Increased levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in dyslexics

Research findings are increasingly reporting evidence of physiological abno rmalities in dyslexia and sites for dyslexia have been identified on three chromosomes. It has been suggested that genetic inheritance may cause phosp holipid abnormalities in dyslexia somewhat similar to those found in schizo phrenia. A key enzyme in phospholipid metabolism,Type IV, or cytosolic, pho spholipase A2 (cPLA2), releases arachidonic acid (AA), a 20-carbon fatty ac id, which is the major source of production of prostaglandins and leukotrie nes. An entirely new assay, which for the first time has enabled determinat ion of the amount of the enzyme rather than its activity, was used to measu re cPLA2 in dyslexic-type adults and controls and the two groups were found to differ significantly, the dyslexic-types having more of the enzyme. A r eport elsewhere of schizophrenics having even greater amounts of the enzyme suggests that dyslexia may be on a continuum with schizophrenia, as may be other neurodevelopmental disorders - which have also been described as pho spholipid spectrum disorders. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.