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Mazzantini C, El Bourji Z, Parisio C, Davolio PL, Cocchi A, Pellegrini-Giampietro DE, Landucci E. Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol and Beta-Caryophyllene Alone or Combined in an In Vitro Inflammation Model. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:467. [PMID: 38675427 PMCID: PMC11055086 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabis contains over 500 different compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive constituent, whereas beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is one of most the well-known terpenoids of Cannabis sativa. In recent years, there has been an emerging idea that the beneficial activities of these compounds are greater when they are combined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of CBD and BCP using the in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells. The vitality of the cells was quantified using LDH and MTT assays. The levels of the following pro-inflammatory proteins and genes were quantified: IL-1β, COX-2, and phospho-NF-κB p65 (p-p65) through Western blotting (WB) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). When present in the incubation medium, CBD and BCP reduced the increased levels of pro-inflammatory proteins (IL-1β, COX-2, and p-NF-kB) induced by LPS. The anti-inflammatory effects of CBD were blocked by a PPARγ antagonist, whereas a CB2 antagonist was able to revert the effects of BCP. Selected concentrations of CBD and BCP were able to revert the increases in the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), and these effects were significant when the drugs were used in combination. Our results suggest that CBD and BCP work in concert to produce a major anti-inflammatory effect with good safety profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Mazzantini
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (C.M.); (Z.E.B.); (D.E.P.-G.)
| | - Zahraa El Bourji
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (C.M.); (Z.E.B.); (D.E.P.-G.)
| | - Carmen Parisio
- Farmacia del Madonnone, Via Aretina 9R, 50135 Florence, Italy; (C.P.); (P.L.D.)
| | - Pier Luigi Davolio
- Farmacia del Madonnone, Via Aretina 9R, 50135 Florence, Italy; (C.P.); (P.L.D.)
| | - Arianna Cocchi
- Tuscopharm srl, Viale Giacomo Leopardi 45, 57121 Livorno, Italy;
| | - Domenico E. Pellegrini-Giampietro
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (C.M.); (Z.E.B.); (D.E.P.-G.)
| | - Elisa Landucci
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (C.M.); (Z.E.B.); (D.E.P.-G.)
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Chen I, Murdaugh LB, Miliano C, Dong Y, Gregus AM, Buczynski MW. NAPE-PLD regulates specific baseline affective behaviors but is dispensable for inflammatory hyperalgesia. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100135. [PMID: 38099275 PMCID: PMC10719515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
N-acyl-ethanolamine (NAEs) serve as key endogenous lipid mediators as revealed by manipulation of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary enzyme responsible for metabolizing NAEs. Preclinical studies focused on FAAH or NAE receptors indicate an important role for NAE signaling in nociception and affective behaviors. However, there is limited information on the role of NAE biosynthesis in these same behavioral paradigms. Biosynthesis of NAEs has been attributed largely to the enzyme N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine Phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), one of three pathways capable of producing these bioactive lipids in the brain. In this report, we demonstrate that Nape-pld knockout (KO) mice displayed reduced sucrose preference and consumption, but other baseline anxiety-like or depression-like behaviors were unaltered. Additionally, we observed sex-dependent responses in thermal nociception and other baseline measures in wildtype (WT) mice that were absent in Nape-pld KO mice. In the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) model of inflammatory arthritis, WT mice exhibited sex-dependent changes in paw edema that were lost in Nape-pld KO mice. However, there was no effect of Nape-pld deletion on arthritic pain-like behaviors (grip force deficit and tactile allodynia) in either sex, indicating that while NAPE-PLD may alter local inflammation, it does not contribute to pain-like behaviors associated with inflammatory arthritis. Collectively, these findings indicate that chronic and systemic NAPE-PLD inactivation will likely be well-tolerated, warranting further pharmacological evaluation of this target in other disease indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Chen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Laura B. Murdaugh
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Cristina Miliano
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Yuyang Dong
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ann M. Gregus
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Buczynski
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Maccarrone M. Need for Methods to Investigate Endocannabinoid Signaling. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2576:1-8. [PMID: 36152173 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2728-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are endogenous lipids able to bind to cannabinoid receptors, the primary molecular targets of the cannabis (Cannabis sativa) active principle Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. During the last 20 years, several N-acylethanolamines and acylesters have been shown to act as eCBs, and a complex array of receptors, metabolic enzymes, and transporters (that altogether form the so-called "eCB system") has been shown to finely tune their manifold biological activities. It appears now urgent to develop methods and protocols that allow to assay in a specific and quantitative manner the distinct components of the eCB system and that can properly localize them within the cell. A brief overview of eCBs and of the proteins that bind, transport, and metabolize these lipids is presented here, in orderto put in a better perspective, the relevance of methodologies that help to disclose molecular details of eCB signaling in health and disease. Proper methodological approaches form also the basis for a more rationale and effective drug design and therapeutic strategy to combat human disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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Gómez-Cañas M, Rodríguez-Cueto C, Satta V, Hernández-Fisac I, Navarro E, Fernández-Ruiz J. Endocannabinoid-Binding Receptors as Drug Targets. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2576:67-94. [PMID: 36152178 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2728-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis plant has been used from ancient times with therapeutic purposes for treating human pathologies, but the identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic properties of the phytocannabinoids, the active compounds in this plant, occurred in the last years of the past century. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, seminal studies demonstrated the existence of cannabinoid receptors and other elements of the so-called endocannabinoid system. These G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a key element in the functions assigned to endocannabinoids and appear to serve as promising pharmacological targets. They include CB1, CB2, and GPR55, but also non-GPCRs can be activated by endocannabinoids, like ionotropic receptor TRPV1 and even nuclear receptors of the PPAR family. Their activation, inhibition, or simply modulation have been associated with numerous physiological effects at both central and peripheral levels, which may have therapeutic value in different human pathologies, then providing a solid experimental explanation for both the ancient medicinal uses of Cannabis plant and the recent advances in the development of cannabinoid-based specific therapies. This chapter will review the scientific knowledge generated in the last years around the research on the different endocannabinoid-binding receptors and their signaling mechanisms. Our intention is that this knowledge may help readers to understand the relevance of these receptors in health and disease conditions, as well as it may serve as the theoretical basis for the different experimental protocols to investigate these receptors and their signaling mechanisms that will be described in the following chapters.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Gómez-Cañas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Rodríguez-Cueto
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Valentina Satta
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Hernández-Fisac
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Navarro
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
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Cannabinoids and Chronic Liver Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169423. [PMID: 36012687 PMCID: PMC9408890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD), and viral hepatitis are the main causes of morbidity and mortality related to chronic liver diseases (CLDs) worldwide. New therapeutic approaches to prevent or reverse these liver disorders are thus emerging. Although their etiologies differ, these CLDs all have in common a significant dysregulation of liver metabolism that is closely linked to the perturbation of the hepatic endocannabinoid system (eCBS) and inflammatory pathways. Therefore, targeting the hepatic eCBS might have promising therapeutic potential to overcome CLDs. Experimental models of CLDs and observational studies in humans suggest that cannabis and its derivatives may exert hepatoprotective effects against CLDs through diverse pathways. However, these promising therapeutic benefits are not yet fully validated, as the few completed clinical trials on phytocannabinoids, which are thought to hold the most promising therapeutic potential (cannabidiol or tetrahydrocannabivarin), remained inconclusive. Therefore, expanding research on less studied phytocannabinoids and their derivatives, with a focus on their mode of action on liver metabolism, might provide promising advances in the development of new and original therapeutics for the management of CLDs, such as NAFLD, ALD, or even hepatitis C-induced liver disorders.
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Effects of Rare Phytocannabinoids on the Endocannabinoid System of Human Keratinocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105430. [PMID: 35628241 PMCID: PMC9145865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The decriminalization and legalization of cannabis has paved the way for investigations into the potential of the use of phytocannabinoids (pCBs) as natural therapeutics for the treatment of human diseases. This growing interest has recently focused on rare (less abundant) pCBs that are non-psychotropic compounds, such as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Notably, pCBs can act via the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in the regulation of key pathophysiological processes, and also in the skin. In this study, we used human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) as an in vitro model that expresses all major ECS elements in order to systematically investigate the effects of CBG, CBC, THCV and CBGA. To this end, we analyzed the gene and protein expression of ECS components (receptors: CB1, CB2, GPR55, TRPV1 and PPARα/γ/δ; enzymes: NAPE-PLD, FAAH, DAGLα/β and MAGL) using qRT-PCR and Western blotting, along with assessments of their functionality using radioligand binding and activity assays. In addition, we quantified the content of endocannabinoid(-like) compounds (AEA, 2-AG, PEA, etc.) using UHPLC-MS/MS. Our results demonstrated that rare pCBs modulate the gene and protein expression of distinct ECS elements differently, as well as the content of endocannabinoid(-like) compounds. Notably, they all increased CB1/2 binding, TRPV1 channel stimulation and FAAH and MAGL catalytic activity. These unprecedented observations should be considered when exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis extracts for the treatment of human skin diseases.
