder2, Juliane K Mueller2, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg2, E Fuller Torrey5, Daniele Piomelli3, F Markus Leweke1,2. 1. a Brain and Mind Centre , The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia. 2. b Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim , Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany. 3. c Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology , University of California , Irvine , CA , USA. 4. d Institute for Medical Statistics and Computational Biology , University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany. 5. e The Stanley Medical Research Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays a pathophysiological role in schizophrenia. This is reflected by elevated cerebrospinal levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide in schizophrenia and its initial prodromal states. METHODS: We analyzed plasma concentrations of anandamide, 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol, palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide from 25 twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, six discordant for bipolar disorder and eight healthy twin pairs to determine hereditary traits. RESULTS: Twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder had significantly higher levels of anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide compared to healthy twins (both P < 0.002). Non-affected twins discordant for schizophrenia, who developed a psychotic disorder within 5 years follow-up showed lower anandamide (P = 0.042) and 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol levels (P = 0.049) than twins who remained healthy. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the protective upregulation of endocannabinoid signalling reflects either a hereditary trait or mirrors a modulating response to genetically influenced cerebral function involving, e.g., other neurotransmitters or energy metabolism.
OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays a pathophysiological role in schizophrenia. This is reflected by elevated cerebrospinal levels of the endocannabinoidanandamide in schizophrenia and its initial prodromal states. METHODS: We analyzed plasma concentrations of anandamide, 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol, palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide from 25 twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, six discordant for bipolar disorder and eight healthy twin pairs to determine hereditary traits. RESULTS: Twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder had significantly higher levels of anandamide and palmitoylethanolamide compared to healthy twins (both P < 0.002). Non-affected twins discordant for schizophrenia, who developed a psychotic disorder within 5 years follow-up showed lower anandamide (P = 0.042) and 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol levels (P = 0.049) than twins who remained healthy. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the protective upregulation of endocannabinoid signalling reflects either a hereditary trait or mirrors a modulating response to genetically influenced cerebral function involving, e.g., other neurotransmitters or energy metabolism.
Authors: Amedeo Minichino; Morwenna Senior; Natascia Brondino; Sam H Zhang; Beata R Godwlewska; Philip W J Burnet; Andrea Cipriani; Belinda R Lennox Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2019-09-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Daniela Navarro; Ani Gasparyan; Francisco Navarrete; Abraham B Torregrosa; Gabriel Rubio; Marta Marín-Mayor; Gabriela B Acosta; Maria Salud Garcia-Gutiérrez; Jorge Manzanares Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-04-26 Impact factor: 6.208