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Gräfe EL, Reid HMO, Shkolnikov I, Conway K, Kit A, Acosta C, Christie BR. Women are Taking the Hit: Examining the Unique Consequences of Cannabis Use Across the Female Lifespan. Front Neuroendocrinol 2023; 70:101076. [PMID: 37217080 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use has risen dramatically in recent years due to global decriminalization and a resurgence in the interest of potential therapeutic benefits. While emerging research is shaping our understanding of the benefits and harms of cannabis, there remains a paucity of data specifically focused on how cannabis affects the female population. The female experience of cannabis use is unique, both in the societal context and because of the biological ramifications. This is increasingly important given the rise in cannabis potency, as well as the implications this has for the prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Therefore, this scoping review aims to discuss the prevalence of cannabis use and CUD in women throughout their lifespan and provide a balanced prospective on the positive and negative consequences of cannabis use. In doing so, this review will highlight the necessity for continued research that goes beyond sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Gräfe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - H M O Reid
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - I Shkolnikov
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - K Conway
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - A Kit
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Acosta
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - B R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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2
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Ostlund BD, Pérez-Edgar KE, Shisler S, Terrell S, Godleski S, Schuetze P, Eiden RD. Prenatal substance exposure and maternal hostility from pregnancy to toddlerhood: Associations with temperament profiles at 16 months of age. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 33:1566-1583. [PMID: 35095214 PMCID: PMC8794013 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether infant temperament was predicted by level of and change in maternal hostility, a putative transdiagnostic vulnerability for psychopathology, substance use, and insensitive parenting. A sample of women (N = 247) who were primarily young, low-income, and had varying levels of substance use prenatally (69 nonsmokers, 81 tobacco-only smokers, and 97 tobacco and marijuana smokers) reported their hostility in the third trimester of pregnancy and at 2, 9, and 16 months postpartum, and their toddler's temperament and behavior problems at 16 months. Maternal hostility decreased from late pregnancy to 16 months postpartum. Relative to pregnant women who did not use substances, women who used both marijuana and tobacco prenatally reported higher levels of hostility while pregnant and exhibited less change in hostility over time. Toddlers who were exposed to higher levels of prenatal maternal hostility were more likely to be classified in temperament profiles that resemble either irritability or inhibition, identified via latent profile analysis. These two profiles were each associated with more behavior problems concurrently, though differed in their association with competence. Our results underscore the utility of transdiagnostic vulnerabilities in understanding the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology risk and are discussed in regards to the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan D. Ostlund
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | | | - Shannon Shisler
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, USA
| | - Sarah Terrell
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | - Stephanie Godleski
- Department of Psychology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, USA
| | - Pamela Schuetze
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Buffalo, USA
| | - Rina D. Eiden
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
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3
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Ao Z, Cai H, Havert DJ, Wu Z, Gong Z, Beggs JM, Mackie K, Guo F. One-Stop Microfluidic Assembly of Human Brain Organoids To Model Prenatal Cannabis Exposure. Anal Chem 2020; 92:4630-4638. [PMID: 32070103 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal cannabis exposure (PCE) influences human brain development, but it is challenging to model PCE using animals and current cell culture techniques. Here, we developed a one-stop microfluidic platform to assemble and culture human cerebral organoids from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to investigate the effect of PCE on early human brain development. By incorporating perfusable culture chambers, air-liquid interface, and one-stop protocol, this microfluidic platform can simplify the fabrication procedure and produce a large number of organoids (169 organoids per 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm device area) without fusion, as compared with conventional fabrication methods. These one-stop microfluidic assembled cerebral organoids not only recapitulate early human brain structure, biology, and electrophysiology but also have minimal size variation and hypoxia. Under on-chip exposure to the psychoactive cannabinoid, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cerebral organoids exhibited reduced neuronal maturation, downregulation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptors, and impaired neurite outgrowth. Moreover, transient on-chip THC treatment also decreased spontaneous firing in these organoids. This one-stop microfluidic technique enables a simple, scalable, and repeatable organoid culture method that can be used not only for human brain organoids but also for many other human organoids including liver, kidney, retina, and tumor organoids. This technology could be widely used in modeling brain and other organ development, developmental disorders, developmental pharmacology and toxicology, and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Ao
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Hongwei Cai
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Daniel J Havert
- Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Zhiyi Gong
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - John M Beggs
- Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Ken Mackie
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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4