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Molecular Alterations of the Endocannabinoid System in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094764. [PMID: 35563156 PMCID: PMC9104141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic benefits of the current medications for patients with psychiatric disorders contrast with a great variety of adverse effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) components have gained high interest as potential new targets for treating psychiatry diseases because of their neuromodulator role, which is essential to understanding the regulation of many brain functions. This article reviewed the molecular alterations in ECS occurring in different psychiatric conditions. The methods used to identify alterations in the ECS were also described. We used a translational approach. The animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neurochemical aspects of psychiatric disorders and the molecular alterations in clinical studies in post-mortem brain tissue or peripheral tissues were analyzed. This article reviewed the most relevant ECS changes in prevalent psychiatric diseases such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism, attentional deficit, eating disorders (ED), and addiction. The review concludes that clinical research studies are urgently needed for two different purposes: (1) To identify alterations of the ECS components potentially useful as new biomarkers relating to a specific disease or condition, and (2) to design new therapeutic targets based on the specific alterations found to improve the pharmacological treatment in psychiatry.
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Neurological Benefits, Clinical Challenges, and Neuropathologic Promise of Medical Marijuana: A Systematic Review of Cannabinoid Effects in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Models of Demyelination. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030539. [PMID: 35327341 PMCID: PMC8945692 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite current therapeutic strategies for immunomodulation and relief of symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), remyelination falls short due to dynamic neuropathologic deterioration and relapses, leading to accrual of disability and associated patient dissatisfaction. The potential of cannabinoids includes add-on immunosuppressive, analgesic, neuroprotective, and remyelinative effects. This study evaluates the efficacy of medical marijuana in MS and its experimental animal models. A systematic review was conducted by a literature search through PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCO electronic databases for studies reported since 2007 on the use of cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in MS and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD), and toxin-induced demyelination models. Study selection and data extraction were performed by 3 reviewers, and 28 studies were selected for inclusion. The certainty of evidence was appraised using the Cochrane GRADE approach. In clinical studies, there was low- and moderate-quality evidence that treatment with ~1:1 CBD/THC mixtures as a nabiximols (Sativex®) oromucosal spray reduced numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for spasticity, pain, and sleep disturbance, diminished bladder overactivity, and decreased proinflammatory cytokine and transcription factor expression levels. Preclinical studies demonstrated decreases in disease severity, hindlimb stiffness, motor function, neuroinflammation, and demyelination. Other experimental systems showed the capacity of cannabinoids to promote remyelination in vitro and by electron microscopy. Modest short-term benefits were realized in MS responders to adjunctive therapy with CBD/THC mixtures. Future studies are recommended to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid effects on MS lesions and to evaluate whether medical marijuana can accelerate remyelination and retard the accrual of disability over the long term.
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Hinckley JD, Saba L, Raymond K, Bartels K, Klawitter J, Christians U, Hopfer C. An Approach to Biomarker Discovery of Cannabis Use Utilizing Proteomic, Metabolomic, and Lipidomic Analyses. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:65-77. [PMID: 33998853 PMCID: PMC8864439 DOI: 10.1089/can.2020.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Relatively little is known about the molecular pathways influenced by cannabis use in humans. We used a multi-omics approach to examine protein, metabolomic, and lipid markers in plasma differentiating between cannabis users and nonusers to understand markers associated with cannabis use. Methods: Eight discordant twin pairs and four concordant twin pairs for cannabis use completed a blood draw, urine and plasma toxicology testing, and provided information about their past 30-day cannabis use and other substance use patterns. The 24 twins were all non-Hispanic whites. Sixty-six percent were female. Median age was 30 years. Fifteen participants reported that they had used cannabis in the last 30 days, including eight participants that used every day or almost every day (29-30 of 30 days). Of these 15 participants, plasma 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations were detectable in 12 participants. Among the eight "heavy users" the amount of total THC (sum of THC and its metabolites) and plasma THC-COOH concentrations varied widely, with ranges of 13.1-1713 ng/mL and 2.7-284 ng/mL, respectively. A validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay measured plasma THC-COOH, THC, and other cannabinoids and metabolites. Plasma THC-COOH was used as the primary measure. Expression levels of 1305 proteins were measured using SOMAScan assay, and 34 lipid mediators and 314 metabolites were measured with LC-MS/MS. Analyses examined associations between markers and THC-COOH levels with and without taking genetic relatedness into account. Results: Thirteen proteins, three metabolites, and two lipids were identified as associated with THC-COOH levels. Myc proto-oncogene was identified as associated with THC-COOH levels in both molecular insight and potential marker analyses. Five pathways (interleukin-6 production, T lymphocyte regulation, apoptosis, kinase signaling pathways, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) were linked with molecules identified in these analyses. Conclusions: THC-COOH levels are associated with immune system-related pathways. This study presents a feasible approach to identify additional molecular markers associated with THC-COOH levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D. Hinckley
- Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Laura Saba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristen Raymond
- Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Karsten Bartels
- Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jost Klawitter
- Department of Anesthesiology, and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- iC42 Clinical Research and Development, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Uwe Christians
- Department of Anesthesiology, and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- iC42 Clinical Research and Development, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Christian Hopfer
- Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- *Address correspondence to: Christian Hopfer, MD, Division of Substance Dependence, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12469 East 17th Place, Mail Stop F570, Aurora, CO 80045, USA,
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Cannabis-Based Products for the Treatment of Skin Inflammatory Diseases: A Timely Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15020210. [PMID: 35215320 PMCID: PMC8878527 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of natural products in dermatology is increasingly being pursued due to sustainability and ecological issues, and as a possible way to improve the therapeutic outcome of chronic skin diseases, relieving the burden for both patients and healthcare systems. The legalization of cannabis by a growing number of countries has opened the way for researching the use of cannabinoids in therapeutic topical formulations. Cannabinoids are a diverse class of pharmacologically active compounds produced by Cannabis sativa (phytocannabinoids) and similar molecules (endocannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids). Humans possess an endocannabinoid system involved in the regulation of several physiological processes, which includes naturally-produced endocannabinoids, and proteins involved in their transport, synthesis and degradation. The modulation of the endocannabinoid system is a promising therapeutic target for multiple diseases, including vascular, mental and neurodegenerative disorders. However, due to the complex nature of this system and its crosstalk with other biological systems, the development of novel target drugs is an ongoing challenging task. The discovery of a skin endocannabinoid system and its role in maintaining skin homeostasis, alongside the anti-inflammatory actions of cannabinoids, has raised interest in their use for the treatment of skin inflammatory diseases, which is the focus of this review. Oral treatments are only effective at high doses, having considerable adverse effects; thus, research into plant-based or synthetic cannabinoids that can be incorporated into high-quality, safe topical products for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions is timely. Previous studies revealed that such products are usually well tolerated and showed promising results for example in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis. However, further controlled human clinical trials are needed to fully unravel the potential of these compounds, and the possible side effects associated with their topical use.
