Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2, but not Type 1, is Up-Regulated in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Children Affected by Autistic Disorders

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 43; no. 11; pp. 2686 - 2695
• Main Authors: Siniscalco, Dario, Sapone, Anna, Giordano, Catia, Cirillo, Alessandra, de Magistris, Laura, Rossi, Francesco, Fasano, Alessio, Bradstreet, James Jeffrey, Maione, Sabatino, Antonucci, Nicola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.11.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Apoptosis; Autism; Autistic children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Cannabinoids; Care and treatment; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child clinical studies; Child Development; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - genetics; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - metabolism; Child, Preschool; Children; Comparative Analysis; Control Groups; Developmental disorders; Drug Therapy; Environmental aspects; Enzymes; Fatty acids; Female; Gene expression; Genes; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Individualized Instruction; Infantile autism; Intervention; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; Medical examination; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Metabolism; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pathogenesis; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physiology; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - genetics; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - metabolism; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - genetics; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Italy; United States > US; Autistic disorders; Gene expression; PBMCs; Cannabinoid system; Human; Developmental disorder; Cannabinoid; Genetic determinism; Autism; Blood cell; Cannabinoid receptor; Genetics; Drug of abuse; Child
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1824-9

Autistic disorders (ADs) are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders arised by the interaction of genes and environmental factors. Dysfunctions in social interaction and communication skills, repetitive and stereotypic verbal and non-verbal behaviours are common features of ADs. There are no defined mechanisms of pathogenesis, rendering curative therapy very difficult. Indeed, the treatments for autism presently available can be divided into behavioural, nutritional and medical approaches, although no defined standard approach exists. Autistic children display immune system dysregulation and show an altered immune response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, we investigated the involvement of cannabinoid system in PBMCs from autistic children compared to age-matched normal healthy developing controls (age ranging 3–9 years; mean age: 6.06 ± 1.52 vs. 6.14 ± 1.39 in autistic children and healthy subjects, respectively). The mRNA level for cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) was significantly increased in AD-PBMCs as compared to healthy subjects (mean ± SE of arbitrary units: 0.34 ± 0.03 vs. 0.23 ± 0.02 in autistic children and healthy subjects, respectively), whereas CB1 and fatty acid amide hydrolase mRNA levels were unchanged. mRNA levels of N -acylphosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D gene were slightly decreased. Protein levels of CB-2 were also significantly increased in autistic children (mean ± SE of arbitrary units: 33.5 ± 1.32 vs. 6.70 ± 1.25 in autistic children and healthy subjects, respectively). Our data indicate CB2 receptor as potential therapeutic target for the pharmacological management of the autism care.