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Colizzi M, Ruggeri M, Bhattacharyya S. Unraveling the Intoxicating and Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis Ingredients on Psychosis and Cognition. Front Psychol 2020; 11:833. [PMID: 32528345 PMCID: PMC7247841 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Research evidence suggests a dose–response relationship for the association between cannabis use and risk of psychosis. Such relationship seems to reflect an increased risk of psychosis not only as a function of frequent cannabis use, but also of high-potency cannabis use in terms of concentration of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), its main psychoactive component. This finding would be in line with the evidence that Δ9-THC administration induces transient psychosis-like symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals. Conversely, low-potency varieties would be less harmful because of their lower amount of Δ9-THC and potential compresence of another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), which seems to mitigate Δ9-THC detrimental effects. A growing body of studies begins to suggest that CBD may have not only protective effects against the psychotomimetic effects of Δ9-THC but even therapeutic properties on its own, opening new prospects for the treatment of psychosis. Despite being more limited, evidence of the effects of cannabis on cognition seems to come to similar conclusions, with increasing Δ9-THC exposure being responsible for the cognitive impairments attributed to recreational cannabis use while CBD preventing such effects and, when administered alone, enhancing cognition. Molecular evidence indicates that Δ9-THC and CBD may interact with cannabinoid receptors with almost opposite mechanisms, with Δ9-THC being a partial agonist and CBD an inverse agonist/antagonist. With the help of imaging techniques, pharmacological studies in vivo have been able to show opposite effects of Δ9-THC and CBD also on brain function. Altogether, they may account for the intoxicating and therapeutic effects of cannabis on psychosis and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Colizzi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mirella Ruggeri
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Sagnik Bhattacharyya
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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102
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Weinstein G, Sznitman SR. The implications of late-life cannabis use on brain health: A mapping review and implications for future research. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 59:101041. [PMID: 32109605 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
While medical and recreational cannabis use is becoming more frequent among older adults, the neurocognitive consequences of cannabis use in this age group are unclear. The aim of this literature review was to synthesize and evaluate the current knowledge on the association of cannabis use during older-adulthood with cognitive function and brain aging. We reviewed the literature from old animal models and human studies, focusing on the link between use of cannabis in middle- and old-age and cognition. The report highlights the gap in knowledge on cannabis use in late-life and cognitive health, and discusses the limited findings in the context of substantial changes in attitudes and policies. Furthermore, we outline possible theoretical mechanisms and propose recommendations for future research. The limited evidence on this important topic suggests that use in older ages may not be linked with poorer cognitive performance, thus detrimental effects of early-life cannabis use may not translate to use in older ages. Rather, use in old ages may be associated with improved brain health, in accordance with the known neuroprotective properties of several cannabinoids. Yet, firm conclusions cannot be drawn from the current evidence-base due to lack of research with strong methodological designs.
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103
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Stasiulewicz A, Znajdek K, Grudzień M, Pawiński T, Sulkowska JI. A Guide to Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in Drug Design. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082778. [PMID: 32316328 PMCID: PMC7216112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most crucial systems in the human organism, exhibiting multi-purpose regulatory character. It is engaged in a vast array of physiological processes, including nociception, mood regulation, cognitive functions, neurogenesis and neuroprotection, appetite, lipid metabolism, as well as cell growth and proliferation. Thus, ECS proteins, including cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands’ synthesizing and degrading enzymes, are promising therapeutic targets. Their modulation has been employed in or extensively studied as a treatment of multiple diseases. However, due to a complex nature of ECS and its crosstalk with other biological systems, the development of novel drugs turned out to be a challenging task. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic applications for ECS-targeting drugs, especially focusing on promising synthetic compounds and preclinical studies. We put emphasis on modulation of specific proteins of ECS in different pathophysiological areas. In addition, we stress possible difficulties and risks and highlight proposed solutions. By presenting this review, we point out information pivotal in the spotlight of ECS-targeting drug design, as well as provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on ECS-related pharmacodynamics and show possible directions for needed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Stasiulewicz
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.I.S.)
| | - Katarzyna Znajdek
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Grudzień
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
| | - Tomasz Pawiński
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (T.P.)
| | - Joanna I. Sulkowska
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (J.I.S.)
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104
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Kataoka K, Bilkei-Gorzo A, Nozaki C, Togo A, Nakamura K, Ohta K, Zimmer A, Asahi T. Age-dependent Alteration in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Autophagy in Hippocampal Neuron of Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor-deficient Mice. Brain Res Bull 2020; 160:40-49. [PMID: 32294520 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoid system activity contributes to the homeostatic defense against aging and thus may counteract the progression of brain aging. The cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor activity declines with aging in the brain, which impairs neuronal network integrity and cognitive functions. However, the underlying mechanisms that link CB1 activity and memory decline remain unknown. Mitochondrial activity profoundly influences neuronal function, and age-dependent mitochondrial activity change is one of the known hallmarks of brain aging. As CB1 receptor is expressed on mitochondria and may regulate neuronal energy metabolism in hippocampus, we hypothesized that CB1 receptors might influence mitochondria in hippocampal neurons. Here, we found that CB1 receptor significantly affected mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) and morphology in an age-dependent manner. Serine 65-phosphorylated ubiquitin, a key marker for mitophagy, was reduced in adult CB1-deficient mice (CB1-KO) compared to those in wild type controls, particularly in CA1 pyramidal cell layer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed reduced mitophagy-like events in hippocampus of adult CB1-KO. TEM analysis also showed that mitochondrial morphology in adult CB1-KO mice was altered shown by an increase in thin and elongated mitochondria in hippocampal neurons. 3D reconstruction of mitochondrial morphology after scanning electron microscopy additionally revealed an enhanced density of interconnected mitochondria. Altogether, these findings suggest that reduced CB1 signaling in CB1-KO mice leads to reduced mitophagy and abnormal mitochondrial morphology in hippocampal neurons during aging. These mitochondrial changes might be due to the impairments in mitochondrial quality control system, which links age-related decline in CB1 activity and impaired memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Kataoka
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 169-8555, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Andras Bilkei-Gorzo
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Chihiro Nozaki
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 169-8555, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Akinobu Togo
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 830-0011, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Nakamura
- Division Microscopic and Development Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 830-0011, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Ohta
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 830-0011, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Toru Asahi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 169-8555, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
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105
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Maayah ZH, Takahara S, Ferdaoussi M, Dyck JRB. The molecular mechanisms that underpin the biological benefits of full-spectrum cannabis extract in the treatment of neuropathic pain and inflammation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165771. [PMID: 32201189 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. The biological effect of cannabis is mainly attributed to two major cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. In the majority of studies to-date, a purified tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol alone or in combination have been extensively examined in many studies for the treatment of numerous disorders including pain and inflammation. However, few studies have investigated the biological benefits of full-spectrum cannabis plant extract. Given that cannabis is known to generate a large number of cannabinoids along with numerous other biologically relevant products including terpenes, studies involving purified tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol do not consider the potential biological benefits of the full-spectrum cannabis extracts. This may be especially true in the case of cannabis as a potential treatment of pain and inflammation. Herein, we review the pre-clinical physiological and molecular mechanisms in biological systems that are affected by cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid H Maayah
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shingo Takahara
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mourad Ferdaoussi
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jason R B Dyck
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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106
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Prospéro-García O, Ruiz Contreras AE, Ortega Gómez A, Herrera-Solís A, Méndez-Díaz M. Endocannabinoids as Therapeutic Targets. Arch Med Res 2020; 50:518-526. [PMID: 32028095 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Most of the drugs of abuse affect the brain by interacting with naturally expressed molecular receptors. Marihuana affects a series of receptors including cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and CB2R, among others. Endogenous molecules with cannabinoid activity interact with these receptors naturally. Receptors, ligands, synthesizing and degrading enzymes, as well as transporters, have been described. This endocannabinoid system modulates behaviors and physiological processes, i.e. food intake, the sleep-waking cycle, learning and memory, motivation, and pain perception, among others. The rather broad distribution of endocannabinoids in the brain explains the different effects marihuana induces in its users. However, this very same anatomical and physiological distribution makes this system a useful target for therapeutic endeavors. In this review, we briefly discuss the potential of small molecules that target the endocannabinoids as therapeutic tools to improve behaviors and treat illnesses. We believe that under medical supervision, endocannabinoid targets offer new advantages for patients for controlling multiple medical disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Prospéro-García
- Departamento de Fisiología, Laboratorio de Canabinoides, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Alejandra E Ruiz Contreras
- Laboratorio de Neurogenómica Cognitiva, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alette Ortega Gómez