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Rodrigues RS, Lourenço DM, Paulo SL, Mateus JM, Ferreira MF, Mouro FM, Moreira JB, Ribeiro FF, Sebastião AM, Xapelli S. Cannabinoid Actions on Neural Stem Cells: Implications for Pathophysiology. Molecules 2019; 24:E1350. [PMID: 30959794 PMCID: PMC6480122 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increase of life expectancy, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming not only a health but also a social burden worldwide. However, due to the multitude of pathophysiological disease states, current treatments fail to meet the desired outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for new therapeutic strategies focusing on more integrated, personalized and effective approaches. The prospect of using neural stem cells (NSC) as regenerative therapies is very promising, however several issues still need to be addressed. In particular, the potential actions of pharmacological agents used to modulate NSC activity are highly relevant. With the ongoing discussion of cannabinoid usage for medical purposes and reports drawing attention to the effects of cannabinoids on NSC regulation, there is an enormous, and yet, uncovered potential for cannabinoids as treatment options for several neurological disorders, specifically when combined with stem cell therapy. In this manuscript, we review in detail how cannabinoids act as potent regulators of NSC biology and their potential to modulate several neurogenic features in the context of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Diogo M Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara L Paulo
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana M Mateus
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel F Ferreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Francisco M Mouro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João B Moreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Filipa F Ribeiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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5
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Sarne Y. Beneficial and deleterious effects of cannabinoids in the brain: the case of ultra-low dose THC. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 45:551-562. [PMID: 30864864 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1578366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the neurocognitive advantages and drawbacks of cannabinoid substances, and discusses the possible physiological mechanisms that underlie their dual activity. The article further reviews the neurocognitive effects of ultra-low doses of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the conventional doses) in mice, and proposes such low doses of THC as a possible remedy for various brain injuries and for the treatment of age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sarne
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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6
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Cannabinoid signalling in the immature brain: Encephalopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 157:85-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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7
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Eiden RD, Schuetze P, Shisler S, Huestis MA. Prenatal exposure to tobacco and cannabis: Effects on autonomic and emotion regulation. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2018; 68:47-56. [PMID: 29727701 PMCID: PMC6161361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco and cannabis are often used together in pregnancy and both have effects on children's regulatory system. Yet, little is known about the impact of co-use on the development of emotion regulation at the developmentally salient age of 2 years. One pathway linking co-exposure to tobacco and cannabis to toddler regulation may be via poor autonomic regulation in infancy. In addition, substance using mothers may be more dysregulated themselves, which may have direct effects on toddler regulation, but may also affect parenting, particularly maternal sensitivity during mother-child interactions. Thus, a second pathway linking exposure to toddler regulation may be via maternal dysregulation and low maternal sensitivity. We examined a conceptual model linking prenatal exposure to toddler regulation via these two pathways in a prospective sample (N = 247) of mother-child dyads recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy. Results indicated significant effects of co-exposure on poor autonomic regulation in infancy, which in turn predicted poor toddler emotion regulation. Mothers who used both tobacco and cannabis displayed lower sensitivity during play interactions with their infants. Maternal sensitivity was modestly stable from infant to toddler period and was predictive of higher toddler emotion regulation. Continued postnatal exposure to tobacco was also a significant, unique predictor of lower toddler emotion regulation. Results highlight the importance of examining co-exposure effects and suggest that this common pattern of use may be associated with higher infant/toddler risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina D Eiden
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
| | - Pamela Schuetze
- State University of New York at Buffalo State, United States
| | | | - Marilyn A Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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8
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El Marroun H, Tiemeier H, Franken IHA, Jaddoe VWV, van der Lugt A, Verhulst FC, Lahey BB, White T. Prenatal Cannabis and Tobacco Exposure in Relation to Brain Morphology: A Prospective Neuroimaging Study in Young Children. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 79:971-9. [PMID: 26422004 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis use during pregnancy has been associated with negative behavioral outcomes and psychopathology in offspring. However, there has been little research evaluating alterations in brain structure as a result of maternal cannabis use. In this prospective study, we investigated the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and brain morphology in young children. METHODS We matched 96 children prenatally exposed to tobacco only (without cannabis) with 113 unexposed control subjects on the basis of age and gender and subsequently selected 54 children exposed to prenatal cannabis (mostly combined with tobacco exposure). These children (aged 6 to 8 years) were part of a population-based study in the Netherlands, the Generation R Study, and were followed from pregnancy onward. We assessed brain volumetric measures and cortical thickness in magnetic resonance imaging scans using FreeSurfer. We performed vertexwise analyses in FreeSurfer and linear regression analyses adjusting for relevant covariates using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS Prenatal cannabis exposure was not associated with global brain volumes, such as total brain volume, gray matter volume, or white matter volume. However, prenatal cannabis exposure was associated with differences in cortical thickness: compared with nonexposed control subjects, cannabis-exposed children had thicker frontal cortices. Prenatal tobacco exposure compared with nonexposed control subjects was associated with cortical thinning, primarily in the superior frontal and superior parietal cortices. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest an association between prenatal cannabis exposure and cortical thickness in children. Further research is needed to explore the causal nature of this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Generation R Study Group, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingmar H A Franken
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- Generation R Study Group, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Departments of Pediatrics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aad van der Lugt
- Radiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank C Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin B Lahey
- Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Departments of Pediatrics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Scientific Opinion on the risks for human health related to the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in milk and other food of animal origin. EFSA J 2015. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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10
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Lubman DI, Cheetham A, Yücel M. Cannabis and adolescent brain development. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 148:1-16. [PMID: 25460036 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heavy cannabis use has been frequently associated with increased rates of mental illness and cognitive impairment, particularly amongst adolescent users. However, the neurobiological processes that underlie these associations are still not well understood. In this review, we discuss the findings of studies examining the acute and chronic effects of cannabis use on the brain, with a particular focus on the impact of commencing use during adolescence. Accumulating evidence from both animal and human studies suggests that regular heavy use during this period is associated with more severe and persistent negative outcomes than use during adulthood, suggesting that the adolescent brain may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cannabis exposure. As the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in brain development, it is plausible that prolonged use during adolescence results in a disruption in the normative neuromaturational processes that occur during this period. We identify synaptic pruning and white matter development as two processes that may be adversely impacted by cannabis exposure during adolescence. Potentially, alterations in these processes may underlie the cognitive and emotional deficits that have been associated with regular use commencing during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan I Lubman
- Turning Point, Eastern Health and Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ali Cheetham
- Turning Point, Eastern Health and Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Murat Yücel
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia; Monash Clinical & Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Wu HY, Goble K, Mecha M, Wang CC, Huang CH, Guaza C, Jan TR. Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis in murine microglial cells through lipid raft. Glia 2012; 60:1182-90. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.22345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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12
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Sarne Y, Asaf F, Fishbein M, Gafni M, Keren O. The dual neuroprotective-neurotoxic profile of cannabinoid drugs. Br J Pharmacol 2012; 163:1391-401. [PMID: 21323910 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01280.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that cannabinoid drugs have neuroprotective properties and suggested that the endocannabinoid system may be involved in endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms. On the other hand, neurotoxic effects of cannabinoids in vitro and in vivo were also described. Several possible explanations for these dual, opposite effects of cannabinoids on cellular fate were suggested, and it is conceivable that various factors may determine the final outcome of the cannabinoid effect in vivo. In the current review, we focus on one of the possible reasons for the dual neuroprotective/neurotoxic effects of cannabinoids in vivo, namely, the opposite effects of low versus high doses of cannabinoids. While many studies reported neuroprotective effects of the conventional doses of cannabinoids in various experimental models for acute brain injuries, we have shown that a single administration of an extremely low dose of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the conventional doses) to mice induced long-lasting mild cognitive deficits that affected various aspects of memory and learning. These findings led to the idea that this low dose of THC, which induces minor damage to the brain, may activate preconditioning and/or postconditioning mechanisms and thus will protect the brain from more severe insults. Indeed, our recent findings support this assumption and show that a pre- or a postconditioning treatment with extremely low doses of THC, several days before or after brain injury, provides effective long-term cognitive neuroprotection. The future therapeutical potential of these findings is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sarne
- The Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases and The Mauerberger Chair in Neuropharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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13
