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Fitzgerald JM, Chesney SA, Lee TS, Brasel K, Larson CL, Hillard CJ, deRoon-Cassini TA. Circulating endocannabinoids and prospective risk for depression in trauma-injury survivors. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100304. [PMID: 33614866 PMCID: PMC7876629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological mechanisms associated with response to trauma may impact risk for depression. One such mechanism is endocannabinoid signaling (eCB), a neuromodulatory system comprised of the CB1 subtype of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R), encoded by the CNR1 gene, and two primary endogenous ligands: 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonylethanolamine (AEA), hydrolyzed by monoacylglycerol lipase (gene name MGLL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (gene name FAAH). Preclinical data suggest that eCB/CB1R signaling acts as a stress buffer and its loss or suppression increases depression-like behaviors. We examined circulating concentrations of the eCBs (2-AG and AEA) days and six months after a traumatic injury as a marker of eCB/CB1R signaling and as predictors of Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale-Revised [CESD-R] scores as a measure of depression severity six months after injury. We also explored associations of CNR1, FAAH, and MGLL genetic variance with depression severity at six months. Results from hierarchical multiple linear regressions showed that higher 2-AG serum concentrations after trauma predicted greater depression at six months (β = 0.23, p = 0.007); neither AEA after trauma, nor 2-AG and AEA at six months were significant predictors (p's > 0.305). Carriers of minor allele for the putative single nucleotide polymorphism in the CNR1 gene rs806371 (β = 0.19, p = 0.024) experienced greater depression at six months. These data suggest that the eCB signaling system is highly activated following trauma and that eCB/CB1R activity contributes to long-term depression risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samantha A. Chesney
- Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital - Neurological Rehabilitation Services, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Karen Brasel
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christine L. Larson
- University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Cecilia J. Hillard
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Terri A. deRoon-Cassini
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Ney LJ, Akhurst J, Bruno R, Laing PAF, Matthews A, Felmingham KL. Dopamine, endocannabinoids and their interaction in fear extinction and negative affect in PTSD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110118. [PMID: 32991952 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There currently exist few frameworks for common neurobiology between reexperiencing and negative cognitions and mood symptoms of PTSD. Adopting a dopaminergic framework for PTSD unites many aspects of unique symptom clusters, and this approach also links PTSD symptomology to common comorbidities with a common neurobiological deficiency. Here we review the dopamine literature and incorporate it with a growing field of research that describes both the contribution of endocannabinoids to fear extinction and PTSD, as well as the interactions between dopaminergic and endocannabinoid systems underlying this disorder. Based on current evidence, we outline an early, preliminary model that links re-experiencing and negative cognitions and mood in PTSD by invoking the interaction between endocannabinoid and dopaminergic signalling in the brain. These interactions between PTSD, dopamine and endocannabinoids may have implications for future therapies for treatment-resistant and comorbid PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Jane Akhurst
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Patrick A F Laing
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia
| | | | - Kim L Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
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Osborne AJ, Pearson JF, Noble AJ, Gemmell NJ, Horwood LJ, Boden JM, Benton MC, Macartney-Coxson DP, Kennedy MA. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of heavy cannabis exposure in a New Zealand longitudinal cohort. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:114. [PMID: 32321915 PMCID: PMC7176736 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0800-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use is of increasing public health interest globally. Here we examined the effect of heavy cannabis use, with and without tobacco, on genome-wide DNA methylation in a longitudinal birth cohort (Christchurch Health and Development Study, CHDS). A total of 48 heavy cannabis users were selected from the CHDS cohort, on the basis of their adult exposure to cannabis and tobacco, and DNA methylation assessed from whole blood samples, collected at approximately age 28. Methylation in heavy cannabis users was assessed, relative to non-users (n = 48 controls) via the Illumina Infinium® MethylationEPIC BeadChip. We found the most differentially methylated sites in cannabis with tobacco users were in the AHRR and F2RL3 genes, replicating previous studies on the effects of tobacco. Cannabis-only users had no evidence of differential methylation in these genes, or at any other loci at the epigenome-wide significance level (P < 10-7). However, there were 521 sites differentially methylated at P < 0.001 which were enriched for genes involved in neuronal signalling (glutamatergic synapse and long-term potentiation) and cardiomyopathy. Further, the most differentially methylated loci were associated with genes with reported roles in brain function (e.g. TMEM190, MUC3L, CDC20 and SP9). We conclude that the effects of cannabis use on the mature human blood methylome differ from, and are less pronounced than, the effects of tobacco use, and that larger sample sizes are required to investigate this further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J. Osborne