- Laboratorio de Medicina Traslacional, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Andrea Herrera-Solís
- Laboratorio Efectos Terapéuticos de los Canabinoides, Subdirección de Investigación Biomédica, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mónica Méndez-Díaz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Laboratorio de Canabinoides, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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107
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Escudero-Lara A, Argerich J, Cabañero D, Maldonado R. Disease-modifying effects of natural Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in endometriosis-associated pain. eLife 2020; 9:50356. [PMID: 31931958 PMCID: PMC6977967 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic painful disease highly prevalent in women that is defined by growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity and lacks adequate treatment. Medical use of cannabis derivatives is a current hot topic and it is unknown whether phytocannabinoids may modify endometriosis symptoms and development. Here we evaluate the effects of repeated exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a mouse model of surgically-induced endometriosis. In this model, female mice develop mechanical hypersensitivity in the caudal abdomen, mild anxiety-like behavior and substantial memory deficits associated with the presence of extrauterine endometrial cysts. Interestingly, daily treatments with THC (2 mg/kg) alleviate mechanical hypersensitivity and pain unpleasantness, modify uterine innervation and restore cognitive function without altering the anxiogenic phenotype. Strikingly, THC also inhibits the development of endometrial cysts. These data highlight the interest of scheduled clinical trials designed to investigate possible benefits of THC for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common disease in women caused by tissue that lines the uterus growing outside the uterine cavity on to other organs in the pelvis. This can cause a variety of symptoms including chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and pain during menstruation or sexual intercourse. These symptoms may contribute to anxiety, depression, loss of working ability and a reduced quality of life. Currently available treatments for endometriosis, including hormonal therapy and surgery, have a limited effect and can produce unwanted side effects. For example, women who undergo surgery to remove the growths may experience post-surgical pain or a recurrence. As a result, women with endometriosis often rely on self-management strategies like dietary changes or exercise. Although cannabis consumption has a large number of potential side effects and can lead to substance abuse, it has been shown to provide pain relief in some conditions. But it is unknown whether it could be useful for treating endometriosis. Now, Escudero-Lara et al. have created a mouse model that mimics some of the conditions of human endometriosis: pelvic pain, anxiety and memory impairments. The mice were treated with moderate doses of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main pain-relieving component of cannabis. The THC reduced pelvic pain and cognitive impairments in the mice with the endometriosis-like condition, but it had no effect on their anxious behavior. Escudero-Lara et al. also noticed that endometrial growths were also smaller in the treated mice indicating that THC may also inhibit endometriosis development. These experiments suggest that THC may be a useful treatment for patients with endometriosis. Clinical trials are already ongoing to test whether these findings translate to patients with the condition. Although THC and cannabis are readily available in some areas, Escudero-Lara et al. discourage using unregulated cannabis products due to the potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Escudero-Lara
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Argerich
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Cabañero
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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108
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Escudero-Lara A, Argerich J, Cabañero D, Maldonado R. Disease-modifying effects of natural Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in endometriosis-associated pain. eLife 2020. [PMID: 31931958 DOI: 10.1101/715938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic painful disease highly prevalent in women that is defined by growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity and lacks adequate treatment. Medical use of cannabis derivatives is a current hot topic and it is unknown whether phytocannabinoids may modify endometriosis symptoms and development. Here we evaluate the effects of repeated exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a mouse model of surgically-induced endometriosis. In this model, female mice develop mechanical hypersensitivity in the caudal abdomen, mild anxiety-like behavior and substantial memory deficits associated with the presence of extrauterine endometrial cysts. Interestingly, daily treatments with THC (2 mg/kg) alleviate mechanical hypersensitivity and pain unpleasantness, modify uterine innervation and restore cognitive function without altering the anxiogenic phenotype. Strikingly, THC also inhibits the development of endometrial cysts. These data highlight the interest of scheduled clinical trials designed to investigate possible benefits of THC for women with endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Escudero-Lara
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Argerich
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Cabañero
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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109
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Nuñez-Borque E, González-Naranjo P, Bartolomé F, Alquézar C, Reinares-Sebastián A, Pérez C, Ceballos ML, Páez JA, Campillo NE, Martín-Requero Á. Targeting Cannabinoid Receptor Activation and BACE-1 Activity Counteracts TgAPP Mice Memory Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Lymphoblast Alterations. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:1938-1951. [PMID: 31898159 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01813-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive impairment of cognitive ability. Patients with AD display neuropathological lesions including senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. There are no disease-modifying drugs currently available. With the number of affected individuals increasing dramatically throughout the world, there is obvious urgent need for effective treatment strategy for AD. The multifactorial nature of AD encouraged the development of multifunctional compounds, able to interact with several putative targets. Here, we have evaluated the effects of two in-house designed cannabinoid receptors (CB) agonists showing inhibitory actions on β-secretase-1 (BACE-1) (NP137) and BACE-1/butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) (NP148), on cellular models of AD, including immortalized lymphocytes from late-onset AD patients. Furthermore, the performance of TgAPP mice in a spatial navigation task was investigated following chronic administration of NP137 and NP148. We report here that NP137 and NP148 showed neuroprotective effects in amyloid-β-treated primary cortical neurons, and NP137 in particular rescued the cognitive deficit of TgAPP mice. The latter compound was able to blunt the abnormal cell response to serum addition or withdrawal of lymphoblasts derived from AD patients. It is suggested that NP137 could be a good drug candidate for future treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Nuñez-Borque
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Bartolomé
- Neurodegenerative Disorders Group, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Alquézar
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, Box 1207, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | | | - Maria L Ceballos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Insituto Cajal (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A Páez
- Instituto de Química Médica (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria E Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ángeles Martín-Requero
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
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110
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Franks AL, Berry KJ, DeFranco DB. Prenatal drug exposure and neurodevelopmental programming of glucocorticoid signalling. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12786. [PMID: 31469457 PMCID: PMC6982551 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal neurodevelopment is dependent on precise functioning of multiple signalling pathways in the brain, including those mobilised by glucocorticoids (GC) and endocannabinoids (eCBs). Prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse, including opioids, alcohol, cocaine and cannabis, has been shown to not only impact GC signalling, but also alter functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Such exposures can have long-lasting neurobehavioural consequences, including alterations in the stress response in the offspring. Furthermore, cannabis contains cannabinoids that signal via the eCB pathway, which is linked to some components of GC signalling in the adult brain. Given that GCs are frequently used in pregnancy to prevent complications of prematurity, and also that rates of cannabis use in pregnancy are increasing, the likelihood of foetal co-exposure to these compounds is high and may have additional implications for long-term neurodevelopment. Here, we present a discussion of GC signalling and the HPA axis, as well as the effects of prenatal drug exposure on these pathways and the stress response, and we explore the interactions between GC and EC signalling in the developing brain and potential for neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis L Franks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kimberly J Berry
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Donald B DeFranco
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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111
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Murillo-Rodríguez E, Budde H, Veras AB, Rocha NB, Telles-Correia D, Monteiro D, Cid L, Yamamoto T, Machado S, Torterolo P. The Endocannabinoid System May Modulate Sleep Disorders in Aging. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:97-108. [PMID: 31368874 PMCID: PMC7324886 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x17666190801155922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable process that involves changes across life in multiple neurochemical, neuroanatomical, hormonal systems, and many others. In addition, these biological modifications lead to an increase in age-related sickness such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative disorders, and sleep disturbances, among others that affect activities of daily life. Demographic projections have demonstrated that aging will increase its worldwide rate in the coming years. The research on chronic diseases of the elderly is important to gain insights into this growing global burden. Novel therapeutic approaches aimed for treatment of age-related pathologies have included the endocannabinoid system as an effective tool since this biological system shows beneficial effects in preclinical models. However, and despite these advances, little has been addressed in the arena of the endocannabinoid system as an option for treating sleep disorders in aging since experimental evidence suggests that some elements of the endocannabinoid system modulate the sleep-wake cycle. This article addresses this less-studied field, focusing on the likely perspective of the implication of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of sleep problems reported in the aged. We conclude that beneficial effects regarding the putative efficacy of the endocannabinoid system as therapeutic tools in aging is either inconclusive or still missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Murillo-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias Moleculares e Integrativas, Escuela de Medicina, División Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac Mayab, Mérida, Yucatán, México
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
| | - Henning Budde
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - André Barciela Veras
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Nuno Barbosa Rocha
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diogo Telles-Correia
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- University of Lisbon, Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Diogo Monteiro
