Basic validation studies of endocannabinoids levels in hair for use in psychological and biomedical research
Final Report Abstract
Hair analyses for endogenous substances are increasingly employed to investigate biological mechanisms linking, e.g., chronic stress to mental health or cognitive performance. Hair analyses provide a highly promising methodological approach, since it allows for a retrospective account of long-term exposure to endogenous and exogenous substances. Endocannabinoids have been proposed to fulfil important roles in stress-related processes and in the development of anxiety and affective disorders, respectively. The present project aims at the investigation of the fundamental information regarding the validity and reliability of hair endocannabinoids to characterize the body´s endocannabinoid system, as well as the application of hair EC in the studies of stress-related populations to further validate the usefulness of hair ECs assessment. No relationship was found between the EC and NAE levels in hair and in plasma. And gender, age, BMI, waist circumference, medication and illegal drug use, hair washing frequency were identified as potentially associated with hair EC and NAE levels and should be considered in future studies. On the other hand, hair dyeing, smoking status, alcohol consumption and perceived stress were not associated with hair EC and NAE levels in the present study. Furthermore, a high level of intra-individual relative stability was found in hair endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamine concentrations over an extended period of time. Finally, our project first mapped cross-sectional and longitudinal cross-lagged associations between depressive symptoms, burnout symptoms and hair endocannabinoid and cortisol levels. In conclusion, hair levels of EC and NAE can thus provide trait biomarkers for the individual under study and may add important information about fundamental associations between psychological states, bodily responses, and health. The demonstration of the usefulness of hair eCBs and NAEs analysis may spark the interest of basic researchers and clinicians alike to unravel the contributions of endocannabinoids to human health and diseases.
Publications
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Determination of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in human hair with LC-MS/MS and their relation to symptoms of depression, burnout, and anxiety. Talanta, 217, 121006.
Gao, Wei; Walther, Andreas; Wekenborg, Magdalena; Penz, Marlene & Kirschbaum, Clemens
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Intra-individual stability of hair endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamine concentrations. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 133 (2021, 11), 105395.
Gao, Wei; Schmidt, Kornelius; Enge, Sören & Kirschbaum, Clemens
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The assessment of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in human hair: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological variables. Clinica Chimica Acta, 537 (2022, 12), 1-8.
Gao, Wei; Anna, Valdimarsdóttir Unnur; Hauksdóttir, Arna; Eyrún, Torfadóttir Jóhanna & Kirschbaum, Clemens
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Depressive symptoms are negatively associated with hair N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) levels: A cross-lagged panel analysis of four annual assessment waves examining hair endocannabinoids and cortisol. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 121, 110658.
Walther, Andreas; Kirschbaum, Clemens; Wehrli, Susanne; Rothe, Nicole; Penz, Marlene; Wekenborg, Magdalena & Gao, Wei