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Abstract
PURPOSE A growing body of evidence has implicated the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in the acute, chronic, and withdrawal effects of alcohol/ethanol on synaptic function. These eCB-mediated synaptic effects may contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol exposure causes neurobiological alterations similar to those elicited by chronic cannabinoid (CB) exposure. Like alcohol, cannabinoids alter many central processes, such as cognition, locomotion, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. There is a strong need to elucidate the effects of ethanol on the eCB system in different brain regions to understand the role of eCB signaling in AUD. SEARCH METHODS For the scope of this review, preclinical studies were identified through queries of the PubMed database. SEARCH RESULTS This search yielded 459 articles. Clinical studies and papers irrelevant to the topic of this review were excluded. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The endocannabinoid system includes, but is not limited to, cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1), among the most abundantly expressed neuronal receptors in the brain; cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB2); and endogenously formed CB1 ligands, including arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA; anandamide), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The development of specific CB1 agonists, such as WIN 55,212-2 (WIN), and antagonists, such as SR 141716A (rimonabant), provide powerful pharmacological tools for eCB research. Alcohol exposure has brain region-specific effects on the eCB system, including altering the synthesis of endocannabinoids (e.g., AEA, 2-AG), the synthesis of their precursors, and the density and coupling efficacy of CB1. These alcohol-induced alterations of the eCB system have subsequent effects on synaptic function including neuronal excitability and postsynaptic conductance. This review will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current literature on the synaptic interactions of alcohol exposure and eCB signaling systems, with an emphasis on molecular and physiological synaptic effects of alcohol on the eCB system. A limited volume of studies has focused on the underlying interactions of alcohol and the eCB system at the synaptic level in the brain. Thus, the data on synaptic interactions are sparse, and future research addressing these interactions is much needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Wolfe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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Gish A, Wiart JF, Turpin E, Allorge D, Gaulier JM. État de l’art et intérêt des dosages plasmatiques des substances endocannabinoïdes et endocannabinoïdes-like. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Pietropaolo S, Marsicano G. The role of the endocannabinoid system as a therapeutic target for autism spectrum disorder: Lessons from behavioral studies on mouse models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:664-678. [PMID: 34813825 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen an impressive amount of research devoted to understanding the etiopathology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developing therapies for this syndrome. Because of the lack of biomarkers of ASD, this work has been largely based on the behavioral characterization of rodent models, based on a multitude of genetic and environmental manipulations. Here we highlight how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has recently emerged within this context of mouse behavioral studies as an etiopathological factor in ASD and a valid potential therapeutic target. We summarize the most recent results showing alterations of the ECS in rodent models of ASD, and demonstrating ASD-like behaviors in mice with altered ECS, induced either by genetic or pharmacological manipulations. We also give a critical overview of the most relevant advances in designing treatments and novel mouse models for ASD targeting the ECS, highlighting the relevance of thorough and innovative behavioral approaches to investigate the mechanisms acting underneath the complex features of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33077, Bordeaux Cedex, France
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14
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Repurposing Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Agonists in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14101025. [PMID: 34681249 PMCID: PMC8538250 DOI: 10.3390/ph14101025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Common pathophysiological mechanisms have emerged for different neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. In particular, mechanisms of oxidative stress, immuno-inflammation, and altered metabolic pathways converge and cause neuronal and non-neuronal maladaptative phenomena, which underlie multifaceted brain disorders. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors modulating, among others, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective genes in diverse tissues. Both endogenous and synthetic PPAR agonists are approved treatments for metabolic and systemic disorders, such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, and dyslipidemia(s), showing high tolerability and safety profiles. Considering that some PPAR-acting drugs permeate through the blood-brain barrier, the possibility to extend their scope from the periphery to central nervous system has gained interest in recent years. Here, we review preclinical and clinical evidence that PPARs possibly exert a neuroprotective role, thereby providing a rationale for repurposing PPAR-targeting drugs to counteract several diseases affecting the central nervous system.
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15
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The Impact of Early Life Exposure to Cannabis: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168576. [PMID: 34445282 PMCID: PMC8395329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use during pregnancy has continued to rise, particularly in developed countries, as a result of the trend towards legalization and lack of consistent, evidence-based knowledge on the matter. While there is conflicting data regarding whether cannabis use during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, or increased admission to neonatal intensive care units, investigations into long-term effects on the offspring’s health are limited. Historically, studies have focused on the neurobehavioral effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on the offspring. The effects of cannabis on other physiological aspects of the developing fetus have received less attention. Importantly, our knowledge about cannabinoid signaling in the placenta is also limited. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present at early stages of development and represents a potential target for exogenous cannabinoids in utero. The ECS is expressed in a broad range of tissues and influences a spectrum of cellular functions. The aim of this review is to explore the current evidence surrounding the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoids and the role of the ECS in the placenta and the developing fetus.
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16
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Oubraim S, Wang R, Hausknecht KA, Shen RY, Haj-Dahmane S. Tonic Endocannabinoid Signaling Gates Synaptic Plasticity in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Serotonin Neurons Through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:691219. [PMID: 34262460 PMCID: PMC8273699 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.691219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (eCBs), which include 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA) are lipid signaling molecules involved in the regulation of an array of behavioral and physiological functions. Released by postsynaptic neurons, eCBs mediate both phasic and tonic signaling at central synapses. While the roles of phasic eCB signaling in modulating synaptic functions and plasticity are well characterized, very little is known regarding the physiological roles and mechanisms regulating tonic eCB signaling at central synapses. In this study, we show that both 2-AG and AEA are constitutively released in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), where they exert tonic control of glutamatergic synaptic transmission onto serotonin (5-HT) neurons. The magnitude of this tonic eCB signaling is tightly regulated by the overall activity of neuronal network. Thus, short term in vitro neuronal silencing or blockade of excitatory synaptic transmission abolishes tonic eCB signaling in the DRn. Importantly, in addition to controlling basal synaptic transmission, this study reveals that tonic 2-AG, but not AEA signaling, modulates synaptic plasticity. Indeed, short-term increase in tonic 2-AG signaling impairs spike-timing dependent potentiation (tLTP) of glutamate synapses. This tonic 2-AG-mediated homeostatic control of DRN glutamate synapses is not signaled by canonical cannabinoid receptors, but by intracellular peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Further examination reveals that 2-AG mediated activation of PPARγ blocks tLTP by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO), soluble guanylate cyclase, and protein kinase G (NO/sGC/PKG) signaling pathway. Collectively, these results unravel novel mechanisms by which tonic 2-AG signaling integrates network activities and controls the synaptic plasticity in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saida Oubraim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Ruixiang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Kathryn A Hausknecht
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Roh-Yu Shen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Samir Haj-Dahmane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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17
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Prentice RN, Younus M, Krittaphol-Bailey W, Rizwan SB. A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the study of exogenously administered 13 C-oleoylethanolamide in rat plasma and brain tissue. J Sep Sci 2021; 44:2693-2704. [PMID: 33939878 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202001210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oleoylethanolamide is an endogenous molecule with neuroprotective effects. It has been reported that exogenous oleoylethanolamide can be administered therapeutically, but the confounding presence of the endogenous molecule has led to conflicting reports regarding the mechanisms of the effects and highlights a need for an adequate methodology to differentiate them. We have developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to study oleoylethanolamide in rat plasma and brain using a 13 C-labeled isotope, 13 C-oleoylethanolamide. 13 C-oleoylethanolamide was extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction employing acetonitrile and tert-butyl methyl ether (1:4). Analysis was performed using a gradient with a total run time of 12 min. 13 C-oleoylethanolamide, d4 -oleoylethanolamide (internal standard), and 12 C-oleoylethanolamide (endogenous background) eluted simultaneously at 1.64 min. The method was validated for specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision and found to be capable of quantification within acceptable limits of ±15% over the calibration range of 0.39-25 ng/mL for the plasma and 1.17-75 ng/g for the brain. It was then applied to quantify 13 C-oleoylethanolamide over 90 min after intravenous administration of a solution (1 mg/kg) in rats. Results suggest that 13 C-oleoylethanolamide does not reach therapeutic concentrations in the brain, despite a relatively prolonged plasma circulation, suggesting that rapid degradation in the brain remains an obstacle to its clinical application to neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Younus
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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18
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Cancer Initiation, Progression and Resistance: Are Phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. Promising Compounds? Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092668. [PMID: 34063214 PMCID: PMC8124362 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa L. is a source of over 150 active compounds known as phytocannabinoids that are receiving renewed interest due to their diverse pharmacologic activities. Indeed, phytocannabinoids mimic the endogenous bioactive endocannabinoids effects through activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors widely described in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. All phytocannabinoids have been studied for their protective actions towards different biological mechanisms, including inflammation, immune response, oxidative stress that, altogether, result in an inhibitory activity against the carcinogenesis. The role of the endocannabinoid system is not yet completely clear in cancer, but several studies indicate that cannabinoid receptors and endogenous ligands are overexpressed in different tumor tissues. Recently, in vitro and in vivo evidence support the effectiveness of phytocannabinoids against various cancer types, in terms of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, actions partially due to their ability to regulate signaling pathways critical for cell growth and survival. The aim of this review was to report the current knowledge about the action of phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. against cancer initiation and progression with a specific regard to brain, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer as well as their possible use in the therapies. We will also report the known molecular mechanisms responsible for such positive effects. Finally, we will describe the actual therapeutic options for Cannabis sativa L. and the ongoing clinical trials.
