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Lafzi A, Yeşilyurt F, Demirci T, Hacımüftüoğlu A, Şişman T. Acute and subacute toxic effects of CUMYL-4CN-BINACA on male albino rats. Forensic Toxicol 2024; 42:125-141. [PMID: 38102417 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-023-00676-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is very little information about the toxicological and pathological effects of synthetic cannabinoids, which have cannabis-like properties. This study was carried out to histopathologically, hematologically, and biochemically determine the toxic effects of acute and subacute exposure to a novel synthetic cannabinoid 1-(4-cyanobutyl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)indazole-3-carboxamide in internal organs of adult male rats. METHODS The cannabinoid was injected intraperitoneally at three doses (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, body weight). The cannabinoid was administered to acute groups for 2 days and to subacute groups for 14 days. Observations were made for 14 days and various changes such as mortality, injury, and illness were recorded daily. Hematological and biochemical changes were evaluated and histopathological analyses in lung, liver, and kidney tissues were also performed. RESULTS No mortality was observed. It was observed that there were fluctuations in hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Among the oxidative stress parameters, significant decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase levels and significant increases in lipid peroxidation levels were determined. Serious pathological changes such as necrosis, vacuolation, congestion, and fibrosis were observed in the internal organs in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. It was also found that the synthetic cannabinoid triggered apoptosis in the organs. The results demonstrated that the most affected organ by the cannabinoid was the kidney. CONCLUSION This study showed for the first time that CUMYL-4CN-BINACA adversely affects healthy male albino rats. It can be estimated that the abuse of the cannabinoid may harm human health in the same way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Lafzi
- Department of Criminalistics, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Fatma Yeşilyurt
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Tuba Demirci
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medicine Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Turgay Şişman
- Department of Criminalistics, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Science, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science Faculty, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
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Tachibana H, Nomura M, Funakoshi T, Unuma K, Aki T, Uemura K. Incomplete autophagy and increased cholesterol synthesis during neuronal cell death caused by a synthetic cannabinoid, CP-55,940. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:215-221. [PMID: 38942151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
There is a propensity for synthetic cannabinoid abuse to spread worldwide. CP-55,940, a synthetic cannabinoid having the ability to activate both CB1 and CB2 receptors, has been shown to induce cell death in neurons as well as other cells. Here we investigate molecular events underling the adverse effects of CP-55,940 on neuronal cells. Exposure of mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells to 10-50 µM CP-55,940 results in concentration-dependent cell death that is not accompanied by an induction of apoptosis. CP-55,940 also stimulates autophagy, but the stimulation is not followed by an increase in autophagic degradation. Transcriptome analysis using DNA microarray revealed the increased expression of genes for the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway that is associated with the activation of SREBP-2, the master transcriptional regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis. However, free cholesterol is localized mainly to cytoplasmic structures, although it is localized to the plasma membrane in healthy cells. Thus, cellular trafficking of cholesterol seems to be somewhat disrupted in CP-55,940 stimulated cells. These results show for the first time that CP-55,940 stimulates autophagy as well as cholesterol biosynthesis, although not all the processes involved in the cellular response to CP-55,940 seem to be complete in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikari Tachibana
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Moeka Nomura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Funakoshi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kana Unuma
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Aki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Koichi Uemura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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Chauhan S, Woods AD, Bharathy N, Lian X, Ricker CA, Mantz A, Zuercher WJ, Price LH, Morton MJ, Durrant E, Corbel SY, Sampath SC, Sampath SC, Joslin J, Keller C. Structure-activity relationship of dihydropyridines for rhabdomyosarcoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 667:138-145. [PMID: 37224633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Childhood muscle-related cancer rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare disease with a 50-year unmet clinical need for the patients presented with advanced disease. The rarity of ∼350 cases per year in North America generally diminishes the viability of large-scale, pharmaceutical industry driven drug development efforts for rhabdomyosarcoma. In this study, we performed a large-scale screen of 640,000 compounds to identify the dihydropyridine (DHP) class of anti-hypertensives as a priority compound hit. A structure-activity relationship was uncovered with increasing cell growth inhibition as side chain length increases at the ortho and para positions of the parent DHP molecule. Growth inhibition was consistent across n = 21 rhabdomyosarcoma cell line models. Anti-tumor activity in vitro was paralleled by studies in vivo. The unexpected finding was that the action of DHPs appears to be other than on the DHP receptor (i.e., L-type voltage-gated calcium channel). These findings provide the basis of a medicinal chemistry program to develop dihydropyridine derivatives that retain anti-rhabdomyosarcoma activity without anti-hypertensive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Chauhan
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA.
| | - Andrew D Woods
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Narendra Bharathy
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Xiaolei Lian
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Cora A Ricker
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Amy Mantz
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - William J Zuercher
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Lisa H Price
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Michael J Morton
- ApconiX Ltd, Alderley Park, Nether Alderley, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Eric Durrant
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Stéphane Y Corbel
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Srinath C Sampath
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Srihari C Sampath
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - John Joslin
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA.