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Sport Science School of Rio Maior-Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport, Health and Human Development-CIDESD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luis Cid
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Sport Science School of Rio Maior-Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal
- Research Center in Sport, Health and Human Development-CIDESD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Tetsuya Yamamoto
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Graduate School of Technology, Industrial and Social Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Sérgio Machado
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Laboratory of Physical Activity Neuroscience, Physical Activity Sciences Postgraduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Pablo Torterolo
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología del Sueño, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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112
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Abstract
Given the aging Baby Boomer generation, changes in cannabis legislation, and the growing acknowledgment of cannabis for its therapeutic potential, it is predicted that cannabis use in the older population will escalate. It is, therefore, important to determine the interaction between the effects of cannabis and aging. The aim of this report is to describe the link between cannabis use and the aging brain. Our review of the literature found few and inconsistent empirical studies that directly address the impact of cannabis use on the aging brain. However, research focused on long-term cannabis use points toward cumulative effects on multimodal systems in the brain that are similarly affected during aging. Specifically, the effects of cannabis and aging converge on overlapping networks in the endocannabinoid, opioid, and dopamine systems that may affect functional decline particularly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which are critical areas for memory and executive functioning. To conclude, despite the limited current knowledge on the potential interactive effects between cannabis and aging, evidence from the literature suggests that cannabis and aging effects are concurrently present across several neurotransmitter systems. There is a great need for future research to directly test the interactions between cannabis and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Bin Yoo
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer DiMuzio
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Francesca M Filbey
- Center for BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
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113
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Chen HT, Mackie K. Adolescent Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure Selectively Impairs Working Memory but Not Several Other mPFC-Mediated Behaviors. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:576214. [PMID: 33262712 PMCID: PMC7688511 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.576214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As the frequency of cannabis use by 14-16-year-olds increases, it becomes increasingly important to understand the effect of cannabis on the developing central nervous system. Using mice as a model system, we treated adolescent (28 day old) C57BL6/J mice of both sexes for 3 weeks with 3 mg/kg tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Starting a week after the last treatment, several cognitive behaviors were analyzed. Mice treated with THC as adolescents acquired proficiency in a working memory task more slowly than vehicle-treated mice. Working memory recall in both sexes of THC-treated mice was also deficient during increasing cognitive load compared to vehicle-treated mice. Our adolescent THC treatment did not strongly affect social preference, anxiety behaviors, or decision-making behaviors on the elevated T maze task. In summary, under the conditions of this study, adolescent THC treatment of mice markedly affected the establishment, and persistence of working memory, while having little effect on decision-making, social preference or anxiety behaviors. This study provides further support that adolescent THC affects specific behavioral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Ting Chen
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.,Gill Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States.,Gill Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
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114
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Sarne Y. THC for age-related cognitive decline? Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 10:3628-3629. [PMID: 30420585 PMCID: PMC6326663 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sarne
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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115
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Borgan F, Beck K, Butler E, McCutcheon R, Veronese M, Vernon A, Howes OD. The effects of cannabinoid 1 receptor compounds on memory: a meta-analysis and systematic review across species. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:3257-3270. [PMID: 31165913 PMCID: PMC6828623 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05283-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE While cannabis-based medicinal products have been shown to be effective for numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders, the evidence base regarding their adverse cognitive effects is poorly understood. The cannabinoid 1 receptor modulates memory performance via intracellular and extracellular mechanisms that alter synaptic transmission and plasticity. While previous literature has consistently shown that chronic cannabis users exhibit marked cognitive impairments, mixed findings have been reported in the context of placebo-controlled experimental trials. It is therefore unclear whether these compounds inherently alter cognitive processes or whether individuals who are genetically predisposed to use cannabis may have underlying cognitive deficits. OBJECTIVE We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the effects of full and partial cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) agonists, antagonists, and negative allosteric modulators on non-spatial and spatial memory. METHODS In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched for studies examining the effects of CB1R agonists, antagonists, and negative allosteric modulators on memory performance. RESULTS We systematically reviewed 195 studies investigating the effects of cannabinoid compounds on memory. In humans (N = 35 studies, comprising N = 782 subjects), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (1.5-5 mg/kg) relative to placebo impaired performance on non-spatial memory tests, whereas only high THC doses (67 mg/kg) impaired spatial memory. Similarly, THC (0.2-4 mg/kg) significantly impaired visuospatial memory in monkeys and non-human primates (N = 8 studies, comprising N = 71 subjects). However, acute THC (0.002-10 mg/kg) had no effect on non-spatial (N = 6 studies, comprising 117 subjects; g = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.18 to 3.63, p = 0.08) or spatial memory (9 studies, comprising 206 subjects; g = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.09 to 2.58, p = 0.43). However, acute, full CB1R agonists significantly impaired non-spatial memory (N = 23 studies, 519 subjects; g = - 1.39, 95% CI - 2.72 to - 0.06, p = 0.03). By contrast, the chronic administration of CB1R agonists had no effect on non-spatial memory (N = 5 studies, comprising 146 subjects; g = - 0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 1.32 to 1.22, p = 0.94). Moreover, the acute administration of CB1R antagonists had no effect on non-spatial memory in rodents (N = 9 studies, N = 149 subjects; g = 0.40, 95% CI - 0.11 to 0.92, p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS The acute administration of THC, partial CB1R agonist, significantly impaired non-spatial memory in humans, monkeys, and non-human primates but not rodents. However, full CB1R agonists significantly impaired non-spatial memory in a dose-dependent manner but CB1R antagonists had no effect on non-spatial memory in rodents. Moreover, chronic THC administration did not significantly impair spatial or non-spatial memory in rodents, and there is inconclusive evidence on this in humans. Our findings highlight species differences in the effects of cannabinoid compounds on memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Borgan
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Katherine Beck
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Emma Butler
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Robert McCutcheon
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Mattia Veronese
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anthony Vernon
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London, London, UK.
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116
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A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Cannabis Use in Older Adults. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2019; 6:443-455. [PMID: 32477850 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-019-00285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Older adults currently represent the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users, yet few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis use on cognitive functioning in aging. We conducted a systematic review of the recent literature examining cognitive outcomes associated with cannabis use in older adults, with and without neurocognitive disorders, to clarify the potential neuroprotective benefits and risks of cognitive decline in this population. Recent Findings We identified 26 studies examining cognitive outcomes associated with medical and recreational use of cannabis in healthy aging, dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV, and pain populations. Although variability in the cannabis products used, outcomes assessed, and study quality limits the conclusions that can be made, modest reductions in cognitive performance were generally detected with higher doses and heavier lifetime use. Summary This review highlights the need for additional high-quality research using standardized, validated assessments of cannabis exposure and cognitive outcomes. Reliable measures and longitudinal data are necessary to better characterize the effects of cannabis use on cognitive aging, as well as differential effects of recreational and medical cannabis.
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117
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Wendelmuth C, Wirz S, Torontali M, Gastmeier A, Gastmeier K. [Dronabinol in geriatric pain and palliative care patients : A retrospective evaluation of statutory-health-insurance-covered outpatient medical treatment]. Schmerz 2019; 33:384-391. [PMID: 31473816 DOI: 10.1007/s00482-019-00408-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geriatric patients often suffer from a long history of pain and have a limited life expectancy. Cannabinoid receptor agonists like dronabinol may be an effective, low-risk treatment option for geriatric patients with chronic pain. OBJECTIVES The effectiveness and side effects of dronabinol therapy in geriatric patients are analyzed. The effects of the approval requirement are presented. METHODS In our retrospective monocentric cohort study, the study population comprised all geriatric patients over the age of 80 years who were treated in our office since the cannabis law came into effect on 10 March 2017 until 17 July 2018 (evaluation date). Geriatric, nonpalliative pain patients (group A) and geriatric palliative patients (group B) were investigated. The basis of the evaluation was a questionnaire sheet that we use in our office with details of dosages, pain intensity, treatment effects and side effects from dronabinol therapy. RESULTS By using dronabinol, 21 of the 40 geriatric patients (52.5%) achieved pain relief of more than 30%, 10% of the patients of more than 50%. On average, about four symptoms or side effects related to previous treatment were positively influenced. 26% of patients reported side effects. The rejection rates on the part of the health insurances were 38.7% (group A) and 10.3% (group B). CONCLUSIONS This study is one of the few analyses of the use of Dronabinol in geriatric patients. We show that cannabis-based drugs (in this case dronabinol) are an effective, low-risk treatment option that should be considered early in therapy. Regarding the indication spectrum, further clinical studies and an approval-free test phase are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wendelmuth
- Zentrum für ambulantes Operieren, Spezielle Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin, Praxis Gastmeier, Karl-Marx-Str. 42, 14482, Potsdam, Deutschland.
