Epigenetic regulation of fatty acid amide hydrolase in Alzheimer disease.

Abstract

ObjectiveAlzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible neurological disorder with few therapies available. In search for new potential targets, increasing evidence suggests a role for the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the regulation of neurodegenerative processes.MethodsWe have studied the gene expression status and the epigenetic regulation of ECS components in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of subjects with late-onset AD (LOAD) and age-matched controls (CT).ResultsWe found an increase in fatty acid amide hydrolase (faah) gene expression in LOAD subjects (2.30 ± 0.48) when compared to CT (1.00 ± 0.14; *pConclusionsPresent findings suggest the involvement of FAAH in the pathogenesis of AD, highlighting the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in enzyme regulation; they also point to FAAH as a new potential biomarker for AD in easily accessible peripheral cells.