Fri. Oct 11, 2019 8:40 AM - 10:20 AM Room 12 (503)

Organizer / Chair: Hiroki ISHIGURO (Department of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Ethics, University of Yamanashi, Japan), Co-chair: ‌Taku YAMAGUCHI (Department of Pharmacotherapeutics and Neuropsychopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Japan), Discussants: ‌Akitoyo HISHIMOTO (Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan), Hirokazu MIZOGUCHI (Department of Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan)

Advances in molecular biology techniques including genetic tools have provided new knowledge and deeper insights in understanding the biological roles of the endocannabinoid system in psychiatric disorders. The remarkable advances in genetics of endocannabinoid system (ECS) are unravelling the genetic bases in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, addiction, autism spectrum disorders and neurological conditions of neuro-immune disorders. The ECS consists of two major receptors (CB1Rs and CB2Rs), endocannabinoids (eCBs) and the synthesizing and degradation enzymes for eCBs. Although CB1Rs have been well characterized, the neuronal expression of CB2Rs and their role in neuropsychiatric have been subjects of long standing controversy and debate despite new knowledge and advances. The new molecular techniques and transgenic approaches are being used to explore and identify the involvement of the elements of ECS in models of CNS function and dysfunction underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. There is also increasing global awareness and interest in regulation of brain endocannabinoid system by elements of environmental stress and age. The recent study suggest that patients derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) will be a one of the unique models for studying mental disorders. In this symposium, we provide data from our studies with a background on dysfunction of ECS genes in intermediate phenotypes of neuropsychiatric disorders, and the methods and approaches that were used to assess the neurobehavioral and molecular changes associated with the functions of specific neural networks. The age-dependent neural changes via ECS are analyzed in brains of animal models, human postmortern brains, and developmental stage of neural stem cells, neurons and glial cells from iPS cells. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which the neuro-immune crosstalk is likely to impact on risk factors contributing to neuropsychiatric disorders will be addressed. The selected speakers from Japan and USA will discuss the compelling evidence from their studies and current knowledge of CBR genetics and behavioral modifications – from mice to human subjects.