- grid.21006.350000 0001 2179 4063School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8041 New Zealand
| | - John F. Pearson
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, 8011 New Zealand
| | - Alexandra J. Noble
- grid.21006.350000 0001 2179 4063School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8041 New Zealand
| | - Neil J. Gemmell
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
| | - L. John Horwood
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, 8011 New Zealand
| | - Joseph M. Boden
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, 8011 New Zealand
| | - Miles C. Benton
- grid.419706.d0000 0001 2234 622XHuman Genomics, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Kenepuru Science Centre, Porirua, 5240 New Zealand
| | - Donia P. Macartney-Coxson
- grid.419706.d0000 0001 2234 622XHuman Genomics, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Kenepuru Science Centre, Porirua, 5240 New Zealand
| | - Martin A. Kennedy
- grid.29980.3a0000 0004 1936 7830Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, 8011 New Zealand
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Carey CE, Agrawal A, Zhang B, Conley ED, Degenhardt L, Heath AC, Li D, Lynskey MT, Martin NG, Montgomery GW, Wang T, Bierut LJ, Hariri AR, Nelson EC, Bogdan R. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) polymorphism rs604300 interacts with childhood adversity to predict cannabis dependence symptoms and amygdala habituation: Evidence from an endocannabinoid system-level analysis. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 124:860-77. [PMID: 26595473 PMCID: PMC4700831 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence for heritable variation in cannabis involvement and the discovery of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, no consistent patterns have emerged from candidate endocannabinoid (eCB) genetic association studies of cannabis involvement. Given interactions between eCB and stress systems and associations between childhood stress and cannabis involvement, it may be important to consider childhood adversity in the context of eCB-related genetic variation. We employed a system-level gene-based analysis of data from the Comorbidity and Trauma Study (N = 1,558) to examine whether genetic variation in six eCB genes (anabolism: DAGLA, DAGLB, NAPEPLD; catabolism: MGLL, FAAH; binding: CNR1; SNPs N = 65) and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) predict cannabis dependence symptoms. Significant interactions with CSA emerged for MGLL at the gene level (p = .009), and for rs604300 within MGLL (ΔR2 = .007, p < .001), the latter of which survived SNP-level Bonferroni correction and was significant in an additional sample with similar directional effects (N = 859; ΔR2 = .005, p = .026). Furthermore, in a third sample (N = 312), there was evidence that rs604300 genotype interacts with early life adversity to predict threat-related basolateral amygdala habituation, a neural phenotype linked to the eCB system and addiction (ΔR2 = .013, p = .047). Rs604300 may be related to epigenetic modulation of MGLL expression. These results are consistent with rodent models implicating 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endogenous cannabinoid metabolized by the enzyme encoded by MGLL, in the etiology of stress adaptation related to cannabis dependence, but require further replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Carey
- Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | - Louisa Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales
| | - Andrew C Heath
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Daofeng Li
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | | | | | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Laura J Bierut
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ahmad R Hariri
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University
| | - Elliot C Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
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Hill MN, Patel S. Translational evidence for the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in stress-related psychiatric illnesses. BIOLOGY OF MOOD & ANXIETY DISORDERS 2013; 3:19. [PMID: 24286185 PMCID: PMC3817535 DOI: 10.1186/2045-5380-3-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence over the past decade has highlighted an important role of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in the regulation of stress and emotional behavior across divergent species, from rodents to humans. The general findings from this work indicate that the eCB system plays an important role in gating and buffering the stress response, dampening anxiety and regulating mood. Work in rodents has allowed researchers to determine the neural mechanisms mediating this relationship while work in human populations has demonstrated the possible importance of this system in stress-related psychiatric diseases, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety and major depression. These stress-protective effects of eCB signaling appear to be primarily mediated by their actions within corticolimbic structures, particularly the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date discussion of the current level of knowledge in this field, as well as address the current gaps in knowledge and specific areas of research that require attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Hill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Departments of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary AB T2N4N1, Canada.
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