| | - Stefan Wirz
- Abteilung für Anästhesie, Intensiv‑, Schmerz- und Palliativmedizin; Zentrum für Schmerzmedizin; Weaningzentrum, GFO-Kliniken Bonn, Cura Bad Honnef, Schülgenstraße 15, 53604, Bad Honnef, Deutschland
| | - Misel Torontali
- Zentrum für ambulantes Operieren, Spezielle Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin, Praxis Gastmeier, Karl-Marx-Str. 42, 14482, Potsdam, Deutschland
| | - Anne Gastmeier
- Zentrum für ambulantes Operieren, Spezielle Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin, Praxis Gastmeier, Karl-Marx-Str. 42, 14482, Potsdam, Deutschland
| | - Knud Gastmeier
- Zentrum für ambulantes Operieren, Spezielle Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin, Praxis Gastmeier, Karl-Marx-Str. 42, 14482, Potsdam, Deutschland
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118
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Ho Choi
- From the Cerebral Microcirculation Section, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.).,Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.)
| | - Yongshan Mou
- From the Cerebral Microcirculation Section, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.).,Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.)
| | - Afonso C Silva
- From the Cerebral Microcirculation Section, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.).,Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, PA (S.-H.C., Y.M., A.C.S.)
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119
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Kleckner AS, Kleckner IR, Kamen CS, Tejani MA, Janelsins MC, Morrow GR, Peppone LJ. Opportunities for cannabis in supportive care in cancer. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2019; 11:1758835919866362. [PMID: 31413731 PMCID: PMC6676264 DOI: 10.1177/1758835919866362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has the potential to modulate some of the most common and debilitating symptoms of cancer and its treatments, including nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and pain. However, the dearth of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis in treating these symptoms in patients with cancer poses a challenge to clinicians in discussing this option with their patients. A review was performed using keywords related to cannabis and important symptoms of cancer and its treatments. Literature was qualitatively reviewed from preclinical models to clinical trials in the fields of cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and others, to prudently inform the use of cannabis in supportive and palliative care in cancer. There is a reasonable amount of evidence to consider cannabis for nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and pain as a supplement to first-line treatments. There is promising evidence to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, gastrointestinal distress, and sleep disorders, but the literature is thus far too limited to recommend cannabis for these symptoms. Scant, yet more controversial, evidence exists in regard to cannabis for cancer- and treatment-related cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Adverse effects of cannabis are documented but tend to be mild. Cannabis has multifaceted potential bioactive benefits that appear to outweigh its risks in many situations. Further research is required to elucidate its mechanisms of action and efficacy and to optimize cannabis preparations and doses for specific populations affected by cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber S Kleckner
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, CU 420658, 265 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Ian R Kleckner
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Charles S Kamen
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Mohamedtaki A Tejani
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Michelle C Janelsins
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gary R Morrow
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Luke J Peppone
- Cancer Control and Survivorship, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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120
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Burggren AC, Shirazi A, Ginder N, London ED. Cannabis effects on brain structure, function, and cognition: considerations for medical uses of cannabis and its derivatives. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 45:563-579. [PMID: 31365275 PMCID: PMC7027431 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1634086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance worldwide, and legalization for recreational and medical purposes has substantially increased its availability and use in the United States.Objectives: Decades of research have suggested that recreational cannabis use confers risk for cognitive impairment across various domains, and structural and functional differences in the brain have been linked to early and heavy cannabis use.Methods: With substantial evidence for the role of the endocannabinoid system in neural development and understanding that brain development continues into early adulthood, the rising use of cannabis in adolescents and young adults raises major concerns. Yet some formulations of cannabinoid compounds are FDA-approved for medical uses, including applications in children.Results: Potential effects on the trajectory of brain morphology and cognition, therefore, should be considered. The goal of this review is to update and consolidate relevant findings in order to inform attitudes and public policy regarding the recreational and medical use of cannabis and cannabinoid compounds.Conclusions: The findings point to considerations for age limits and guidelines for use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison C Burggren
- Robert and Beverly Lewis Center for Neuroimaging, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Anaheed Shirazi
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nathaniel Ginder
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edythe D. London
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, and the Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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121
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Albayram O, MacIver B, Mathai J, Verstegen A, Baxley S, Qiu C, Bell C, Caldarone BJ, Zhou XZ, Lu KP, Zeidel M. Traumatic Brain Injury-related voiding dysfunction in mice is caused by damage to rostral pathways, altering inputs to the reflex pathways. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8646. [PMID: 31201348 PMCID: PMC6570649 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45234-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain degeneration, including that caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to severe bladder dysfunction, including incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms; with the causes remaining unknown. Male C57BL/6J mice underwent repetitive moderate brain injury (rmdTBI) or sham injury, then mice received either cis P-tau monoclonal antibody (cis mAb), which prevents brain degeneration in TBI mice, or control (IgG). Void spot assays revealed age-dependent incontinence in IgG controls 8 months after injury, while cis mAb treated or sham mice showed no dysfunction. No obvious bladder pathology occurred in any group. Urodynamic cystometry in conscious mice revealed overactive bladder, reduced maximal voiding pressures and incontinence in IgG control, but not sham or cis mAb treated mice. Hyperphosphorylated tau deposition and neural tangle-like pathology occurred in cortical and hippocampal regions only of IgG control mice accompanied with post-traumatic neuroinflammation and was not seen in midbrain and hindbrain regions associated with bladder filling and voiding reflex arcs. In this model of brain degeneration bladder dysfunction results from rostral, and not hindbrain damage, indicating that rostral brain inputs are required for normal bladder functioning. Detailed analysis of the functioning of neural circuits controlling bladder function in TBI should lead to insights into how brain degeneration leads to bladder dysfunction, as well as novel strategies to treat these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onder Albayram
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. .,Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Bryce MacIver
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - John Mathai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Anne Verstegen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sean Baxley
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Chenxi Qiu
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Carter Bell
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Barbara J Caldarone
- NeuroBehavior Laboratory, Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Kun Ping Lu
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Mark Zeidel
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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122
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Müller CE. [Progress in cannabis research from a pharmaceutical chemist's point of view]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2019; 62:818-824. [PMID: 31161229 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-019-02964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Preparations of hemp, Cannabis sativa, have been used for thousands of years as recreational and therapeutic drugs. The most important constituents are the psychoactive (-)-trans-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a partial agonist at cannabinoid (CB) receptors CB1 and CB2, and the non-psychoactive pleiotropic cannabidiol (CBD). Both compounds are highly lipophilic, like the endogenous CB receptor agonists, the arachidonic acid derivatives anandamide and arachidonoyl glycerol. The CB receptors belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors, and the first X‑ray crystal structures of both CB receptors subtypes have recently been obtained, which will facilitate the rational design of novel synthetic ligands. Besides the already largely established indications such as chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced vomiting, multiple sclerosis-associated spasms, and cachexia, there is preliminary evidence for several further cannabinoid effects, which will have to be confirmed by clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa E Müller
- Pharmazeutisches Institut, Pharmazeutische Chemie I, Universität Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121, Bonn, Deutschland. .,Pharma-Zentrum Bonn (PZB), Universität Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland.
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123
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Diacylglycerol Lipase-Alpha Regulates Hippocampal-Dependent Learning and Memory Processes in Mice. J Neurosci 2019; 39:5949-5965. [PMID: 31127001 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1353-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diacylglycerol lipase-α (DAGL-α), the principal biosynthetic enzyme of the endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) on neurons, plays a key role in CB1 receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity and hippocampal neurogenesis, but its contribution to global hippocampal-mediated processes remains unknown. Thus, the present study examines the role that DAGL-α plays on LTP in hippocampus, as well as in hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory tasks, and on the production of endocannabinoid and related lipids through the use of complementary pharmacologic and genetic approaches to disrupt this enzyme in male mice. Here we show that DAGL-α gene deletion or pharmacological inhibition disrupts LTP in CA1 of the hippocampus but elicits varying magnitudes of behavioral learning and memory deficits in mice. In particular, DAGL-α-/- mice display profound impairments in the Object Location assay and Morris Water Maze (MWM) acquisition engaging in nonspatial search strategies. In contrast, WT mice administered the DAGL-α inhibitor DO34 show delays in MWM acquisition and reversal learning, but no deficits in expression, extinction, forgetting, or perseveration processes in this task, as well as no impairment in Object Location. The deficits in synaptic plasticity and MWM performance occur in concert with decreased 2-AG and its major lipid metabolite (arachidonic acid), but increases of a 2-AG diacylglycerol precursor in hippocampus, PFC, striatum, and cerebellum. These novel behavioral and electrophysiological results implicate a direct and perhaps selective role of DAGL-α in the integration of new spatial information.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Here we show that genetic deletion or pharmacologic inhibition of diacylglycerol lipase-α (DAGL-α) impairs hippocampal CA1 LTP, differentially disrupts spatial learning and memory performance in Morris water maze (MWM) and Object Location tasks, and alters brain levels of endocannabinoids and related lipids. Whereas DAGL-α-/- mice exhibit profound phenotypic spatial memory deficits, a DAGL inhibitor selectively impairs the integration of new information in MWM acquisition and reversal tasks, but not memory processes of expression, extinction, forgetting, or perseveration, and does not affect performance in the Objection Location task. The findings that constitutive or short-term DAGL-α disruption impairs learning and memory at electrophysiological and selective in vivo levels implicate this enzyme as playing a key role in the integration of new spatial information.