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19
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Sempio C, Klawitter J, Jackson M, Freni F, Shillingburg R, Hutchison K, Bidwell LC, Christians U, Klawitter J. Analysis of 14 endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid congeners in human plasma using column switching high-performance atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 413:3381-3392. [PMID: 33817753 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03280-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system. To address the growing need of analytics capturing endocannabinoid levels to investigate the ECS, we developed and validated an assay for the quantitative analysis of 14 endocannabinoids and congeners. A simple extraction using protein precipitation with acetonitrile followed by online-trapping high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS/MS) was used to monitor the levels of 14 endocannabinoids in plasma. The assay was validated and intra-run and inter-run accuracies and imprecisions as well as matrix effects, recoveries, and sample stabilities were determined. As a proof of concept, a subset of study samples after naturalistic administration of Cannabis flower and concentrate was analyzed. With the exception of N-oleoyl dopamine and oleamide, all endocannabinoids fulfilled the predefined acceptance criteria. Reproducible recoveries and no significant matrix effects were observed. Sample stability was an issue. Analysis of the proof-of-concept study samples revealed a significantly (p = 0.006) higher concentration of docosatetraenoyl ethanolamide in concentrate users (300 ± 13 pg/mL) compared to flower users (252 ± 11 pg/mL). A robust, sensitive high-throughput assay for the quantitation of 14 endocannabinoids and congeners was successfully validated. Our study showed that it is mandatory to (A) appropriately stabilize samples and (B) separate and separately quantify 1-AG and 2-AG; otherwise, study results are unreliable. The analysis of study samples from Cannabis flower users versus Cannabis concentrate users revealed higher levels of docosatetraenoyl ethanolamide and anandamide (n.s.) in high THC concentrate users in accordance with the existing literature, supporting the validity of the assay measurements. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sempio
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jelena Klawitter
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Matthew Jackson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Francesca Freni
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ryan Shillingburg
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kent Hutchison
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - L Cinnamon Bidwell
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Uwe Christians
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jost Klawitter
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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20
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Heinbockel T, Bhatia-Dey N, Shields VDC. Endocannabinoid-mediated neuromodulation in the main olfactory bulb at the interface of environmental stimuli and central neural processing. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:1002-1014. [PMID: 33724578 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The olfactory system has become an important functional gateway to understand and analyze neuromodulation since olfactory dysfunction and deficits have emerged as prodromal and, at other times, as first symptoms of many of neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and communication disorders. Considering olfactory dysfunction as outcome of altered, damaged and/or inefficient olfactory processing, in the current review, we analyze how olfactory processing interacts with the endocannabinoid signaling system. In the human body, endocannabinoid synthesis is a natural and on-demand response to a wide range of physiological and environmental stimuli. Our current understanding of the response dynamics of the endocannabinoid system is based in large part on research advances in limbic system areas, such as the hippocampus and the amygdala. Functional interactions of this signaling system with olfactory processing and associated pathways are just emerging but appear to grow rapidly with multidimensional approaches. Recent work analyzing the crystal structure of endocannabinoid receptors bound to their agonists in a signaling complex has opened avenues for developing specific therapeutic drugs that could help with neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and alleviation/reduction of pain. We discuss the role of endocannabinoids as signaling molecules in the olfactory system and the relevance of the endocannabinoid system for synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Heinbockel
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Naina Bhatia-Dey
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vonnie D C Shields
- Biological Sciences Department, Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA
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21
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The endocannabinoid system. Essays Biochem 2021; 64:485-499. [PMID: 32648908 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20190086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Thirty years ago, the discovery of a cannabinoid (CB) receptor that interacts with the psychoactive compound in Cannabis led to the identification of anandamide, an endogenous receptor ligand or endocannabinoid. Research on endocannabinoids has since exploded, and additional receptors along with their lipid mediators and signaling pathways continue to be revealed. Specifically, in humans, the release of endocannabinoids from membrane lipids occurs on demand and the signaling process is rapidly attenuated by the breakdown of the ligand suggesting a tight regulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Additionally, the varying distribution of CB receptors between the central nervous system and other tissues allows for the ECS to participate in a wide range of cognitive and physiological processes. Select plant-derived 'phyto'cannabinoids such as Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) bind to the CB receptors and trigger the ECS, and in the case of Δ9-THC, while it has therapeutic value, can also produce detrimental effects. Current research is aimed at the identification of additional phytocannabinoids with minimal psychotropic effects with potential for therapeutic development. Although decades of research on the ECS and its components have expanded our understanding of the mechanisms and implications of endocannabinoid signaling in mammals, it continues to evolve. Here, we provide a brief overview of the ECS and its overlap with other related lipid-mediated signaling pathways.
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22
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Sagheddu C, Torres LH, Marcourakis T, Pistis M. Endocannabinoid-Like Lipid Neuromodulators in the Regulation of Dopamine Signaling: Relevance for Drug Addiction. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 12:588660. [PMID: 33424577 PMCID: PMC7786397 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.588660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The family of lipid neuromodulators has been rapidly growing, as the use of different -omics techniques led to the discovery of a large number of naturally occurring N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and N-acyl amino acids belonging to the complex lipid signaling system termed endocannabinoidome. These molecules exert a variety of biological activities in the central nervous system, as they modulate physiological processes in neurons and glial cells and are involved in the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Their effects on dopamine cells have attracted attention, as dysfunctions of dopamine systems characterize a range of psychiatric disorders, i.e., schizophrenia and substance use disorders (SUD). While canonical endocannabinoids are known to regulate excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs impinging on dopamine cells and modulate several dopamine-mediated behaviors, such as reward and addiction, the effects of other lipid neuromodulators are far less clear. Here, we review the emerging role of endocannabinoid-like neuromodulators in dopamine signaling, with a focus on non-cannabinoid N-acylethanolamines and their receptors. Mounting evidence suggests that these neuromodulators contribute to modulate synaptic transmission in dopamine regions and might represent a target for novel medications in alcohol and nicotine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Larissa Helena Torres
- Department of Food and Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Section of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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23
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Fonseca R, Madeira N, Simoes C. Resilience to fear: The role of individual factors in amygdala response to stressors. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 110:103582. [PMID: 33346000 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience to stress is an adaptive process that varies individually. Resilience refers to the adaptation, or the ability to maintain or regain mental health, despite being subject to adverse situation. Resilience is a dynamic concept that reflects a combination of internal individual factors, including age and gender interacting with external factors such as social, cultural and environmental factors. In the last decade, we have witnessed an increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Given that stress in unavoidable, it is of great interest to understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of resilience, the individual factors that may contribute to susceptibility and promote efficacious approaches to improve resilience. Here, we address this complex question, attempting at defining clear and operational definitions that may allow us to improve our analysis of behavior incorporating individuality. We examine how individual perception of the stressor can alter the outcome of an adverse situation using as an example, the fear-conditioning paradigm and discuss how individual differences in the reward system can contribute to resilience. Given the central role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating fear responses and anxiety, we discuss the evidence that polymorphisms in several molecules of this signaling system contribute to different anxiety phenotypes. The endocannabinoid system is highly interconnected with the serotoninergic and dopaminergic modulatory systems, contributing to individual differences in stress perception and coping mechanisms. We review how the individual variability in these modulatory systems can be used towards a multivariable assessment of stress risk. Incorporating individuality in our research will allow us to define biomarkers of anxiety disorders as well as assess prognosis, towards a personalized clinical approach to mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalina Fonseca
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Natália Madeira
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Simoes
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
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24
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Perin P, Mabou Tagne A, Enrico P, Marino F, Cosentino M, Pizzala R, Boselli C. Cannabinoids, Inner Ear, Hearing, and Tinnitus: A Neuroimmunological Perspective. Front Neurol 2020; 11:505995. [PMID: 33329293 PMCID: PMC7719758 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.505995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has been used for centuries for recreational and therapeutic purposes. Whereas, the recreative uses are based on the psychotropic effect of some of its compounds, its therapeutic effects range over a wide spectrum of actions, most of which target the brain or the immune system. Several studies have found cannabinoid receptors in the auditory system, both at peripheral and central levels, thus raising the interest in cannabinoid signaling in hearing, and especially in tinnitus, which is affected also by anxiety, memory, and attention circuits where cannabinoid effects are well described. Available studies on animal models of tinnitus suggest that cannabinoids are not likely to be helpful in tinnitus treatment and could even be harmful. However, the pharmacology of cannabinoids is very complex, and most studies focused on neural CB1R-based responses. Cannabinoid effects on the immune system (where CB2Rs predominate) are increasingly recognized as essential in understanding nervous system pathological responses, and data on immune cannabinoid targets have emerged in the auditory system as well. In addition, nonclassical cannabinoid targets (such as TRP channels) appear to play an important role in the auditory system as well. This review will focus on neuroimmunological mechanisms for cannabinoid effects and their possible use as protective and therapeutic agents in the ear and auditory system, especially in tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Perin
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Roberto Pizzala
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Boselli
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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25
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Natural Products: Evidence for Neuroprotection to Be Exploited in Glaucoma. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12103158. [PMID: 33081127 PMCID: PMC7602834 DOI: 10.3390/nu12103158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is an optic neuropathy characterized by the progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is recognized as the main risk factor. Despite effective IOP-lowering therapies, the disease progresses in a significant number of patients. Therefore, alternative IOP-independent strategies aiming at halting or delaying RGC degeneration is the current therapeutic challenge for glaucoma management. Here, we review the literature on the neuroprotective activities, and the underlying mechanisms, of natural compounds and dietary supplements in experimental and clinical glaucoma.