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Jeon P, Yang S, Jeong H, Kim H. Cannabinoid receptor agonist protects cultured dopaminergic neurons from the death by the proteasomal dysfunction. Anat Cell Biol 2011; 44:135-42. [PMID: 21829757 PMCID: PMC3145842 DOI: 10.5115/acb.2011.44.2.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Revised: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids have been proposed to possess neuroprotective properties; though their mechanism of action remains contentious, they are posited to prevent neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, the pathogenesis of which has not been established. Recent studies have demonstrated that induction of proteasomal dysfunction in animal models results in a phenotype similar to Parkinson's disease. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective function of a synthetic cannabinoid-receptor agonist (WIN55.212.2) in dopaminergic neuronal death induced by a proteasomal synthase inhibitor (PSI), additionally testing the hypothesis that WIN55.212.2 modulates cytoplasmic accumulation of parkin and α-synuclein, a key feature of proteasomal dysfunction in Parkinson's. WIN55.212.2 protects PC12 cells from PSI-induced cytotoxicity, concomitantly inhibiting PSI-induced polyADP ribose polymerase expression and activation of caspase-3. While PSI induces cytoplasmic accumulation of α-synuclein and parkin, WIN55.212.2 counters these effects. Interestingly, however, while PSI induces the activation and nuclear translocalization of nuclear factor κB, WIN55.212.2 potentiates this effect. These data are suggestive that WIN55.212.2 might confer a neuroprotective benefit in PSI-induced proteasomal dysfunction, and could further protect against neuronal degeneration stemming from cytoplasmic accumulation of α-synuclein and parkin. These results indicate that WIN55.212.2 may be a candidate for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Posung Jeon
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dong-Eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea
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14
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Dual Neuroprotective and Neurotoxic Effects of Cannabinoid Drugs in Vitro. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2010; 31:195-202. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-010-9604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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15
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Alvaro-Bartolomé M, Esteban S, García-Gutiérrez MS, Manzanares J, Valverde O, García-Sevilla JA. Regulation of Fas receptor/Fas-associated protein with death domain apoptotic complex and associated signalling systems by cannabinoid receptors in the mouse brain. Br J Pharmacol 2010; 160:643-56. [PMID: 20590568 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00710.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Natural and synthetic cannabinoids (CBs) induce deleterious or beneficial actions on neuronal survival. The Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) promotes apoptosis, and its phosphorylated form (p-FADD) mediates non-apoptotic actions. The regulation of Fas/FADD, mitochondrial apoptotic proteins and other pathways by CB receptors was investigated in the mouse brain. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Wild-type, CB(1) and CB(2) receptor knock-out (KO) mice were used to assess differences in receptor genotypes. CD1 mice were used to evaluate the effects of CB drugs on canonical apoptotic pathways and associated signalling systems. Target proteins were quantified by Western blot analysis. KEY RESULTS In brain regions of CB(1) receptor KO mice, Fas/FADD was reduced, but p-Ser191 FADD and the p-FADD/FADD ratio were increased. In CB(2) receptor KO mice, Fas/FADD was increased, but the p-FADD/FADD ratio was not modified. In mutant mice, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) did not indicate alterations in brain cell death. In CD1 mice, acute WIN55212-2 (CB(1) receptor agonist), but not JWH133 (CB(2) receptor agonist), inversely modulated brain FADD and p-FADD. Chronic WIN55212-2 induced FADD down-regulation and p-FADD up-regulation. Acute and chronic WIN55212-2 did not alter mitochondrial proteins or PARP cleavage. Acute, but not chronic, WIN55212-2 stimulated activation of anti-apoptotic (ERK, Akt) and pro-apoptotic (JNK, p38 kinase) pathways. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS CB(1) receptors appear to exert a modest tonic activation of Fas/FADD complexes in brain. However, chronic CB(1) receptor stimulation decreased pro-apoptotic FADD and increased non-apoptotic p-FADD. The multifunctional protein FADD could participate in the mechanisms of neuroprotection induced by CBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Alvaro-Bartolomé
- Laboratori de Neurofarmacologia, IUNICS, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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16
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Abstract
ISSUES Marijuana and hashish consist of at least 66 distinctive plant-derived (phyto-) cannabinoid compounds, with tetrahydrocannabinoids proving the most effective phytocannabinoid psychotropically. Despite the known pharmacological effects of phytocannabinoids, their role in controlling the cell survival/death decision in cells of the CNS continues to be unravelled. APPROACH In this review, we examine the influence of phytocannabinoids on neural cell fate, with particular emphasis on how the time of marijuana exposure (neonatal vs. pubertal vs. adult) might influence the neurotoxic activities of phytocannabinoid compounds. KEY FINDINGS Evidence in the literature indicates that exposure to phytocannabinoids during the prenatal period, in addition to the adolescent period, can alter the temporally ordered sequence of events that occur during neurotransmitter development, in addition to negatively impacting neural cell survival and maturation. Regarding the effect of marijuana consumption on brain composition in adults the evidence is contradictory. IMPLICATIONS Exposure to marijuana during pregnancy might impact negatively on brain structure in the first years of postnatal life. Furthermore, early-onset (before age 17) marijuana use might also have damaging effects on brain composition. CONCLUSION The neonatal and immature CNS is more susceptible to phytocannabinoid damage. In the adult CNS the data are conflicting and the continued development of methods to assess whether marijuana consumption results in brain atrophy or morphometric changes will determine if structural changes are occurring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Downer
- Physiology Department, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland.