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Loprinzi PD, Zou L, Li H. The Endocannabinoid System as a Potential Mechanism through which Exercise Influences Episodic Memory Function. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E112. [PMID: 31100856 PMCID: PMC6562547 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9050112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging research demonstrates that exercise, including both acute and chronic exercise, may influence episodic memory function. To date, mechanistic explanations of this effect are often attributed to alterations in long-term potentiation, neurotrophic production, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Herein, we discuss a complementary mechanistic model, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may, in part, influence the effects of exercise on memory function. We discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system on memory function as well as the effects of exercise on endocannabinoid alterations. This is an exciting line of inquiry that should help delineate new insights into the mechanistic role of exercise on memory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Loprinzi
- Exercise & Memory Laboratory, Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA.
| | - Liye Zou
- Lifestyle (Mind-Body Movement) Research Center, College of Psychology and Sociology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Hong Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, College of Psychology and Sociology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
- Research Centre of Brain Function and Psychological Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
- Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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Banister SD, Arnold JC, Connor M, Glass M, McGregor IS. Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2160-2175. [PMID: 30689342 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis ( Cannabis sativa) is the most widely used illicit drug in the world, with an estimated 192 million users globally. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is (-)- trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a compound with a diverse range of pharmacological actions. The unique and distinctive intoxication caused by Δ9-THC primarily reflects partial agonist action at central cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors. Δ9-THC is an approved therapeutic treatment for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis, and is being investigated in indications such as anorexia nervosa, agitation in dementia, and Tourette's syndrome. It is available as a regulated pharmaceutical in products such as Marinol, Sativex, and Namisol as well as in an ever-increasing range of unregistered medicinal and recreational cannabis products. While cannabis is an ancient medicament, contemporary use is embroiled in legal, scientific, and social controversy, much of which relates to the potential hazards and benefits of Δ9-THC itself. Robust contemporary debate surrounds the therapeutic value of Δ9-THC in different diseases, its capacity to produce psychosis and cognitive impairment, and the addictive and "gateway" potential of the drug. This review will provide a profile of the chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic uses of Δ9-THC as well as the historical and societal import of this unique, distinctive, and ubiquitous psychoactive substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D. Banister
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science and School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C. Arnold
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- School of Medical Science and Discipline of Pharmacology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Connor
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Michelle Glass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Iain S. McGregor
- Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
- Faculty of Science and School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Hodges EL, Ashpole NM. Aging circadian rhythms and cannabinoids. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 79:110-118. [PMID: 31035036 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Numerous aspects of mammalian physiology exhibit cyclic daily patterns known as circadian rhythms. However, studies in aged humans and animals indicate that these physiological rhythms are not consistent throughout the life span. The simultaneous development of disrupted circadian rhythms and age-related impairments suggests a shared mechanism, which may be amenable to therapeutic intervention. Recently, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a complex signaling network, which regulates numerous aspects of circadian physiology relevant to the neurobiology of aging. Agonists of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) have consistently been shown to decrease neuronal activity, core body temperature, locomotion, and cognitive function. Paradoxically, several lines of evidence now suggest that very low doses of cannabinoids are beneficial in advanced age. One potential explanation for this phenomenon is that these drugs exhibit hormesis-a biphasic dose-response wherein low doses produce the opposite effects of higher doses. Therefore, it is important to determine the dose-, age-, and time-dependent effects of these substances on the regulation of circadian rhythms and other processes dysregulated in aging. This review highlights 3 fields-biological aging, circadian rhythms, and endocannabinoid signaling-to critically assess the therapeutic potential of endocannabinoid modulation in aged individuals. If the hormetic properties of exogenous cannabinoids are confirmed, we conclude that precise administration of these compounds may bidirectionally entrain central and peripheral circadian clocks and benefit multiple aspects of aging physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik L Hodges
- Pharmacology Division, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Oxford, MS, USA
| | - Nicole M Ashpole
- Pharmacology Division, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Oxford, MS, USA.
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Hishimoto A, Pletnikova O, Lang DL, Troncoso JC, Egan JM, Liu QR. Neurexin 3 transmembrane and soluble isoform expression and splicing haplotype are associated with neuron inflammasome and Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2019; 11:28. [PMID: 30902061 PMCID: PMC6429815 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0475-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synaptic damage precedes neuron death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurexins, NRXN1, NRXN2, and NRXN3, are presynaptic adhesion molecules that specify neuron synapses and regulate neurotransmitter release. Neurexins and postsynaptic neuroligins interact with amyloid beta oligomer (AβO) deposits in damaged synapses. NRXN3 gene variants have been associated with autism, addiction, and schizophrenia, however, not fully investigated in Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated an AD association of a 3'-splicing allele of rs8019381 that produces altered expression of transmembrane or soluble NRXN3 isoforms. METHODS We carried out RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction), PCR-RFLP (PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism), Sanger sequencing, and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays for NRXN3 neuron expression and genotyping. Genetic associations were analyzed by χ2 tests, and ISH signals were analyzed by FISH v1.0 module of Indica Labs HALO software. RESULTS We previously identified a functional haplotype in the 3' region of neurexin 3 (NRXN3) gene that alters the expression ratios between NRXN3 transmembrane and soluble isoforms. In this study, we found that expression and ratio of transmembrane and soluble NRXN3 isoforms were reduced in AD postmortem brains and inversely correlated with inflammasome component NLRP3 in AD brain regions. The splicing haplotype related to the transmembrane and soluble NRXN3 expression was associated with AD samples with P = 6.3 × 10-5 (odds ratio = 2.48) and interacted with APOE genotypes. CONCLUSIONS We found that the SNP rs8019381 of NRXN3 that is located adjacent to splicing site #5 (SS#5) interacts with the APOE ε4 haplotype and alters NRXN3 transmembrane or soluble isoform expression in AD postmortem cortex. Dysregulation of presynaptic NRXN3 expression and splicing might increase neuron inflammation in AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akitoyo Hishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Olga Pletnikova
- Departments of Pathology, Neuropathology Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Doyle Lu Lang
- Lab of Clinical Investigation, NIA-NIH, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Departments of Pathology, Neuropathology Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Lab of Clinical Investigation, NIA-NIH, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Qing-Rong Liu
- Lab of Clinical Investigation, NIA-NIH, 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Sarne Y. Beneficial and deleterious effects of cannabinoids in the brain: the case of ultra-low dose THC. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 45:551-562. [PMID: 30864864 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1578366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the neurocognitive advantages and drawbacks of cannabinoid substances, and discusses the possible physiological mechanisms that underlie their dual activity. The article further reviews the neurocognitive effects of ultra-low doses of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the conventional doses) in mice, and proposes such low doses of THC as a possible remedy for various brain injuries and for the treatment of age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosef Sarne