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26
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Gomes TM, Dias da Silva D, Carmo H, Carvalho F, Silva JP. Epigenetics and the endocannabinoid system signaling: An intricate interplay modulating neurodevelopment. Pharmacol Res 2020; 162:105237. [PMID: 33053442 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a complex system comprising endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs), their synthesis and degradation enzymes, and cannabinoid receptors. These elements crucially regulate several biological processes during neurodevelopment, such as proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Recently, eCBs were also reported to have an epigenetic action on genes that play key functions in the neurotransmitter signaling, consequently regulating their expression. In turn, epigenetic modifications (e.g. DNA methylation, histone modifications) may also modulate the function of eCB system's elements. For example, the expression of the cnr gene in the central nervous system may be epigenetically regulated (e.g. DNA methylation, histone modifications), thus altering the function of the cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1R). Considering the importance of the eCB system during neurodevelopment, it is thus reasonable to expect that alterations in this interaction between the eCB system and epigenetic modifications may give rise to neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we review key concepts related to the regulation of neuronal function by the eCB system and the different types of epigenetic modifications. In particular, we focus on the mechanisms involved in the intricate interplay between both signaling systems and how they control cell fate during neurodevelopment. Noteworthy, such mechanistic understanding assumes high relevance considering the implications of the dysregulation of key neurogenic processes towards the onset of neurodevelopment-related disorders. Moreover, considering the increasing popularity of cannabis and its synthetic derivatives among young adults, it becomes of utmost importance to understand how exogenous cannabinoids may epigenetically impact neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Telma Marisa Gomes
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Carmo
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
| | - João Pedro Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
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Pietropaolo S, Bellocchio L, Bouzón-Arnáiz I, Yee BK. The role of the endocannabinoid system in autism spectrum disorders: Evidence from mouse studies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 173:183-208. [PMID: 32711810 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A substantive volume of research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has emerged in recent years adding to our understanding of the etiopathological process. Preclinical models in mice and rats have been highly instrumental in modeling and dissecting the contributions of a multitude of known genetic and environmental risk factors. However, the translation of preclinical data into suitable drug targets must overcome three critical hurdles: (i) ASD comprises a highly heterogeneous group of conditions that can markedly differ in terms of their clinical presentation and symptoms, (ii) the plethora of genetic and environmental risk factors suggests a complex, non-unitary, etiopathology, and (iii) the lack of consensus over the myriad of preclinical models, with respect to both construct validity and face validity. Against this backdrop, this Chapter traces how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a promising target for intervention with predictive validity. Recent supportive preclinical evidence is summarized, especially studies in mice demonstrating the emergence of ASD-like behaviors following diverse genetic or pharmacological manipulations targeting the ECS. The critical relevance of ECS to the complex pathogenesis of ASD is underscored by its multiple roles in modulating neuronal functions and shaping brain development. Finally, we argue that important lessons have been learned from the novel mouse models of ASD, which not only stimulate game-changing innovative treatments but also foster a consensual framework to integrate the diverse approaches applied in the search of novel treatments for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Pietropaolo
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex, France; CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bat B2, Pessac Cedex, France.
| | - Luigi Bellocchio
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bat B2, Pessac Cedex, France; INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Inés Bouzón-Arnáiz
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benjamin K Yee
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Endocannabinoid-Mediated Neuromodulation in the Olfactory Bulb: Functional and Therapeutic Significance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082850. [PMID: 32325875 PMCID: PMC7216281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoid synthesis in the human body is naturally occurring and on-demand. It occurs in response to physiological and environmental stimuli, such as stress, anxiety, hunger, other factors negatively disrupting homeostasis, as well as the therapeutic use of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol and recreational use of exogenous cannabis, which can lead to cannabis use disorder. Together with their specific receptors CB1R and CB2R, endocannabinoids are major components of endocannabinoid-mediated neuromodulation in a rapid and sustained manner. Extensive research on endocannabinoid function and expression includes studies in limbic system structures such as the hippocampus and amygdala. The wide distribution of endocannabinoids, their on-demand synthesis at widely different sites, their co-existence in specific regions of the body, their quantitative differences in tissue type, and different pathological conditions indicate their diverse biological functions that utilize specific and overlapping pathways in multiple organ systems. Here, we review emerging evidence of these pathways with a special emphasis on the role of endocannabinoids in decelerating neurodegenerative pathology through neural networks initiated by cells in the main olfactory bulb.
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Mecha M, Carrillo-Salinas FJ, Feliú A, Mestre L, Guaza C. Perspectives on Cannabis-Based Therapy of Multiple Sclerosis: A Mini-Review. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:34. [PMID: 32140100 PMCID: PMC7042204 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The consistency, efficacy, and safety of cannabis-based medicines have been demonstrated in humans, leading to the approval of the first cannabis-based therapy to alleviate spasticity and pain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Indeed, the evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for the management of pathological events related to this disease is ever increasing. Different mechanisms of action have been proposed for cannabis-based treatments in mouse models of demyelination, such as Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus-Induced Demyelinating Disease (TMEV-IDD). Cells in the immune and nervous system express the machinery to synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids, as well as their CB1 and CB2 receptors, each mediating different intracellular pathways upon activation. Hence, the effects of cannabinoids on cells of the immune system, on the blood-brain barrier (BBB), microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons, potentially open the way for a plethora of therapeutic actions on different targets that could aid the management of MS. As such, cannabinoids could have an important impact on the outcome of MS in terms of the resolution of inflammation or the potentiation of endogenous repair in the central nervous system (CNS), as witnessed in the EAE, TMEV-IDD and toxic demyelination models, and through other in vitro approaches. In this mini review article, we summarize what is currently known about the peripheral and central effects of cannabinoids in relation to the neuroinflammation coupled to MS. We pay special attention to their effects on remyelination and axon preservation within the CNS, considering the major questions raised in the field and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Mecha
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Grupo de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana Feliú
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Grupo de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leyre Mestre
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Grupo de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Guaza
- Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Grupo de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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Ernst J, Grabiec U, Falk K, Dehghani F, Schaedlich K. The endocrine disruptor DEHP and the ECS: analysis of a possible crosstalk. Endocr Connect 2020; 9:101-110. [PMID: 31910153 PMCID: PMC6993259 DOI: 10.1530/ec-19-0548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Studies of the last decade associated the environmental contamination by di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) with obesity and endocrine malfunction. DEHP was found to interact with several receptors - among them are receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) with high expression levels in adipose tissue. Furthermore, the correlation for BMI and body fat to the serum endocannabinoid level raises the question if the obesogenic and endocrine-disrupting DEHP effects are mediated via the ECS. We therefore characterized the ECS in a human cell model of adipogenesis using the SGBS preadipocytes to subsequently investigate if DEHP exposure affects the intrinsic ECS. The receptors of the ECS and the endocannabinoid-metabolizing enzymes were upregulated during normal adipogenesis, accompanied by an increasing secretion of the adipokines adiponectin and leptin. DEHP affected the secretion of both adipokines but not the ECS, suggesting DEHP to alter the endocrine function of adipocytes without the involvement of the intrinsic ECS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Ernst
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Correspondence should be addressed to J Ernst:
| | - Urszula Grabiec
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kathrin Falk
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Faramarz Dehghani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kristina Schaedlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Greco R, Demartini C, Zanaboni AM, Tumelero E, Reggiani A, Misto A, Piomelli D, Tassorelli C. FAAH inhibition as a preventive treatment for migraine: A pre-clinical study. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104624. [PMID: 31629892 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is an intracellular serine hydrolase that catalyzes the cleavage of endogenous fatty-acid amides, including the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA). We previously reported that the peripherally restricted FAAH inhibitor URB937, which selectively increases AEA levels outside the central nervous system, reduces hyperalgesia and c-Fos expression in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) and the locus coeruleus in an animal model of migraine based on nitroglycerin (NTG) administration. AIM To further investigate the relevance of FAAH inhibition in the NTG animal model of migraine by testing the effects of the globally active FAAH inhibitor URB597. METHODS Our experimental approach involved mapping neuronal c-Fos protein expression, measurement of AEA levels in brain areas and in trigeminal ganglia, evaluation of pain-related behavior and quantification of molecular mediators in rats that received URB597 (2 mg/kg i.p.) either before or after NTG administration (10 mg/kg, i.p.). RESULTS Pre-treatment with URB597 significantly reduced c-Fos immunoreactivity in the TNC and inhibited NTG-induced hyperalgesia in the orofacial formalin test. This behavioral response was associated with a decrease in neuronal nitric oxide synthase, calcitonin gene-related peptide and cytokine gene expression levels in central and peripheral structures. Administration of URB597 after NTG had no such effect. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that global FAAH inhibition may offer a therapeutic approach to the prevention, but not the abortive treatment, of migraine attacks. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of FAAH inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Greco
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation Pavia, Italy.
| | - Chiara Demartini
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Zanaboni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Tumelero
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation Pavia, Italy
| | - Angelo Reggiani
- Dept. of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Misto
- Dept. of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Cristina Tassorelli
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology of Integrative Autonomic Systems, Headache Science Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
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Páez JA, Campillo NE. Innovative Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptors as Targets in Alzheimer’s Disease and Less Well-Known Diseases. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:3300-3340. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180226095132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
:
The discovery of cannabinoid receptors at the beginning of the 1990s, CB1 cloned
in 1990 and CB2 cloned in 1993, and the availability of selective and potent cannabimimetics
could only be justified by the existence of endogenous ligands that are capable of binding to
them. Thus, the characterisation and cloning of the first cannabinoid receptor (CB1) led to the
isolation and characterisation of the first endocannabinoid, arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA),
two years later and the subsequent identification of a family of lipid transmitters known as the
fatty acid ester 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
:
The endogenous cannabinoid system is a complex signalling system that comprises transmembrane
endocannabinoid receptors, their endogenous ligands (the endocannabinoids), the
specific uptake mechanisms and the enzymatic systems related to their biosynthesis and degradation.