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17
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Trazzi S, Steger M, Mitrugno VM, Bartesaghi R, Ciani E. CB1 cannabinoid receptors increase neuronal precursor proliferation through AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/beta-catenin signaling. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:10098-10109. [PMID: 20083607 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.043711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of many physiological effects in the central and peripheral nervous system. Recent findings have demonstrated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system within neuronal progenitors located in the hippocampus and ventricular/subventricular zone that participates in the regulation of cell proliferation. It is presently unknown whether the endocannabinoid system exerts a widespread effect on neuronal precursors from different neurogenic regions, and very little is known about the signaling by which it regulates neuronal precursor proliferation. Herein, we demonstrate the presence of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in granule cell precursors (GCPs) during early cerebellar development. Activation of CB(1) receptors by HU-210 promoted GCP proliferation in vitro, an effect that was prevented by a selective CB(1) antagonist. Accordingly, in vivo experiments showed that GCP proliferation was increased by chronic HU-210 treatment and that in CB(1)-deficient mice cell proliferation was significantly lower than in wild-type littermates, indicating that the endocannabinoid system is physiologically involved in regulation of GCP proliferation. The pro-proliferative effect of cannabinoids in GCPs was mediated through the CB(1)/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/beta-catenin pathway. Involvement of this pathway was also observed in cultures of neuronal precursors from the subventricular zone, suggesting that this pathway may be a general mechanism by which endocannabinoids regulate proliferation of neuronal precursors. These observations suggest that endocannabinoids constitute a new family of lipid signaling cues that may exert a widespread effect on neuronal precursor proliferation during brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Trazzi
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna
| | - Martin Steger
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna
| | - Valentina Maria Mitrugno
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna
| | - Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna
| | - Elisabetta Ciani
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna; Center for Applied Biomedical Research, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
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18
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Gowran A, Murphy CE, Campbell VA. Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol regulates the p53 post-translational modifiers Murine double minute 2 and the Small Ubiquitin MOdifier protein in the rat brain. FEBS Lett 2009; 583:3412-8. [PMID: 19819240 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2009] [Revised: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 09/30/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The phytocannabinoid Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, activates a number of signalling cascades including p53. This study examines the role of Delta(9)-THC in regulating the p53 post-translational modifier proteins, Murine double minute (Mdm2) and Small Ubquitin-like MOdifier protein 1 (SUMO-1) in cortical neurons. Delta(9)-THC increased both Mdm2 and SUMO-1 protein expression and induced the deSUMOylation of p53 in a cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB(1))-receptor dependent manner. We demonstrate that Delta(9)-THC decreased the SUMOylation of the CB(1) receptor. The data reveal a novel role for cannabinoid receptor activation in modulating the SUMO regulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife Gowran
- Department of Physiology, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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19
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Ferriero DM. Cannabinoids--can what hurts you make you stronger? Commentary on the article by Alvarez et al. on page 653. Pediatr Res 2008; 64:590-1. [PMID: 19034198 DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3181894a3e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Ferriero
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0663, USA.
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20
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Gowran A, Campbell VA. A role for p53 in the regulation of lysosomal permeability by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in rat cortical neurones: implications for neurodegeneration. J Neurochem 2008; 105:1513-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05278.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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