Lower circulating endocannabinoid levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

Cannabis has a well-known effect on social behavior in humans [1]. It enhances interpersonal communication [2] and decreases hostile feelings [3]. The principle unique compounds in the cannabis plant (phytocannabinoids) are Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The main target of THC in the brain is the cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB₁R), which is highly expressed in the frontal cortex and subcortical areas associated with social functioning [4]. The CB₁R and its endogenous ligands N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide or AEA) and 2-arachidonoil-glycerol (2-AG) regulate social play and anxiety in animal models [5‐7] and in humans [8, 9]. Pharmacological and genetic experiments in animal models suggest that social reward is regulated by oxytocin-dependent activation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the nucleus accumbens, the primary rewarding center in the brain [10]. Moreover, the ECS is a major regulator of synaptic plasticity (excitatory and inhibitory) through long-term potentiation and long-term depression [11].

Endocannabinoids (AEA and 2-AG) are usually produced “on demand” in the post-synaptic neuron and act as retrograde signaling messengers. By activating CB₁R in the pre-synaptic neuron, both endogenous ligands result in decreased release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft and attenuate over-active brain circuits [11]. Reduced endocannabinoid “tone” was suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD in several animal models: monogenic (fragile X [12, 13], neuroligin 3 [14]), polygenic (BTBR [15]), and environmental (rat valproic acid [16, 17]). Activation of the ECS in these and other models of ASD reversed the autistic symptoms [13, 15, 17‐23].

Several human studies revealed associations between polymorphisms in the gene encoding CB₁R and emotions’ processing [24‐26]. Other studies demonstrated reduced expression of CB₁R in postmortem brains of individuals with autism [27] as well as reduced plasma AEA levels in children with ASD [28]. However, these studies were not designed to comprehensively characterize the involvement of the ECS in the pathogenesis of ASD. Therefore, we assessed the circulating levels of several endocannabinoids and delineate the correlations between their levels and disease characteristics in a large group of children with ASD and their matched controls with typical development.

This study provides evidence that serum levels of certain endocannabinoids are substantially decreased in people with ASD across age groups, adaptive functioning, BMIs, and in both genders. The most studied endogenous ligands of CB₁R and cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB₂R) are AEA and 2-AG. We detected decreased serum concentrations of AEA and its structurally related compounds OEA and PEA with no significant differences in serum 2-AG and its breakdown molecule, AA. OEA and PEA are widely distributed in the CNS, but their classification as endocannabinoids is debatable, given their lack of affinity for CB₁R and CB₂R. Similar to AEA, they are, however, agonists for PPARα and GPR119 (Fig. 5).

Endocannabinoids are not stored in any cellular compartment for later use. They are generated on demand at the post-synaptic neuron cell membrane and are rapidly inactivated by pre-synaptic neuron cellular uptake and enzymatic hydrolysis (Fig. 5). As a result, the concentrations of the various endocannabinoids in the brain are constantly regulated, and even small changes might be clinically meaningful and reveal brain pathology.

Circulating endocannabinoids are believed to come from multiple organs and tissues, including the brain, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, liver, and kidney as well as circulating cells [42]. However, plasma endocannabinoid levels were demonstrated to reflect brain concentrations [43], and hence these biomarkers are not only accessible, easy to measure, and cost-effective but can also shed a light on the pathophysiology of CNS disorders. Indeed, dysregulation of the ECS was demonstrated in many different models of ASD [44] and some of these studies convincingly illuminate previously unknown pathophysiological mechanisms. For example, prenatal exposure of rats to valproic acid is known to induce selective deficits in social play behavior and stereotypies in the offspring. In a recent study, prenatal exposure of rats to valproic acid was demonstrated to alter phosphorylation of CB₁R, and enhancing AEA signaling through inhibition of its degradation reversed the behavioral deficits displayed by valproic acid-exposed animals [17].