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Tóth KF, Ádám D, Bíró T, Oláh A. Cannabinoid Signaling in the Skin: Therapeutic Potential of the "C(ut)annabinoid" System. Molecules 2019; 24:E918. [PMID: 30845666 PMCID: PMC6429381 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24050918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has lately been proven to be an important, multifaceted homeostatic regulator, which influences a wide-variety of physiological processes all over the body. Its members, the endocannabinoids (eCBs; e.g., anandamide), the eCB-responsive receptors (e.g., CB₁, CB₂), as well as the complex enzyme and transporter apparatus involved in the metabolism of the ligands were shown to be expressed in several tissues, including the skin. Although the best studied functions over the ECS are related to the central nervous system and to immune processes, experimental efforts over the last two decades have unambiguously confirmed that cutaneous cannabinoid ("c[ut]annabinoid") signaling is deeply involved in the maintenance of skin homeostasis, barrier formation and regeneration, and its dysregulation was implicated to contribute to several highly prevalent diseases and disorders, e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, scleroderma, acne, hair growth and pigmentation disorders, keratin diseases, various tumors, and itch. The current review aims to give an overview of the available skin-relevant endo- and phytocannabinoid literature with a special emphasis on the putative translational potential, and to highlight promising future research directions as well as existing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Fanni Tóth
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Dorottya Ádám
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Tamás Bíró
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
- HCEMM Nonprofit Ltd., 6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Attila Oláh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
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Brook E, Mamo J, Wong R, Al-Salami H, Falasca M, Lam V, Takechi R. Blood-brain barrier disturbances in diabetes-associated dementia: Therapeutic potential for cannabinoids. Pharmacol Res 2019; 141:291-297. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Combined ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and moderate alcohol administration: effects on ingestive behaviors in adolescent male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:671-684. [PMID: 30415276 PMCID: PMC6401297 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Whereas co-use of alcohol and marijuana is prevalent in adolescents, the effects of such drug co-exposure on ingestive and cognitive behaviors remain largely unexplored. We hypothesized that co-exposure to alcohol and ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constitute of marijuana, alters feeding behavior and cognition differently from either drug alone. METHODS Male rats received daily THC (3-20 mg/kg/day) or oil vehicle through subcutaneous injection or consumption of a cookie with access to saccharin or saccharin-sweetened alcohol during adolescence (P30-45). Barnes maze and sucrose preference tests were applied to assess spatial memory and behavioral flexibility and abstinence-related anhedonia, respectively. RESULTS Subcutaneous THC did not affect alcohol intake but dose-dependently increased acute (3 h) chow intake and reduced weight gain. Moderate alcohol consumption reduced the acute hyperphagic effect of subcutaneous THC. By contrast, oral THC at a dose > 5 mg/kg robustly reduced alcohol intake without affecting 3-h chow intake. At this dose, some rats stopped consuming the THC-laced cookies. Furthermore, oral THC reduced weight gain, and co-exposure to alcohol alleviated this effect. Chronic subcutaneous, but not oral, THC reduced sucrose intake during abstinence. Neither treatment impaired cognitive behaviors in the Barnes maze. CONCLUSION Moderate alcohol and THC consumption can interact to elicit unique outcomes on ingestive behaviors and energy balance. Importantly, this study established a novel model of voluntary alcohol and THC consumption for studying mechanisms underlying the consequences of adolescent onset co-use of the two drugs.
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Bonini SA, Premoli M, Tambaro S, Kumar A, Maccarinelli G, Memo M, Mastinu A. Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 227:300-315. [PMID: 30205181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa) is an annual dioecious plant, which shares its origins with the inception of the first agricultural human societies in Asia. Over the course of time different parts of the plant have been utilized for therapeutic and recreational purposes, for instance, extraction of healing oils from seed, or the use of inflorescences for their psychoactive effects. The key psychoactive constituent in C. sativa is called Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC). The endocannabinoid system seems to be phylogenetically ancient, as it was present in the most primitive vertebrates with a neuronal network. N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are the main endocannabinoids ligands present in the animal kingdom, and the main endocannabinoid receptors are cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor and cannabinoid type-2 (CB2) receptor. AIM OF THE STUDY The review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive evaluation, from the ancient times to our days, of the ethnological, botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of C. sativa, with a vision for promoting further pharmaceutical research to explore its complete potential as a therapeutic agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was performed by reviewing in extensive details the studies on historical significance and ethnopharmacological applications of C. sativa by using international scientific databases, books, Master's and Ph.D. dissertations and government reports. In addition, we also try to gather relevant information from large regional as well as global unpublished resources. In addition, the plant taxonomy was validated using certified databases such as Medicinal Plant Names Services (MPNS) and The Plant List. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A detailed comparative analysis of the available resources for C. sativa confirmed its origin and traditional spiritual, household and therapeutic uses and most importantly its popularity as a recreational drug. The result of several studies suggested a deeper involvement of phytocannabinoids (the key compounds in C. sativa) in several others central and peripheral pathophysiological mechanisms such as food intake, inflammation, pain, colitis, sleep disorders, neurological and psychiatric illness. However, despite their numerous medicinal benefits, they are still considered as a menace to the society and banned throughout the world, except for few countries. We believe that this review will help lay the foundation for promoting exhaustive pharmacological and pharmaceutical studies in order to better understand the clinical relevance and applications of non-psychoactive cannabinoids in the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases and help to improve the legal status of C. sativa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Anna Bonini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marika Premoli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Giuseppina Maccarinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Mastinu
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Enhancing effects of acute exposure to cannabis smoke on working memory performance. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 157:151-162. [PMID: 30521850 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Numerous preclinical studies show that acute cannabinoid administration impairs cognitive performance. Almost all of this research has employed cannabinoid injections, however, whereas smoking is the preferred route of cannabis administration in humans. The goal of these experiments was to systematically determine how acute exposure to cannabis smoke affects working memory performance in a rat model. Adult male (n = 15) and female (n = 16) Long-Evans rats were trained in a food-motivated delayed response working memory task. Prior to test sessions, rats were exposed to smoke generated by burning different numbers of cannabis or placebo cigarettes, using a within-subjects design. Exposure to cannabis smoke had no effect on male rats' performance, but surprisingly, enhanced working memory accuracy in females, which tended to perform less accurately than males under baseline conditions. In addition, cannabis smoke enhanced working memory accuracy in a subgroup of male rats that performed comparably to the worst-performing females. Exposure to placebo smoke had no effect on performance, suggesting that the cannabinoid content of cannabis smoke was critical for its effects on working memory. Follow-up experiments showed that acute administration of either Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (0.0, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg) or the cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonist rimonabant (0.0, 0.2, 0.6, 2.0 mg/kg) impaired working memory performance. These results indicate that differences in the route, timing, or dose of cannabinoid administration can yield distinct cognitive outcomes, and highlight the need for further investigation of this topic.