:
The endocannabinoid system has been implicated in a wide diversity of biological processes,
in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, including memory, learning, neuronal development,
stress and emotions, food intake, energy regulation, peripheral metabolism, and
the regulation of hormonal balance through the endocrine system.
:
In this context, this article will review the current knowledge of the therapeutic potential of
cannabinoid receptor as a target in Alzheimer’s disease and other less well-known diseases
that include, among others, multiple sclerosis, bone metabolism, and Fragile X syndrome.
:
The therapeutic applications will be addressed through the study of cannabinoid agonists acting
as single drugs and multi-target drugs highlighting the CB2 receptor agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A. Páez
- Instituto de Quimica Medica (IQM-CSIC). C/ Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB-CSIC). C/ Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Brunetti L, Loiodice F, Piemontese L, Tortorella P, Laghezza A. New Approaches to Cancer Therapy: Combining Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibition with Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) Activation. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10995-11003. [PMID: 31407888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the course of the past decade, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have been identified as part of the cannabinoid signaling system: both phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids are capable of binding and activating these nuclear receptors. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) hydrolyzes the endocannabinoid anandamide and other N-acylethanolamines. These substances have been shown to have numerous anticancer effects, and indeed the inhibition of FAAH has multiple beneficial effects that are mediated by PPARα subtype and by PPARγ subtype, especially antiproliferation and activation of apoptosis. The substrates of FAAH are also PPAR agonists, which explains the PPAR-mediated effects of FAAH inhibitors. Much like cannabinoid ligands and FAAH inhibitors, PPARγ agonists show antiproliferative effects on cancer cells, suggesting that additive or synergistic effects may be achieved through the positive modulation of both signaling systems. In this Miniperspective, we discuss the development of novel FAAH inhibitors able to directly act as PPAR agonists and their promising utilization as leads for the discovery of highly effective anticancer compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Brunetti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" , via Orabona 4 , 70125 Bari , Italy
| | - Fulvio Loiodice
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" , via Orabona 4 , 70125 Bari , Italy
| | - Luca Piemontese
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" , via Orabona 4 , 70125 Bari , Italy
| | - Paolo Tortorella
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" , via Orabona 4 , 70125 Bari , Italy
| | - Antonio Laghezza
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" , via Orabona 4 , 70125 Bari , Italy
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Burgaz S, García C, Gómez-Cañas M, Muñoz E, Fernández-Ruiz J. Development of An Oral Treatment with the PPAR-γ-Acting Cannabinoid VCE-003.2 Against the Inflammation-Driven Neuronal Deterioration in Experimental Parkinson's Disease. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24152702. [PMID: 31349553 PMCID: PMC6696432 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In a recent study, we described the neuroprotective properties of VCE-003.2—an aminoquinone derivative of the non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG)—administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) in an inflammatory model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We also demonstrated that these properties derive from its activity on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, in particular at a regulatory site within this receptor type. In the present study, we wanted to further confirm this neuroprotective potential using an oral lipid formulation of VCE-003.2, developed to facilitate the clinical development of this phytocannabinoid derivative. To this end, we evaluated VCE-003.2, administered orally at two doses (10 and 20 mg/kg), to mice subjected to unilateral intrastriatal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a classic model of inflammation-driven neuronal deterioration that recapitulates characteristics of PD. The administration of VCE-003.2 to these mice showed, as expected, poor activity in the different motor tests (rotarod, computer-aided actimeter) used in experimental parkinsonism, in general due to the lack of evident changes in these behaviors by LPS lesion. However, VCE-003.2, at 20 mg/kg, was highly active in improving the changes detected in LPS-lesioned mice in the cylinder rearing test. In addition, the histopathological analysis of the basal ganglia revealed a trend towards recovery at 20 mg/kg VCE-003.2 in the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing nigrostriatal neurons, as well as a complete reduction in the elevated LAMP-1 immunolabeling (reflecting autophagy impairment) caused by LPS lesion. These effects were not seen at 10 mg/kg. This was associated with a partial reduction in the intense glial reactivity provoked by LPS in the substantia nigra, in particular the astroglial reactivity labeled with glial fibrillary acidic protein. The analysis using qPCR in the striatum of proinflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2, showed that the marked elevations provoked by the LPS lesion tended to be, in general, attenuated by VCE-003.2 treatment, with the greatest effects normally found with the highest dose of 20 mg/kg. In summary, our data confirm the neuroprotective potential of an oral formulation of VCE-003.2 against neuronal injury in an in vivo model of PD based on neuroinflammation, and this study opens the possibility to further the development of oral VCE-003.2 in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Burgaz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Concepción García
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Gómez-Cañas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Muñoz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Vivacell Biotechnology España, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Endocannabinoid System in Hepatic Glucose Metabolism, Fatty Liver Disease, and Cirrhosis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102516. [PMID: 31121839 PMCID: PMC6566399 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that glucose metabolism in the liver is in part under the control of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is also supported by its presence in this organ. The ECS consists of its cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and enzymes that are responsible for endocannabinoid production and metabolism. ECS is known to be differentially influenced by the hepatic glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, e.g., cannabinoid receptor type 1(CB1) antagonist can improve the glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Interestingly, our own study shows that expression patterns of CBRs are influenced by the light/dark cycle, which is of significant physiological and clinical interest. The ECS system is highly upregulated during chronic liver disease and a growing number of studies suggest a mechanistic and therapeutic impact of ECS on the development of liver fibrosis, especially putting its receptors into focus. An opposing effect of the CBRs was exerted via the CB1 or CB2 receptor stimulation. An activation of CB1 promoted fibrogenesis, while CB2 activation improved antifibrogenic responses. However, underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. In the context of liver diseases, the ECS is considered as a possible mediator, which seems to be involved in the synthesis of fibrotic tissue, increase of intrahepatic vascular resistance and subsequently development of portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is the main event that leads to complications of the disease. The main complication is the development of variceal bleeding and ascites, which have prognostic relevance for the patients. The present review summarizes the current understanding and impact of the ECS on glucose metabolism in the liver, in association with the development of liver cirrhosis and hemodynamics in cirrhosis and its complication, to give perspectives for development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Torres LH, Balestrin NT, Spelta LEW, Duro SDO, Pistis M, Marcourakis T. Exposure to tobacco smoke during the early postnatal period modifies receptors and enzymes of the endocannabinoid system in the brainstem and striatum in mice. Toxicol Lett 2019; 302:35-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Baul HS, Manikandan C, Sen D. Cannabinoid receptor as a potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's Disease. Brain Res Bull 2019; 146:244-252. [PMID: 30664919 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons from substantia nigra pars compacta of basal ganglia caused due to gene mutation, misfolded protein aggregation, reactive oxygen species generation and inflammatory stress. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons results in muscle stiffness, uncoordinated body movements, sleep disturbance, fatigue, amnesia and impaired voice. Currently, levodopa (L-DOPA) administration is the most widely used therapy for PD. But prolonged administration of L-DOPA is associated with the symptoms of dyskinesia. However, emerging evidences suggest the role of cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) in curtailing the progression of PD by activating neuroprotective pathways. Hence, cannabinoid therapy could be a promising alternative to combat PD in future. In the present review we have discussed the potential role of CBRs in attenuating the key mechanisms of PD and how the existing research gaps needs to be bridged in order to understand the molecular mechanism of CBRs in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himadri Shekhaar Baul
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ceera Manikandan
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dwaipayan Sen
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Martínez-León E, Osycka-Salut C, Signorelli J, Kong M, Morales P, Pérez-Martínez S, Díaz ES. Fibronectin modulates the endocannabinoid system through the cAMP/PKA pathway during human sperm capacitation. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:224-238. [PMID: 30582781 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Fibronectin (Fn) enhances human sperm capacitation via the cAMP/PKA pathway, and the endocannabinoid system participates in this process. Moreover, Fn has been linked to endocannabinoid system components in different cellular models, even though no evidence of such interactions in human sperm is available. Normal semen samples were evaluated over a 4-year period. Our findings suggest that (a) the capacitating effects of Fn were reversed by preincubating the sperm with a cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) or transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) antagonist ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively); (b) cooperation between CB1 and TRPV1 may exist ( p < 0.01); (c) the activity of specific fatty acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH) decreased after 1 min ( p < 0.01) and increased after 60 min ( p < 0.01) of capacitation in the presence of Fn; (d) the effects of Fn on FAAH activity were prevented by preincubating spermatozoa with a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor ( p < 0.01); (e) Fn modulated both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration and PKA activity ( p < 0.05) during early capacitation; and (f) FAAH was a PKA substrate modulated by phosphorylation. These findings indicate that Fn stimulates human sperm capacitation via the cAMP/PKA pathway through modulation of the endocannabinoid system. Understanding the functional competence of human spermatozoa is essential for facilitating clinical advances in infertility treatment and for developing novel contraceptive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Martínez-León
