Aperçu de la recherche sur l'oxycologie humaine

Aperçu: G.M.

À ce jour, la recherche a principalement tenté d'établir des effets fonctionnels en mesurant des concentrations endogènes altérées, en observant les effets de l'administration exogène et en étudiant les effets des polymorphismes et des modifications épigénétiques du gène du récepteur de l'ocytocine.

Les chercheurs résument quelques-uns des principaux résultats sur les effets comportementaux et neurologiques qui ont été signalés chez des sujets sains dans le contexte de la cognition sociale qui ont encouragé l'ocytocine à représenter une cible thérapeutique prometteuse. Ils ont aussi identifié un certain nombre de domaines clés dans lesquels il existe un besoin d'informations supplémentaires sur les stratégies de dosage optimales et les interactions avec d'autres systèmes de peptides et d'émetteurs. Enfin, ils ont résumé les résultats thérapeutiques de l'administration d'oxytocine intranasale dans l'autisme et la schizophrénie. 

Les résultats cliniques, bien que variés, offrent une cause d'optimisme croissante sur le fait que le ciblage du système d'ocytocine peut constituer une approche thérapeutique réussie pour le dysfonctionnement social. 

 

Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2017 Sep 2. doi: 10.1007/7854_2017_19.

Overview of Human Oxytocin Research

Kendrick KM¹, Guastella AJ^2,3, Becker B⁴.

Author information

1

Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. k.kendrick.uestc@gmail.com.

2

Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. adam.guastella@sydney.edu.au.

3

Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. adam.guastella@sydney.edu.au.

4

Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. ben_becker@gmx.de.

Abstract

Social dysfunction is a core symptom of many psychiatric disorders and current medications have little or no remedial effects on this. Following on from extensive studies on animal models demonstrating that the neuropeptide oxytocin plays an important role in social recognition and bonding, human-based research has explored its therapeutic potential for social dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. Here we outline the historical background of this human-based research and some of the current methodological challenges it is facing. To date, research has primarily attempted to establish functional effects through measuring altered endogenous concentrations, observing effects of exogenous administration and by investigating the effects of polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications of the oxytocin receptor gene. We summarize some of the key findings on behavioral and neural effects that have been reported in healthy subjects in the context of social cognition which have provided encouragement that oxytocin could represent a promising therapeutic target. At the same time, we have identified a number of key areas where we urgently need further information about optimal dosing strategies and interactions with other peptide and transmitter systems. Finally, we have summarized current translational findings, particularly in the context of therapeutic outcomes of intranasal oxytocin administration in autism and schizophrenia. These clinical findings while somewhat varied in outcome do offer increasing cause for optimism that targeting the oxytocin system may provide a successful therapeutic approach for social dysfunction. However, future research needs to focus on the most effective treatment strategy and which types of individuals are likely to benefit most.

PMID:28864976

DOI:10.1007/7854_2017_19