Despite extensive evidence of the involvement of the ECS in animal models of ASD, human studies are sparse. Recently, Karhson and colleagues demonstrated lower levels of AEA in stored plasma samples of 59 young children (aged 3–12 years) with ASD and 53 neurotypical children (P = 0.034). This study was not powered to determine the relationship between plasma AEA concentrations and ASD symptom severity. The current study corroborates their finding of lower circulating AEA levels in ASD in a larger cohort and older age group, and indicates that substantial difference exists also in the levels of the AEA-like molecules PEA and OEA, but not in the levels of the other principle endocannabinoid, 2-AG. Future studies should explore possible explanations for these findings such as reduced activity of N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), the enzyme that synthesizes these 3 endocannabinoids, as was suggested by Siniscalco et al. [45] or increased activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzyme that degrades them.

Notably, dysregulation of the ECS have been also implicated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy [46‐48], leading eventually to phase 3 clinical studies of CBD, a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, for refractory epilepsy [49‐51], and the recent approval of CBD by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat severe forms of epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome) (https://​www.​fda.​gov/​NewsEvents/​Newsroom/​PressAnnouncemen​ts/​ucm611046.​htm). These findings are of specific importance for people with ASD, as 10–30% of people with ASD have comorbid epilepsy [52], and several synaptic plasticity pathways appear to be involved in both disease processes [11]. Moreover, our findings point to a theoretical mechanism by which CBD might compensate for ECS dysregulation in ASD.

Similar to OEA and PEA, CBD has a very low affinity to CB₁R and CB₂R and like AEA, OEA, and PEA it may exert its CNS effects by activation of PPARs and TRPV1 [53, 54]. CBD also inhibits the enzyme FAAH [54, 55] and leads to increased levels of AEA, OEA, and PEA (Fig. 5). Therefore, our study proposes a theoretical pathophysiological mechanism for CBD in ASD and support the rationale in the ongoing and emerging clinical trials of CBD in ASD (NCT03537950, NCT02956226, NCT03202303).

Our findings also suggest the use of circulating endocannabinoids as biomarkers for ASD. In recent years, research efforts on neurological disorders are focused on identifying biomarkers to aid in diagnosis, provide prognostic information, and monitor treatment response. This is specifically imperative in ASD due to the high complexity and heterogeneity of the disorder and the importance of early diagnosis and early behavioral intervention to improve outcome. We found that circulating AEA, OEA, and PEA are substantially lower in children with ASD with a relatively high specificity and sensitivity. ASD includes a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that are very heterogeneous both clinically and etiologically, and it is not realistic to look for a specific biomarker that perfectly classify ASD and neurotypical participants. However, circulating AEA, OEA, and PEA might be used to identify a biologically homogeneous subgroup of ASD, predict response to treatments and adverse reactions to medications, and assist in the development of novel drugs that target specific core symptoms of ASD. It can also be used as a part of a multidimensional biomarker panel to predict autism risk prior to the onset of behavioral abnormalities, initiate early interventions, and predict the developmental trajectory of children with ASD. We found that AEA levels were lower in the younger children with ASD in our cohort (inverse correlation with age). As circulating endocannabinoids can be assessed in infants, future studies that evaluate their levels in infants at risk for developing ASD (e.g., siblings of children with ASD) are recommended. Future studies should also assess circulating endocannabinoids in the context of other biomarkers to evaluate their potential in a multidimensional biomarker panel,

Finally, this study has several limitations. The age range of the cohort and the adaptive level of the ASD participants were relatively wide. We could not completely control the effects of ASD comorbidities and the medications’ effect as most of our ASD participants received medications, and some medications could impact the levels of circulating endocannabinoids. In addition, we did not assess genetic, electrophysiological, and imaging biomarkers.

We found lower levels of the endocannabinoids AEA, OEA, and PEA in serum samples of 93 children with ASD compared with samples of matched neurotypical control group. These findings are in line with the results of numerous former studies in animal models of ASD as well as an initial human study that demonstrated lower endocannabinoid tone in ASD. Our findings suggest the use of circulating AEA, OEA, and PEA as stratifying biomarkers of ASD and future studies should assess the clinical significance of this stratification. These markers can also be easily measured longitudinally in humans and in animal models alike, and future studies should evaluate their potential to assist in the monitoring of treatment response. Further studies are needed to determine whether circulating endocannabinoid levels are also lower in infants and can assist in pre-symptomatic diagnosis and if they reflect lower endocannabinoid tone in the brain, as found in animal models of ASD.