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Claudia Osycka-Salut
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-CONICET/UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Janetti Signorelli
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Milene Kong
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Patricio Morales
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Silvina Pérez-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción en Mamíferos, Centro de estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFyBO-CONICET/UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilce Silvina Díaz
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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Rahman S, Alzarea S. Glial mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder: Potential therapeutic opportunities. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2019; 167:159-178. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Abán CE, Accialini PL, Etcheverry T, Leguizamón GF, Martinez NA, Farina MG. Crosstalk Between Nitric Oxide and Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways in Normal and Pathological Placentation. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1699. [PMID: 30564135 PMCID: PMC6288445 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are a group of endogenous lipid mediators that act as ligands of cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors, activating multiple signal transduction pathways. Together with enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation, these compounds constitute the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in different physiological processes in reproduction. The placenta, which is essential for the success of gestation and optimal fetal growth, undergoes constant tissue remodeling. ECS members are expressed in trophoblast cells, and current evidence suggests that this system is involved in placental development, apoptosis, and syncytialization. Impairment of endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with several pathological conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. Both clinical entities are characterized by dysregulation on vascular perfusion where nitrergic system performs a pivotal role. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent local vasodepressor that exerts a critical role in the regulation of hemodynamic flow, contributing to the maintenance of low vascular resistance in the feto-placental circulation. NO production could be affected by different factors and growing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid mediators may regulate nitrergic signaling. Herein, we review emerging knowledge supporting ECS-mediated regulation of NO production in normal placentation. Finally, we discuss how alterations in these systems could affect homoeostasis and contribute to the occurrence of placental-mediated pregnancy complications. Given the impact on women and perinatal heath, we will focus on current knowledge regarding the effects of ECS on nitrergic system in normal and pathological placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia E Abán
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a las Neurociencias (LIAN), FLENI - CONICET, Belén de Escobar, Argentina
| | - Paula L Accialini
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Etcheverry
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Nora A Martinez
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, IFIBIO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Red Iberoamericana de Alteraciones Vasculares Asociadas a Trastornos del Embarazo (RIVA-TREM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana G Farina
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Red Iberoamericana de Alteraciones Vasculares Asociadas a Trastornos del Embarazo (RIVA-TREM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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De Felice M, Melis M, Aroni S, Muntoni AL, Fanni S, Frau R, Devoto P, Pistis M. The PPARα agonist fenofibrate attenuates disruption of dopamine function in a maternal immune activation rat model of schizophrenia. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 25:549-561. [PMID: 30461214 PMCID: PMC6488881 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Prenatal maternal immune activation (MIA) is associated with a risk to develop schizophrenia and affects dopamine systems in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), key region in the neurobiology of psychoses. Considering the well‐described sex differences in schizophrenia, we investigated whether sex affects MIA impact on dopamine system and on schizophrenia‐related behavioral phenotype. Furthermore, considering peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPARα) expression in the CNS as well as its anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, we tested if PPARα activation by prenatal treatment with a clinically available fibrate (fenofibrate) may mitigate MIA‐related effects. Methods We induced MIA in rat dams with polyriboinosinic‐polyribocytidylic acid (Poly I:C) and assessed prepulse inhibition and dopamine neuron activity in the VTA by means of electrophysiological recordings in male and female preweaned and adult offspring. Results Poly I:C‐treated males displayed prepulse inhibition deficits, reduced number and firing rate of VTA dopamine neurons, and paired‐pulse facilitation of inhibitory and excitatory synapses. Prenatal fenofibrate administration attenuated detrimental effects induced by MIA on both the schizophrenia‐like behavioral phenotype and dopamine transmission in male offspring. Conclusion Our study confirms previous evidence that females are less susceptible to MIA and highlights PPARα as a potential target for treatments in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Felice
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Miriam Melis
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Sonia Aroni
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Muntoni
- Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Monserrato, Italy
| | - Silvia Fanni
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Roberto Frau
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Paola Devoto
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.,Section of Cagliari, Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Monserrato, Italy
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Inhibition of N-acylethanolamine acid amidase reduces nicotine-induced dopamine activation and reward. Neuropharmacology 2018; 144:327-336. [PMID: 30439418 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco smoke is the leading preventable cause of death in the world and treatments aimed to increase success rate in smoking cessation by reducing nicotine dependence are sought. Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) by synthetic or endogenous agonists was shown to suppress nicotine-induced activation of mesolimbic dopamine system, one of the major neurobiological substrates of nicotine dependence, and nicotine-seeking behavior in rats and monkeys. An alternative indirect way to activate PPARα is inhibition of N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA), one of the major hydrolyzing enzyme for its endogenous agonists palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA). We synthetized a novel specific brain permeable NAAA inhibitor, AM11095. We administered AM11095 to rats and carried out brain lipid analysis, a functional observational battery (FOB) to assess toxicity, in vivo electrophysiological recording from dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area, brain microdialysis in the nucleus accumbens shell and behavioral experiments to assess its effect on nicotine -induced conditioned place preference (CPP). AM11095 (5 and 25 mg/kg, i.p.) was devoid of neurotoxic and behavioral effects and did not affect motor behavior and coordination. This NAAA inhibitor (5 mg/kg i.p.) increased OEA and PEA levels in the hippocampus and cortex, prevented nicotine-induced activation of mesolimbic dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area, nicotine-induced elevation of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens shell and decreased the expression of nicotine CPP. Our results indicate that NAAA inhibitors represent a new class of pharmacological tools to modulate brain PEA/PPARα signalling and show potential in the treatment of nicotine dependence.
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Aymerich MS, Aso E, Abellanas MA, Tolon RM, Ramos JA, Ferrer I, Romero J, Fernández-Ruiz J. Cannabinoid pharmacology/therapeutics in chronic degenerative disorders affecting the central nervous system. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 157:67-84. [PMID: 30121249 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) exerts a modulatory effect of important functions such as neurotransmission, glial activation, oxidative stress, or protein homeostasis. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a common neuropathological hallmark in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The broad spectrum of actions of cannabinoids allows targeting different aspects of these multifactorial diseases. In this review, we examine the therapeutic potential of the ECS for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. First, we describe the localization of the molecular components of the ECS and how they are altered under neurodegenerative conditions, either contributing to or protecting cells from degeneration. Second, we address recent advances in the modulation of the ECS using experimental models through different strategies including the direct targeting of cannabinoid receptors with agonists or antagonists, increasing the endocannabinoid tone by the inhibition of endocannabinoid hydrolysis, and activation of cannabinoid receptor-independent effects. Preclinical evidence indicates that cannabinoid pharmacology is complex but supports the therapeutic potential of targeting the ECS. Third, we review the clinical evidence and discuss the future perspectives on how to bridge human and animal studies to develop cannabinoid-based therapies for each neurodegenerative disorder. Finally, we summarize the most relevant opportunities of cannabinoid pharmacology related to each disease and the multiple unexplored pathways in cannabinoid pharmacology that could be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Aymerich
- Universidad de Navarra, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Genética, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Programa de Neurociencias, Pamplona, Spain; IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Spain.
