Recently, Professor Chen Zhong’s team from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (ZCMU) published the latest findings online in the authoritative international neuroscience journal Neuron, titled “Deficiency of histamine H₂ receptors in parvalbumin-positive neurons leads to hyperactivity, impulsivity, and impaired attention”. The study elucidated the pathological mechanisms underlying attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and revealed a novel function of H₂R, providing a potential precise drug target for the clinical treatment of ADHD.

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, primarily characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, affecting approximately 4% of the global population. Its underlying mechanism is associated with dysfunction in the dopaminergic system. Existing medications often lead to side effects due to their lack of precise targets, necessitating the exploration of new precise therapeutic targets.

Figure 1. Deficiency of H₂R in SNr PV⁺ neurons leads to hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention

Figure 2. The role of H₂R in PV⁺ neurons in the pathogenesis of ADHD

The first author of this article is Dr. An Dadao, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ZCMU, with Dr. You Yi from Zhejiang University (ZJU) as a co-first author. The corresponding authors are Professor Hu Weiwei from the School of Basic Medical Sciences at ZJU and Professor Chen Zhong from ZCMU. The study also received support from Dr. Wang Yiquan, Professor Wang Yi, Professor Dai Haibin, Researcher Li Haohong, and Associate Professor Jiang Lei. The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 plan, the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation, and the Starry Night Science Fund at Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study, Zhejiang University.

The link to the article:https://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(24)00880-8