CSF Levels of the Endocannabinoid Anandamide are Reduced in Patients with Untreated Narcolepsy Type 1: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Endocannabinoids (ECs) modulate both excitatory and inhibitory components in the CNS. There is a growing body of evidence that shows ECs influence both hypothalamic orexinergic and histaminergic neurons involved in narcolepsy physiopathology. Therefore, ECs may influence sleep and sleep-wake cycle.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate EC levels in the CSF of untreated narcoleptic patients to test whether ECs are dysregulated in Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) and Type 2 (NT2).

METHODS:

We compared CSF Anandamide (AEA), 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and orexin in narcoleptic drug-naïve patients and in a sample of healthy subjects.

RESULTS:

We compared NT1 (n=6), NT2 (n=6), and healthy controls (n=6). We found significantly reduced AEA levels in NT1 patients compared to both NT2 and controls. No differences were found between AEA levels in NT2 versus controls and between 2-AG levels in all groups, although a trend toward a decrease in NT1 was evident. Finally, the CSF AEA level was related to CSF orexin levels in all subjects.

CONCLUSION:

We demonstrated that the EC system is dysregulated in NT1.

• Authors: Andrea Romigi, Monica Bari, Claudio Liguori, Francesca Izzi, Cinzia Rapino, Marzia Nuccetelli, Natalia Battista, Sergio Bernardini, Diego Centonze, Nicola Biagio Mercuri, Fabio Placidi, Mauro Maccarrone
• Journal: CNS & neurological disorders drug targets (CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets) Vol. 19 Issue 2 Pg. 142-147 ( 2020) ISSN: 1996-3181 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 32148204 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

Chemical References

• Arachidonic Acids
• Endocannabinoids
• Orexins
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides
• anandamide

Topics

• Adult
• Arachidonic Acids (metabolism)
• Case-Control Studies
• Endocannabinoids (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Narcolepsy (metabolism)
• Orexins (metabolism)
• Pilot Projects
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides (metabolism)
• Rome
• Sleep (physiology)
• Young Adult