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Sagar KA, Gruber SA. Interactions between recreational cannabis use and cognitive function: lessons from functional magnetic resonance imaging. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1451:42-70. [PMID: 30426517 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13990] [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: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis use is becoming increasingly popular as a growing number of states pass legislation to legalize cannabis and cannabis-derived products for recreational and/or medical purposes. Given the widespread use of cannabis, it is critical to understand the neural consequences related to cannabis use. In this review, we focus on evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies that document acute and residual alterations in brain function during tasks spanning a variety of cognitive domains: executive function, attention and working memory, memory, motor skills, error monitoring, and reward and affective processing. Although it is clear that cannabis affects brain function, the findings are somewhat inconsistent; variables that potentially affect study outcomes are outlined, including a discussion of the impact of chronological age and age of cannabis onset as well as length of abstinence at the time of assessment, which are important considerations when measuring cannabis use patterns. Inherent differences between recreational/adult cannabis use versus use for medical purposes are also discussed, given their importance to public policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Sagar
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Staci A Gruber
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Sexton M, Cuttler C, Mischley LK. A Survey of Cannabis Acute Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms: Differential Responses Across User Types and Age. J Altern Complement Med 2018; 25:326-335. [PMID: 30383388 PMCID: PMC6437627 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: There is a rapidly evolving legal and medical culture around cannabis, with corresponding changes in the demographics of users. For instance, the percentage of the aging population accessing cannabis is growing substantially, outpacing other age groups. The goals of this study were to describe the acute effects of cannabis, subjective experiences of withdrawal, and beliefs around the addictiveness of cannabis, as well as to determine whether these effects differ as a function of age or reason for use (medical vs. recreational use). It was hypothesized that medical users and younger users would report fewer adverse effects. Subjects: Survey responses from 2905 cannabis users were analyzed. Results: Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were used to compare group percentages after statistically controlling for confounding differences in their demographic and cannabis use characteristics. The most commonly endorsed acute effects were improved sleep, more calm/peaceful, desire to eat, more creative, and dry mouth; while the most commonly endorsed withdrawal symptoms were irritability, insomnia, and anxiety. Relative to recreational users, medical users were less likely to report undesirable acute effects but were more likely to report undesirable withdrawal symptoms. Older (50+) individuals reported fewer undesirable acute effects and withdrawal symptoms compared with younger users (18–29). Only 17% of the total sample reported believing that cannabis is addictive, and this did not vary as a function of reason for use. Conclusions: Older people and medical users appear to experience acute and withdrawal effects of cannabis differently than recreational and younger users, perhaps because these groups benefit more from the medicinal properties of cannabis. These data can provide descriptive information to help inform health care providers and potential consumers about effects of cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Sexton
- 1 Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Carrie Cuttler
- 2 Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
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Chicca A, Schafroth MA, Reynoso-Moreno I, Erni R, Petrucci V, Carreira EM, Gertsch J. Uncovering the psychoactivity of a cannabinoid from liverworts associated with a legal high. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaat2166. [PMID: 30397641 PMCID: PMC6200358 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat2166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Phytochemical studies on the liverwort Radula genus have previously identified the bibenzyl (-)-cis-perrottetinene (cis-PET), which structurally resembles (-)-Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-trans-THC) from Cannabis sativa L. Radula preparations are sold as cannabinoid-like legal high on the internet, even though pharmacological data are lacking. Herein, we describe a versatile total synthesis of (-)-cis-PET and its (-)-trans diastereoisomer and demonstrate that both molecules readily penetrate the brain and induce hypothermia, catalepsy, hypolocomotion, and analgesia in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner in mice. The natural product (-)-cis-PET was profiled on major brain receptors, showing a selective cannabinoid pharmacology. This study also uncovers pharmacological differences between Δ9-THC and PET diastereoisomers. Most notably, (-)-cis-PET and (-)-trans-PET significantly reduced basal brain prostaglandin levels associated with Δ9-trans-THC side effects in a CB1 receptor-dependent manner, thus mimicking the action of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol. Therefore, the natural product (-)-cis-PET is a psychoactive cannabinoid from bryophytes, illustrating the existence of convergent evolution of bioactive cannabinoids in the plant kingdom. Our findings may have implications for bioprospecting and drug discovery and provide a molecular rationale for the reported effects upon consumption of certain Radula preparations as moderately active legal highs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Chicca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - M. A. Schafroth
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - I. Reynoso-Moreno
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - R. Erni
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - V. Petrucci
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - E. M. Carreira
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J. Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Szodorai E, Bampali K, Romanov RA, Kasper S, Hökfelt T, Ernst M, Lubec G, Harkany T. Diversity matters: combinatorial information coding by GABA A receptor subunits during spatial learning and its allosteric modulation. Cell Signal 2018; 50:142-159. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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139
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Cavener VS, Gaulden A, Pennipede D, Jagasia P, Uddin J, Marnett LJ, Patel S. Inhibition of Diacylglycerol Lipase Impairs Fear Extinction in Mice. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:479. [PMID: 30108473 PMCID: PMC6080414 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating fear and extinction learning may offer insights that can lead to novel treatments for debilitating anxiety and trauma-related disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a retrograde inhibitory signaling pathway involved in regulating central responses to stress. The eCB 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) has recently been proposed to serve as a homeostatic signal mitigating adverse effects of stress exposure, however, less well understood is 2-AG’s role in fear learning and fear extinction. In this study, we have sought to explore 2-AG’s role in fear conditioning and fear extinction by disrupting 2-AG synthesis utilizing the DAGL inhibitor (DO34) and DAGLα knock-out mice (DAGLα−/−). We found that DAGLα−/− mice, and male and female C57B6/J mice treated with DO34, exhibited impairment in extinction learning in an auditory cue fear-conditioning paradigm. DO34 did not increase unconditioned freezing. Interestingly, inhibition of fatty-acid amide hydrolase was not able to restore normal fear extinction in DO34-treated mice suggesting increased Anandamide cannot compensate for deficient 2-AG signaling in the regulation of fear extinction. Moreover, augmentation of CB1R signaling with tetrahydrocannabinol also failed to restore normal fear extinction in DO34-treated mice. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that DAGLα plays an important role in fear extinction learning. Although genetic and pharmacological disruption of DAGL activity causes widespread lipidomic remodeling, these data combined with previous studies putatively suggest that deficient 2-AG signaling could be a susceptibility endophenotype for the development of trauma-related psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria S Cavener
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Andrew Gaulden
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Dante Pennipede
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Puja Jagasia
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jashim Uddin
- Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Lawrence J Marnett
- Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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140
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Modulation of acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on psychotomimetic effects, cognition and brain function by previous cannabis exposure. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2018; 28:850-862. [PMID: 29935939 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use has been associated with psychosis and cognitive dysfunction. Some evidence suggests that the acute behavioral and neurocognitive effects of the main active ingredient in cannabis, (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), might be modulated by previous cannabis exposure. However, this has not been investigated either using a control group of non-users, or following abstinence in modest cannabis users, who represent the majority of recreational users. Twenty-four healthy men participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures, within-subject, ∆9-THC challenge study. Compared to non-users (N=12; <5 lifetime cannabis joints smoked), abstinent modest cannabis users (N=12; 24.5±9 lifetime cannabis joints smoked) showed worse performance and stronger right hemispheric activation during cognitive processing, independent of the acute challenge (all P≤0.047). Acute ∆9-THC administration produced transient anxiety and psychotomimetic symptoms (all P≤0.02), the latter being greater in non-users compared to users (P=0.040). Non-users under placebo (control group) activated specific brain areas to perform the tasks, while deactivating others. An opposite pattern was found under acute (∆9-THC challenge in non-users) as well as residual (cannabis users under placebo) effect of ∆9-THC. Under ∆9-THC, cannabis users showed brain activity patterns intermediate between those in non-users under placebo (control group), and non-users under ∆9-THC (acute effect) and cannabis users under placebo (residual effect). In non-users, the more severe the ∆9-THC-induced psychotomimetic symptoms and cognitive impairments, the more pronounced was the neurophysiological alteration (all P≤0.036). Previous modest cannabis use blunts the acute behavioral and neurophysiological effects of ∆9-THC, which are more marked in people who have never used cannabis.
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141
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Grill M, Hasenoehrl C, Storr M, Schicho R. Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids: An Option for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cancer of the Colon? Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2018; 1:28-35. [PMID: 34676319 DOI: 10.1159/000489036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few years, we have witnessed a surge of new reports dealing with the role of cannabinoids, synthetic as well as herbal, in the mechanisms of inflammation and carcinogenesis. However, despite the wealth of in vitro data and anecdotal reports, evidence that cannabinoids could act as beneficial drugs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or in neoplastic development of the human gastrointestinal tract is lacking. Some insight into the effects of medical Cannabis (usually meaning dried flowers) and cannabinoids in IBD has been gained through questionnaires and small pilot studies. As to colorectal cancer, only preclinical data are available. Currently, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its synthetic forms, dronabinol and nabilone, are used as an add-on treatment to alleviate chronic pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients as well as chemotherapy-induced nausea. The use of medical Cannabis is authorized only in a limited number of countries. None of the mentioned substances are currently indicated for IBD. This review is an update of our knowledge on the role of cannabinoids in intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis and a discussion on their potential therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Grill
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Pharmacology Section, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Carina Hasenoehrl
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Pharmacology Section, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Storr
- Department of Medicine 2, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.,Zentrum für Endoskopie, Starnberg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Schicho
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Pharmacology Section, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
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142