| | - Ester Aso
- Departamento de Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universidad de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Miguel A Abellanas
- Universidad de Navarra, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Genética, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Programa de Neurociencias, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rosa M Tolon
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Jose A Ramos
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; IRYCIS, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Departamento de Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universidad de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Julian Romero
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; IRYCIS, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
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Pinna G. Biomarkers for PTSD at the Interface of the Endocannabinoid and Neurosteroid Axis. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:482. [PMID: 30131663 PMCID: PMC6091574 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Graziano Pinna
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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Chiurchiù V, Leuti A, Maccarrone M. Bioactive Lipids and Chronic Inflammation: Managing the Fire Within. Front Immunol 2018; 9:38. [PMID: 29434586 PMCID: PMC5797284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is an immune response that works as a contained fire that is pre-emptively sparked as a defensive process during infections or upon any kind of tissue insult, and that is spontaneously extinguished after elimination or termination of the damage. However, persistent and uncontrolled immune reactions act as a wildfire that promote chronic inflammation, unresolved tissue damage and, eventually, chronic diseases. A wide network of soluble mediators, among which endogenous bioactive lipids, governs all immune processes. They are secreted by basically all cells involved in inflammatory processes and constitute the crucial infrastructure that triggers, coordinates and confines inflammatory mechanisms. However, these molecules are also deeply involved in the detrimental transition from acute to chronic inflammation, be it for persistent or excessive action of pro-inflammatory lipids or for the impairment of the functions carried out by resolving ones. As a matter of fact, bioactive lipids have been linked, to date, to several chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. This review summarizes current knowledge on the involvement of the main classes of endogenous bioactive lipids—namely classical eicosanoids, pro-resolving lipid mediators, lysoglycerophospholipids/sphingolipids, and endocannabinoids—in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to the pathogenesis of chronic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Chiurchiù
- Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Leuti
- Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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García C, Gómez-Cañas M, Burgaz S, Palomares B, Gómez-Gálvez Y, Palomo-Garo C, Campo S, Ferrer-Hernández J, Pavicic C, Navarrete C, Luz Bellido M, García-Arencibia M, Ruth Pazos M, Muñoz E, Fernández-Ruiz J. Benefits of VCE-003.2, a cannabigerol quinone derivative, against inflammation-driven neuronal deterioration in experimental Parkinson's disease: possible involvement of different binding sites at the PPARγ receptor. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:19. [PMID: 29338785 PMCID: PMC5771072 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1060-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroprotection with cannabinoids in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been afforded predominantly with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory cannabinoids. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of VCE-003.2, a quinone derivative of the non-psychotrophic phytocannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG), which may derive its activity at the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). The compound is also an antioxidant. METHODS We evaluated VCE-003.2 in an in vivo [mice subjected to unilateral intrastriatal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] model of PD, as well as in in vitro (LPS-exposed BV2 cells and M-213 cells treated with conditioned media generated from LPS-exposed BV2 cells) cellular models. The type of interaction of VCE-003.2 at the PPARγ receptor was furtherly investigated in bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and sustained with transcriptional assays and in silico docking studies. RESULTS VCE-003.2 has no activity at the cannabinoid receptors, a fact that we confirmed in this study using competition studies. The administration of VCE-003.2 to LPS-lesioned mice attenuated the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-containing nigrostriatal neurons and, in particular, the intense microgliosis provoked by LPS in the substantia nigra, measured by Iba-1/Cd68 immunostaining. The analysis by qPCR of proinflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the striatum showed they were markedly elevated by the LPS lesion and strongly reduced by the treatment with VCE-003.2. The effects of VCE-003.2 in LPS-lesioned mice implied the activation of PPARγ receptors, as they were attenuated when VCE-003.2 was co-administered with the PPARγ inhibitor T0070907. We then moved to some in vitro approaches, first to confirm the anti-inflammatory profile of VCE-003.2 in cultured BV2 cells exposed to LPS. VCE-003.2 was able to attenuate the synthesis and release of TNF-α and IL-1β, as well as the induction of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) elicited by LPS in these cells. However, we found such effects were not reversed by GW9662, another classic PPARγ antagonist. Next, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of VCE-003.2 in cultured M-213 neuronal cells exposed to conditioned media generated from LPS-exposed cultured BV2 cells. VCE-003.2 reduced M-213 cell death, but again, such effects were not reversed by T0070907. Using docking analysis, we detected that VCE-003.2 binds both the canonical and the alternative binding sites in the PPARγ ligand-binding pocket (LBP). Functional assays further showed that T0070907 almost abolished PPARγ transcriptional activity induced by rosiglitazone (RGZ), but it did not affect the activity of VCE-003.2 in a Gal4-Luc system. However, T0070907 inhibited the effects of RGZ and VCE-003.2 on the expression of PPARγ-dependent genes upregulated in MSCs. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that VCE-003.2 is neuroprotective against inflammation-driven neuronal damage in an in vivo model of PD and in in vitro cellular models of neuroinflammation. Such effects might involve PPARγ receptors, although in silico and in vitro experiments strongly suggest that VCE-003.2 targets PPARγ by acting through two binding sites at the LBP, one that is sensitive to T0070907 (canonical binding site) and other that is not affected by this PPARγ antagonist (alternative binding site).
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepción García
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Gómez-Cañas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonia Burgaz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Palomares
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Yolanda Gómez-Gálvez
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Present address: Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Newcastle under Lyme, UK
| | - Cristina Palomo-Garo
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Campo
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joel Ferrer-Hernández
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Moisés García-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - M Ruth Pazos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.,Present address: Laboratorio de Apoyo a la Investigación. Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Muñoz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain. .,Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
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Chiurchiù V, van der Stelt M, Centonze D, Maccarrone M. The endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic exploitation in multiple sclerosis: Clues for other neuroinflammatory diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 160:82-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Rapino C, Tortolani D, Scipioni L, Maccarrone M. Neuroprotection by (endo)Cannabinoids in Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:959-970. [PMID: 28738764 PMCID: PMC6120105 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170724104305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging neuroprotective strategies are being explored to preserve the retina from degeneration, that occurs in eye pathologies like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. Incidentally, neuroprotection of retina is a defending mechanism designed to prevent or delay neuronal cell death, and to maintain neural function following an initial insult, thus avoiding loss of vision. METHODS Numerous studies have investigated potential neuroprotective properties of plant-derived phytocannabinoids, as well as of their endogenous counterparts collectively termed endocannabinoids (eCBs), in several degenerative diseases of the retina. eCBs are a group of neuromodulators that, mainly by activating G protein-coupled type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) receptors, trigger multiple signal transduction cascades that modulate central and peripheral cell functions. A fine balance between biosynthetic and degrading enzymes that control the right concentration of eCBs has been shown to provide neuroprotection in traumatic, ischemic, inflammatory and neurotoxic damage of the brain. RESULTS Since the existence of eCBs and their binding receptors was documented in the retina of numerous species (from fishes to primates), their involvement in the visual processing has been demonstrated, more recently with a focus on retinal neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. CONCLUSION The aim of this review is to present a modern view of the endocannabinoid system, in order to discuss in a better perspective available data from preclinical studies on the use of eCBs as new neuroprotective agents, potentially useful to prevent glaucoma and retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Rapino
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; Tel: +39 0861 266842;, E-mail: and the Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; Tel: +39 06 225419169;, E-mail:
| | | | | | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; Tel: +39 0861 266842;, E-mail: and the Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; Tel: +39 06 225419169;, E-mail:
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Jia Y, Gan Y, He C, Chen Z, Zhou C. The mechanism of skin lipids influencing skin status. J Dermatol Sci 2017; 89:112-119. [PMID: 29174114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Skin lipids, compose of sebocyte-, keratinocyte-, and microbe- derived lipids, dramatically influence skin status by different mechanisms. (I) Physical chemistry function: They are "mortar" to establish the physico-chemical barrier function of skin; (II) Biochemistry function: They function as signals in the complex signaling network originating at the epidermal level; (III) Microecology function: Sebocyte- and keratinocyte-derived lipids vary the composition of microbial skin flora, and microorganisms metabolize them to produce lipids as signal starting signaling transduction. Importantly, further research needs lipidiomics, more powerful analytical ability and high-throughput manner, to identify skin lipid components into individual species. The validation of lipid structure and function to research the process that lipid species involved in. Additional, the integration of lipidomics data with other omics strategies can develop the power to study the mechanism of skin lipids influencing skin status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, School of Science, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Yao Gan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, School of Science, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Congfen He
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, School of Science, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhou Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
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The Endocannabinoid System and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Insights from Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18091916. [PMID: 28880200 PMCID: PMC5618565 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18091916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) defines a group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose symptoms include impaired communication and social interaction with restricted or repetitive motor movements, frequently associated with general cognitive deficits. Although it is among the most severe chronic childhood disorders in terms of prevalence, morbidity, and impact to the society, no effective treatment for ASD is yet available, possibly because its neurobiological basis is not clearly understood hence specific drugs have not yet been developed. The endocannabinoid (EC) system represents a major neuromodulatory system involved in the regulation of emotional responses, behavioral reactivity to context, and social interaction. Furthermore, the EC system is also affected in conditions often present in subsets of patients diagnosed with ASD, such as seizures, anxiety, intellectual disabilities, and sleep pattern disturbances. Despite the indirect evidence suggestive of an involvement of the EC system in ASD, only a few studies have specifically addressed the role of the EC system in the context of ASD. This review describes the available data on the investigation of the presence of alterations of the EC system as well as the effects of its pharmacological manipulations in animal models of ASD-like behaviors.
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