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Miranda-Olivos R, Baenas I, Steward T, Granero R, Pastor A, Sánchez I, Juaneda-Seguí A, Del Pino-Gutiérrez A, Fernández-Formoso JA, Vilarrasa N, Guerrero-Pérez F, Virgili N, López-Urdiales R, Jiménez-Murcia S, de la Torre R, Soriano-Mas C, Fernández-Aranda F. Exploring the influence of circulating endocannabinoids and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity on anorexia nervosa severity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4793-4800. [PMID: 37759041 PMCID: PMC10914605 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02253-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by a harmful persistence of self-imposed starvation resulting in significant weight loss. Research suggests that alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and circulating endocannabinoids (eCBs), such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), may contribute to increased severity and maladaptive behaviors in AN, warranting an examination of the interplay between central reward circuitry and eCBs. For this purpose, we assessed NAcc functional connectivity and circulating AEA and 2-AG concentrations in 18 individuals with AN and 18 healthy controls (HC) to test associations between circulating eCBs, NAcc functional connectivity, and AN severity, as defined by body mass index (BMI). Decreased connectivity was observed between the NAcc and the right insula (NAcc-insula; pFWE < 0.001) and the left supplementary motor area (NAcc-SMA; pFWE < 0.001) in the AN group compared to HC. Reduced NAcc-insula functional connectivity mediated the association between AEA concentrations and BMI in the AN group. However, in HC, NAcc-SMA functional connectivity had a mediating role between AEA concentrations and BMI. Although no significant differences in eCBs concentrations were observed between the groups, our findings provide insights into how the interaction between eCBs and NAcc functional connectivity influences AN severity. Altered NAcc-insula and NAcc-SMA connectivity in AN may impair the integration of interoceptive, somatosensory, and motor planning information related to reward stimuli. Furthermore, the distinct associations between eCBs concentrations and NAcc functional connectivity in AN and HC could have clinical implications for weight maintenance, with eCBs being a potential target for AN treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Miranda-Olivos
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Baenas
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Roser Granero
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience research group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Sánchez
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asier Juaneda-Seguí
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, 28029, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amparo Del Pino-Gutiérrez
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Perinatal Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Formoso
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Vilarrasa
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERDEM-CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Guerrero-Pérez
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Virgili
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael López-Urdiales
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience research group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS-UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Ciber de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, 28029, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
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Rogers CI, Pacanowski CR. The relationship between cannabis and anorexia nervosa: a scoping review. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:186. [PMID: 37858278 PMCID: PMC10585887 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00887-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapse rates in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) remain high, warranting exploration of further treatments. Cannabinoid agonists are of interest as they have shown successful outcomes in the treatment of associated conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. This scoping review explores the endocannabinoid system (ECS), benefits/harms/null effects of cannabinoid treatment, and harms of cannabis use in AN. METHODS PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for studies published between 2010 and August 2023, with human participants that explored the ECS, cannabinoid treatment, or cannabis use, and included 1 or more keywords for both cannabis and AN in the title and or abstract. Reports describing secondary anorexia, reports not available in English, grey literature, reports combining data from AN with other conditions, and reports only reporting the prevalence of cannabis abuse/dependence were excluded. Data were extracted from 17 reports (n = 15 studies). For the ECS, outcomes included genetics such as allele expression related to the ECS, cannabinoid receptor availability, and circulating levels of endocannabinoids. For benefits/harms/null effects of cannabinoid treatment, outcomes included changes in weight, eating disorder (ED) symptoms, physical activity (PA), and hormones. For harms of cannabis use, outcomes included genetics related to cannabis use disorder and associations between cannabis use and ED symptoms. RESULTS Eight studies (n = 8 reports) found abnormalities in the ECS in AN including expression of related alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes, availability of cannabinoid receptors, and levels of endocannabinoids. Three studies (n = 5 reports) found benefits/harms/null effects of cannabinoid treatment. Benefits included weight gain, improved ED symptoms and reduced PA, while null effects included no changes in weight or ED symptoms, and harms included increased PA and lowered adipose hormones. Four studies (n = 4 reports) expanded upon harms of cannabis use, including genetic predispositions to cannabis use disorder, and compensatory behaviors related to cannabis use. CONCLUSION Limited evidence suggests that abnormalities in the ECS in AN may render cannabis a potential treatment for weight restoration and associated symptoms. Future research may wish to investigate individualized dosing approaches to maximize beneficial effects while minimizing harms. Level II Evidence: Scoping Review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe I Rogers
- Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
| | - Carly R Pacanowski
- Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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Tam FI, Steding J, Steinhäuser JL, Ritschel F, Gao W, Weidner K, Roessner V, Kirschbaum C, Ehrlich S. Hair endocannabinoid concentrations in individuals with acute and weight-recovered anorexia nervosa. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 107:110243. [PMID: 33444649 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocannabinoid system has been suggested to modulate energy metabolism and stress response and could be an important factor in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). In the context of AN, excessive physical activity may influence endocannabinoid concentrations. The objective of this study was to investigate hair endocannabinoid concentrations at different stages of the disorder. Measurement in hair allows for a cumulative assessment of endocannabinoid concentrations independent of circadian rhythms. METHODS In a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we measured hair concentrations of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol and the endocannabinoid-related compounds palmitoylethanolamide, oleoylethanolamide, and stearoylethanolamide in female underweight patients with acute AN (n = 67, reassessment of n = 47 after short-term weight restoration with a body mass index increase of at least 14%), individuals long-term recovered from AN (n = 27), and healthy control participants (n = 84). RESULTS Hair concentrations of anandamide and all endocannabinoid-related compounds were elevated in acute AN and decreased over the course of short-term weight restoration. Anandamide concentrations remained elevated in long-term recovered AN patients. In long-term recovered patients, physical activity correlated positively with the concentrations of all endocannabinoid-related compounds. CONCLUSION The current study provides evidence for a significant alteration of the endocannabinoid system in acute AN, which may partly persist into long-term recovery. The endocannabinoid system may be a possible target for pharmaceutical interventions in AN, which should be explored in further preclinical and subsequently clinical randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike I Tam
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julius Steding
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jonas L Steinhäuser
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Franziska Ritschel
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wei Gao
- Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital C. G. Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Rohbeck E, Eckel J, Romacho T. Cannabinoid Receptors in Metabolic Regulation and Diabetes. Physiology (Bethesda) 2021; 36:102-113. [PMID: 33595385 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00029.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for developing effective drugs to combat the obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemics. The endocannabinoid system plays a major role in energy homeostasis. It comprises the cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), endogenous ligands called endocannabinoids and their metabolizing enzymes. Because the CB1 receptor is overactivated in metabolic alterations, pharmacological blockade of the CB1 receptor arose as a promising candidate to treat obesity. However, because of the wide distribution of CB1 receptors in the central nervous system, their negative central effects halted further therapeutic use. Although the CB2 receptor is mostly peripherally expressed, its role in metabolic homeostasis remains unclear. This review discusses the potential of CB1 and CB2 receptors at the peripheral level to be therapeutic targets in metabolic diseases. We focus on the impact of pharmacological intervention and/or silencing on peripheral cannabinoid receptors in organs/tissues relevant for energy homeostasis. Moreover, we provide a perspective on novel therapeutic strategies modulating these receptors. Targeting CB1 with peripherally restricted antagonists, neutral antagonists, inverse agonists, or monoclonal antibodies could represent successful strategies. CB2 agonism has shown promising results at preclinical level. Beyond classic antagonism and agonism targeting orthosteric sites, the recently described crystal structures of CB1 and CB2 open new possibilities for therapeutic interventions with negative and positive allosteric modulators. The challenge of simultaneously targeting CB1 and CB2 might be possible by developing dual-steric ligands. The future will tell whether these promising strategies result in a renaissance of the cannabinoid receptors as therapeutic targets in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Rohbeck
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Juergen Eckel
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tania Romacho
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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