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Zhu WW, Xiao F, Tang YY, Zou W, Li X, Zhang P, Wang AP, Tang XQ. Spermidine prevents high glucose-induced senescence in HT-22 cells by upregulation of CB1 receptor. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2018; 45:832-840. [PMID: 29699000 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.12955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Hyperglycaemia-induced neurotoxicity involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy and neuronal senescence is one of the worst effects of hyperglyceamic neurotoxicity. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) has neuroprotective function in a series of neuropathy. Spermidine (Spd) has anti-aging function in many tissues. However, the role of Spd in hyperglyceamia-induced neuronal senescence remains unexplored. Therefore, we used high glucose (HG)-treated HT-22 cell as vitro model to investigate whether Spd protects neurons against hyperglyceamia-induced senescence and the mediatory role of CB1 receptor. The HT-22 cells were cultured in HG condition in the presence of different dose of Spd. Then, the viability of cells was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The senescence of cells was detected by Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining. The expressions of p16INK4a , p21CIP1 and CB1 receptor were measured by western blot. We found that Spd inhibited HG-induced neurotoxicity (the loss of cell viability) and senescence (the increase of SA-β-Gal positive cells, the upregulation of p16INK4a and p21CIP1 ) in HT-22 cells. Also, Spd prevented HG-induced downregulation of CB1 receptor in HT-22 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that AM251 (a specific inhibitor of the CB1 receptor) reversed the protective effects of Spd on HG-induced neurotoxicity and senescence. These results indicated that Spd prevents HG-induced neurotoxicity and senescence via the upregulation of CB1 receptor. Our findings provide a promising future of Spd-based preventions and therapies for diabetic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Wen Zhu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Physiology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Fan Xiao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Physiology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Yun Tang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Physiology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Zou
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Neurology, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Ai-Ping Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Anatomy, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Tang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.,Department of Physiology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
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143
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Sagar KA, Gruber SA. Marijuana matters: reviewing the impact of marijuana on cognition, brain structure and function, & exploring policy implications and barriers to research. Int Rev Psychiatry 2018; 30:251-267. [PMID: 29966459 PMCID: PMC6455965 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1460334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The neurobiologic effects of cannabis, commonly referred to as 'marijuana' (MJ), have been studied for decades. The impact of recreational MJ use on cognition and measures of brain function and structure is outlined, and variables influencing study results are discussed, including age of the consumer, patterns of MJ use, variations in MJ potency, and the presence of additional cannabinoids. Although evidence suggests that chronic, heavy recreational MJ use is related to cognitive decrements and neural changes, particularly when use begins in adolescence, findings from studies of recreational MJ users may not be applicable to medical marijuana (MMJ) patients given differences in demographic variables, product selection, and reasons for use. Although additional research is needed to fully understand the impact of MJ and individual cannabinoids on the brain, current findings are beginning to inform public policy, including considerations for age limits, potential limits for some cannabinoids, and guidelines for use. However, barriers continue to impede researchers' ability to conduct studies that will guide policy change and provide vital information to consumers and patients regarding best practices and safest methods for use. The need for information is critical, as legalization of MJ for medical and recreational use is increasingly widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A. Sagar
- McLean Hospital, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA, 02478,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02115,Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St Boston, MA, 02118
| | - Staci A. Gruber
- McLean Hospital, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA, 02478,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02115,Corresponding Author Information Address: McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, Telephone: 617-855-2762, Fax: 617-855-3713,
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144
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Calabrese EJ, Rubio-Casillas A. Biphasic effects of THC in memory and cognition. Eur J Clin Invest 2018; 48:e12920. [PMID: 29574698 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A generally undesired effect of cannabis smoking is a reversible disruption of short-term memory induced by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. However, this paradigm has been recently challenged by a group of scientists who have shown that THC is also able to improve neurological function in old animals when chronically administered at low concentrations. Moreover, recent studies demonstrated that THC paradoxically promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, prevents neurodegenerative processes occurring in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, protects from inflammation-induced cognitive damage and restores memory and cognitive function in old mice. With the aim to reconcile these seemingly contradictory facts, this work will show that such paradox can be explained within the framework of hormesis, defined as a biphasic dose-response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Calabrese
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Rubio-Casillas
- Laboratorio de Biologia, Escuela Preparatoria Regional de Autlán, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
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145
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Arey RN, Stein GM, Kaletsky R, Kauffman A, Murphy CT. Activation of G αq Signaling Enhances Memory Consolidation and Slows Cognitive Decline. Neuron 2018; 98:562-574.e5. [PMID: 29656871 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Perhaps the most devastating decline with age is the loss of memory. Therefore, identifying mechanisms to restore memory function with age is critical. Using C. elegans associative learning and memory assays, we identified a gain-of-function Gαq signaling pathway mutant that forms a long-term (cAMP response element binding protein [CREB]-dependent) memory following one conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) pairing, which usually requires seven CS-US pairings. Increased CREB activity in AIM interneurons reduces the threshold for memory consolidation through transcription of a set of previously identified "long-term memory" genes. Enhanced Gαq signaling in the AWC sensory neuron is both necessary and sufficient for improved memory and increased AIM CREB activity, and activation of Gαq specifically in aged animals rescues the ability to form memory. Activation of Gαq in AWC sensory neurons non-cell autonomously induces consolidation after one CS-US pairing, enabling both cognitive function maintenance with age and restoration of memory function in animals with impaired memory performance without decreased longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N Arey
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Geneva M Stein
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Rachel Kaletsky
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Amanda Kauffman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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146
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Pluskal T, Weng JK. Natural product modulators of human sensations and mood: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:1592-1637. [PMID: 28933478 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00411g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Humans perceive physical information about the surrounding environment through their senses. This physical information is registered by a collection of highly evolved and finely tuned molecular sensory receptors. A multitude of bioactive, structurally diverse ligands have evolved in nature that bind these molecular receptors. The complex, dynamic interactions between the ligands and the receptors lead to changes in our sensory perception or mood. Here, we review our current knowledge of natural products and their derived analogues that interact specifically with human G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels, and nuclear hormone receptors to modulate the sensations of taste, smell, temperature, pain, and itch, as well as mood and its associated behaviour. We discuss the molecular and structural mechanisms underlying such interactions and highlight cases where subtle differences in natural product chemistry produce drastic changes in functional outcome. We also discuss cases where a single compound triggers complex sensory or behavioural changes in humans through multiple mechanistic targets. Finally, we comment on the therapeutic potential of the reviewed area of research and draw attention to recent technological developments in genomics, metabolomics, and metabolic engineering that allow us to tap the medicinal properties of natural product chemistry without taxing nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Pluskal
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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147
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Giorgi PD, Liautard V, Pucheault M, Antoniotti S. Biomimetic Cannabinoid Synthesis Revisited: Batch and Flow All-Catalytic Synthesis of (±)-ortho
-Tetrahydrocannabinols and Analogues from Natural Feedstocks. European J Org Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201800064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal D. Giorgi
- Institut de Chimie de Nice; CNRS; Université Cote d'Azur; Parc Valrose 06108 Nice cedex 2 France
| | - Virginie Liautard
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires; UMR 5255 CNRS - Université de Bordeaux; 351 cours de la libération 33405 Talence cedex France
| | - Mathieu Pucheault
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires; UMR 5255 CNRS - Université de Bordeaux; 351 cours de la libération 33405 Talence cedex France
| | - Sylvain Antoniotti
- Institut de Chimie de Nice; CNRS; Université Cote d'Azur; Parc Valrose 06108 Nice cedex 2 France
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148
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Rein JL, Wyatt CM. Marijuana and Cannabinoids in ESRD and Earlier Stages of CKD. Am J Kidney Dis 2018; 71:267-274. [DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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149
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Gruber SA, Sagar KA, Dahlgren MK, Gonenc A, Smith RT, Lambros AM, Cabrera KB, Lukas SE. The Grass Might Be Greener: Medical Marijuana Patients Exhibit Altered Brain Activity and Improved Executive Function after 3 Months of Treatment. Front Pharmacol 2018; 8:983. [PMID: 29387010 PMCID: PMC5776082 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of states have enacted full or partial medical marijuana (MMJ) programs, causing the number of patients seeking certification for MMJ use to increase dramatically in recent years. Despite increased use of MMJ across the nation, no studies thus far have examined the specific impact of MMJ on cognitive function and related brain activation. In the present study, MMJ patients seeking treatment for a variety of documented medical conditions were assessed prior to initiating MMJ treatment and after 3 months of treatment as part of a larger longitudinal study. In order to examine the effect of MMJ treatment on task-related brain activation, MMJ patients completed the Multi-Source Interference Test (MSIT) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We also collected data regarding conventional medication use, clinical state, and health-related measures at each visit. Following 3 months of treatment, MMJ patients demonstrated improved task performance accompanied by changes in brain activation patterns within the cingulate cortex and frontal regions. Interestingly, after MMJ treatment, brain activation patterns appeared more similar to those exhibited by healthy controls from previous studies than at pre-treatment, suggestive of a potential normalization of brain function relative to baseline. These findings suggest that MMJ use may result in different effects relative to recreational marijuana (MJ) use, as recreational consumers have been shown to exhibit decrements in task performance accompanied by altered brain activation. Moreover, patients in the current study also reported improvements in clinical state and health-related measures as well as notable decreases in prescription medication use, particularly opioids and benzodiapezines after 3 months of treatment. Further research is needed to clarify the specific neurobiologic impact, clinical efficacy, and unique effects of MMJ for a range of indications and how it compares to recreational MJ use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Staci A Gruber
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kelly A Sagar
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mary K Dahlgren
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
| | - Atilla Gonenc
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rosemary T Smith
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Ashley M Lambros
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Korine B Cabrera
- Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Core, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery Program, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Scott E Lukas
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
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150
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Gilgenkrantz H. Effets paradoxaux du cannabis sur la mémoire. Med Sci (Paris) 2018; 34:15-16. [DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20183401004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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