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Mattelaer N, Van der Schueren B, Van Oudenhove L, Weltens N, Vangoitsenhoven R. The circulating and central endocannabinoid system in obesity and weight loss. Int J Obes (Lond) 2024:10.1038/s41366-024-01553-z. [PMID: 38834796 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01553-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Major advances have been made in obesity treatment, focusing on restoring disturbances along the gut-brain axis. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a neuromodulatory signaling system, present along the entire gut-brain axis, that plays a critical role in central and peripheral regulation of food intake and body weight. Evidence on the impact of weight loss on the ECS is, however, more limited. Therefore, we set out to review the existing literature for changes in central and circulating endocannabinoid levels after bariatric surgery and other weight loss strategies in humans. The PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant articles. Fifty-six human studies were identified. Most studies measuring circulating 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) found no difference between normal weight and obesity, or no correlation with BMI. In contrast, studies measuring circulating arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) found an increase or positive correlation with BMI. Two studies found a negative correlation between BMI and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) receptor availability in the brain. Only one study investigated the effect of pharmacological weight management on circulating endocannabinoid concentrations and found no effect on AEA concentrations. So far, six studies investigated potential changes in circulating endocannabinoids after bariatric surgery and reported conflicting results. Available evidence does not univocally support that circulating endocannabinoids are upregulated in individuals with obesity, which may be explained by variability across studies in several potential confounding factors (e.g. age and sex) as well as heterogeneity within the obesity population (e.g. BMI only vs. intra-abdominal adiposity). While several studies investigated the effect of lifestyle interventions on the circulating ECS, more studies are warranted that focus on pharmacologically and surgically induced weight loss. In addition, we identified several research needs which should be fulfilled to better understand the role of the ECS in obesity and its treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Mattelaer
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies, Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Van der Schueren
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lukas Van Oudenhove
- Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies, Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Weltens
- Laboratory for Brain-Gut Axis Studies, Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roman Vangoitsenhoven
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Miranda-Olivos R, Baenas I, Steward T, Granero R, Pastor A, Sánchez I, Juaneda-Seguí A, Del Pino-Gutiérrez A, Fernández-Formoso JA, Vilarrasa N, Guerrero-Pérez F, Virgili N, López-Urdiales R, Jiménez-Murcia S, de la Torre R, Soriano-Mas C, Fernández-Aranda F. Exploring the influence of circulating endocannabinoids and nucleus accumbens functional connectivity on anorexia nervosa severity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4793-4800. [PMID: 37759041 PMCID: PMC10914605 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02253-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by a harmful persistence of self-imposed starvation resulting in significant weight loss. Research suggests that alterations in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and circulating endocannabinoids (eCBs), such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), may contribute to increased severity and maladaptive behaviors in AN, warranting an examination of the interplay between central reward circuitry and eCBs. For this purpose, we assessed NAcc functional connectivity and circulating AEA and 2-AG concentrations in 18 individuals with AN and 18 healthy controls (HC) to test associations between circulating eCBs, NAcc functional connectivity, and AN severity, as defined by body mass index (BMI). Decreased connectivity was observed between the NAcc and the right insula (NAcc-insula; pFWE < 0.001) and the left supplementary motor area (NAcc-SMA; pFWE < 0.001) in the AN group compared to HC. Reduced NAcc-insula functional connectivity mediated the association between AEA concentrations and BMI in the AN group. However, in HC, NAcc-SMA functional connectivity had a mediating role between AEA concentrations and BMI. Although no significant differences in eCBs concentrations were observed between the groups, our findings provide insights into how the interaction between eCBs and NAcc functional connectivity influences AN severity. Altered NAcc-insula and NAcc-SMA connectivity in AN may impair the integration of interoceptive, somatosensory, and motor planning information related to reward stimuli. Furthermore, the distinct associations between eCBs concentrations and NAcc functional connectivity in AN and HC could have clinical implications for weight maintenance, with eCBs being a potential target for AN treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Miranda-Olivos
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Baenas
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Roser Granero
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience research group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Sánchez
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asier Juaneda-Seguí
- Doctoral Program in Medicine and Translational Research, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, 28029, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amparo Del Pino-Gutiérrez
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Perinatal Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José A Fernández-Formoso
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Vilarrasa
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERDEM-CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Guerrero-Pérez
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Virgili
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael López-Urdiales
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience research group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS-UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Ciber de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, 28029, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, C/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Barcelona, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Ciber Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
- Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Research Group, Neurosciences Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 08908, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
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Brierley SM, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Sarnelli G, Sharkey KA, Storr M, Tack J. Targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:5-25. [PMID: 36168049 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00682-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The management of visceral pain in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction, notably irritable bowel syndrome, presents a considerable clinical challenge, with few available treatment options. Patients are increasingly using cannabis and cannabinoids to control abdominal pain. Cannabis acts on receptors of the endocannabinoid system, an endogenous system of lipid mediators that regulates gastrointestinal function and pain processing pathways in health and disease. The endocannabinoid system represents a logical molecular therapeutic target for the treatment of pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Here, we review the physiological and pathophysiological functions of the endocannabinoid system with a focus on the peripheral and central regulation of gastrointestinal function and visceral nociception. We address the use of cannabinoids in pain management, comparing them to other treatment modalities, including opioids and neuromodulators. Finally, we discuss emerging therapeutic candidates targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of pain in irritable bowel syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Giovanni Sarnelli
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. .,Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. .,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Martin Storr
- Department of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.,Zentrum für Endoskopie, Starnberg, Germany
| | - Jan Tack
- Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Kung PH, Soriano-Mas C, Steward T. The influence of the subcortex and brain stem on overeating: How advances in functional neuroimaging can be applied to expand neurobiological models to beyond the cortex. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2022; 23:719-731. [PMID: 35380355 PMCID: PMC9307542 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-022-09720-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Functional neuroimaging has become a widely used tool in obesity and eating disorder research to explore the alterations in neurobiology that underlie overeating and binge eating behaviors. Current and traditional neurobiological models underscore the importance of impairments in brain systems supporting reward, cognitive control, attention, and emotion regulation as primary drivers for overeating. Due to the technical limitations of standard field strength functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners, human neuroimaging research to date has focused largely on cortical and basal ganglia effects on appetitive behaviors. The present review draws on animal and human research to highlight how neural signaling encoding energy regulation, reward-learning, and habit formation converge on hypothalamic, brainstem, thalamic, and striatal regions to contribute to overeating in humans. We also consider the role of regions such as the mediodorsal thalamus, ventral striatum, lateral hypothalamus and locus coeruleus in supporting habit formation, inhibitory control of food craving, and attentional biases. Through these discussions, we present proposals on how the neurobiology underlying these processes could be examined using functional neuroimaging and highlight how ultra-high field 7-Tesla (7 T) fMRI may be leveraged to elucidate the potential functional alterations in subcortical networks. Focus is given to how interactions of these regions with peripheral endocannabinoids and neuropeptides, such as orexin, could be explored. Technical and methodological aspects regarding the use of ultra-high field 7 T fMRI to study eating behaviors are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Han Kung
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carles Soriano-Mas
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Neuroscience Program, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- CIBERSAM, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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