Elevated cannabinoid 1 receptor mRNA is linked to eating disorder related behavior and attitudes in females with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of appetite, food intake and energy balance.


METHODS
To study possible differences in CB(1) and CB(2) mRNA expression in eating disorders, 20 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), 23 with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 26 healthy women were enrolled into the trial (Homocysteine and Eating Disorders, HEaD).


RESULTS
We found significantly higher levels of CB(1) receptor mRNA in the blood of patients with AN (DeltaCT: -3.9 (1.0); KW: 11.31; P=0.003) and BN (DeltaCT: -3.7 (1.7)) when compared to controls (DeltaCT: -4.6 (0.6); Dunn's test AN vs.


METHODS
P<0.05; BN vs.


METHODS
P<0.001) measured by quantitative real-time PCR. No differences were found regarding the expression of CB(2) receptor mRNA. Higher CB(1) receptor expression was associated with lower scores in several eating disorder inventory-2 (EDI-2) subscales including perfectionism, impulse regulation and drive for thinness.


CONCLUSIONS
Our finding of elevated CB(1)-receptor expression in AN and BN adds further evidence to the hypothesis of impaired endocannabinoid signaling in eating disorders.
Frieling
Helge
H
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Germany. helge.frieling@uk-erlangen.de
Albrecht
Heidi
H
Jedtberg
Sabine
S
Gozner
Andreas
A
Lenz
Bernd
B
Wilhelm
Julia
J
Hillemacher
Thomas
T
de Zwaan
Martina
M
Kornhuber
Johannes
J
Bleich
Stefan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2