Association of a Variant of CNR1 Gene Encoding Cannabinoid Receptor 1 With Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome
In Summary
Tourette syndrome is a common nervous system disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics and is often accompanied by other psychiatric conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. Its definite cause remains incompletely understood; however, genetic factors appear to play a major role.
A research study on a cohort of 262 Tourette patients and a control group of 279 healthy individuals in Poland has recently documented an association between a variant of the CNR1 gene and Tourette syndrome. A gene can have various versions, known as alleles, differing from one another by a single nucleotide. At a specific location of the CNR1 gene, the T nucleotide occurs more frequently than the C nucleotide in the general population. The study, however, found the C nucleotide to occur significantly more frequently in Tourette patients, which suggested that this allele of the CNR1 gene is a risk factor of Tourette syndrome in Polish population. The CNR1 gene encodes the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), the main target of cannabis constituents, located in the nervous system. Although further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms, scientists hypothesize that this variant can result in abnormal endocannabinoid transmission by the CB1 receptor, which in turns underlies the tic symptoms of Tourette syndrome.
A research study on a cohort of 262 Tourette patients and a control group of 279 healthy individuals in Poland has recently documented an association between a variant of the CNR1 gene and Tourette syndrome. A gene can have various versions, known as alleles, differing from one another by a single nucleotide. At a specific location of the CNR1 gene, the T nucleotide occurs more frequently than the C nucleotide in the general population. The study, however, found the C nucleotide to occur significantly more frequently in Tourette patients, which suggested that this allele of the CNR1 gene is a risk factor of Tourette syndrome in Polish population. The CNR1 gene encodes the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), the main target of cannabis constituents, located in the nervous system. Although further research is required to investigate the underlying mechanisms, scientists hypothesize that this variant can result in abnormal endocannabinoid transmission by the CB1 receptor, which in turns underlies the tic symptoms of Tourette syndrome.