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Roque-Bravo R, Silva RS, Malheiro RF, Carmo H, Carvalho F, da Silva DD, Silva JP. Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Pharmacological and Toxicological Overview. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2023; 63:187-209. [PMID: 35914767 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-031122-113758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a chemically diverse group of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) that target the endocannabinoid system, triggering a plethora of actions (e.g., elevated mood sensation, relaxation, appetite stimulation) that resemble, but are more intense than, those induced by cannabis. Although some of these effects have been explored for therapeutic applications, anticipated stronger psychoactive effects than cannabis and reduced risk perception have increased the recreational use of SCs, which have dominated the NPS market in the United States and Europe over the past decade. However, rising SC-related intoxications and deaths represent a major public health concern and embody a major challenge for policy makers. Here, we review the pharmacology and toxicology of SCs. A thorough characterization of SCs' pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics is important to better understand the main mechanisms underlying acute and chronic effects of SCs, interpret the clinical/pathological findings related to SC use, and improve SC risk awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Roque-Bravo
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Rafaela Sofia Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Rui F Malheiro
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Helena Carmo
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Félix Carvalho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; , .,Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), University Institute of Health Sciences, IUCS-CESPU, Gandra, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, and UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; ,
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Cannabinoid and endocannabinoid system: a promising therapeutic intervention for multiple sclerosis. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:5117-5131. [PMID: 35182322 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07223-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and complex neurodegenerative disease, distinguished by the presence of lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) due to exacerbated immunological responses that inflict oligodendrocytes and the myelin sheath of axons. In recent years, studies have focused on targeted therapeutics for MS that emphasize the role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), specifically cannabinoids receptors. Clinical studies have suggested the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids derived from Cannabis sativa in relieving pain, tremors and spasticity. Cannabinoids also appear to prevent exaggerated immune responses in CNS due to compromised blood-brain barrier. Both, endocannabinoid system (ECS) modulators and cannabinoid ligands actively promote oligodendrocyte survival by regulating signaling, migration and myelination of nerve cells. The cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) of ECS are the main ones in focus for therapeutic intervention of MS. Various CB1/CB2 receptors agonists have been experimentally studied which showed anti-inflammatory properties and are considered to be effective as potential therapeutics for MS. In this review, we focused on the exacerbated immune attack on nerve cells and the role of the cannabinoids and its interaction with the ECS in CNS during MS pathology.
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Bolt HM, Hengstler JG. Commemorating 85 years of publications on Cannabis by Archives of Toxicology. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:2231-2233. [PMID: 34052890 PMCID: PMC8241758 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03079-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hermann M Bolt
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Ardeystr. 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Ardeystr. 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
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Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). A New Threat for Young Drug Users with Forensic-Toxicological Implications. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11050440. [PMID: 34068903 PMCID: PMC8156937 DOI: 10.3390/life11050440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) represent a severe health risk for drug users. Even though the phenomenon has been growing since the early 2000s, the mechanisms of action of NPS at the receptors and beyond them are still scarcely understood. The aim of the present study was to provide a systematic review of the updated knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, cathinones, and stimulants. The study was conducted on the PubMed database. Study eligibility criteria included relevance to the topic, English language, and time of publication (2010–2020). A combined Mesh and free-text protocols search was performed. Study selection was performed on the title/abstract and, in doubtful cases, on the full texts of papers. Of the 580 records identified through PubMed searching and reference checking, 307 were excluded by title/abstract and 78 additional papers were excluded after full-text reading, leaving a total of 155 included papers. Molecular mechanisms of synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, stimulants, psychedelics, and hallucinogens were reviewed and mostly involved both a receptor-mediated and non-receptor mediated cellular modulation with multiple neurotransmitters interactions. The molecular mechanisms underlying the action of NPS are more complex than expected, with a wide range of overlap among activated receptors and neurotransmitter systems. The peculiar action profile of single compounds does not necessarily reflect that of the structural class to which they belong, accounting for possible unexpected toxic reactions.
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