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Nobili S, Micheli L, Lucarini E, Toti A, Ghelardini C, Di Cesare Mannelli L. Ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine associated with analgesics: Effects against persistent pain. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 258:108649. [PMID: 38615798 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108649] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Current epidemiological data estimate that one in five people suffers from chronic pain with considerable impairment of health-related quality of life. The pharmacological treatment is based on first- and second-line analgesic drugs, including COX-2 selective and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs and opioids, that are characterized by important side effects. N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) is a body's own fatty-acid ethanolamide belonging to the family of autacoid local injury antagonist amides. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of PEA have been recognized for decades and prompted to depict its role in the endogenous mechanisms of pain control. Together with its relative abundance in food sources, this opened the way to the use of PEA as a pain-relieving nutritional intervention. Naïve PEA is a large particle size lipid molecule with low solubility and bioavailability. Reducing particle size is a useful method to increase surface area, thereby improving dissolution rate and bioavailability accordingly. Micron-size formulations of PEA (e.g., ultramicronized and co-(ultra)micronized) have shown higher oral efficacy compared to naïve PEA. In particular, ultramicronized PEA has been shown to efficiently cross the intestinal wall and, more importantly, the blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barrier. Several preclinical and clinical studies have shown the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ultramicronized PEA. This narrative review summarizes the available pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data on ultramicronized PEA and focuses to its contribution to pain control, in particular as 'add-on' nutritional intervention. Data showing the ability of ultramicronized PEA to limit opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance, have also been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Nobili
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Laura Micheli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Lucarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Toti
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Carla Ghelardini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Cordova-Gomez A, Wong AP, Sims LB, Doncel GF, Dorflinger LJ. Potential biomarkers to predict return to fertility after discontinuation of female contraceptives-looking to the future. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1210083. [PMID: 37674657 PMCID: PMC10477712 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1210083] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays there are multiple types of contraceptive methods, from reversible to permanent, for those choosing to delay pregnancy. Misconceptions about contraception and infertility are a key factor for discontinuation or the uptake of family planning methods. Regaining fertility (the ability to conceive) after contraceptive discontinuation is therefore pivotal. Technical studies to date have evaluated return to fertility by assessing pregnancy as an outcome, with variable results, or return to ovulation as a surrogate measure by assessing hormone levels (such as progesterone, LH, FSH) with or without transvaginal ultrasound. In general, relying on time to pregnancy as an indicator of return to fertility following contraceptive method discontinuation can be problematic due to variable factors independent of contraceptive effects on fertility, hormone clearance, and fertility recovery. Since the ability to conceive after contraceptive method discontinuation is a critical factor influencing product uptake, it is important to have robust biomarkers that easily and accurately predict the timing of fertility return following contraception and isolate that recovery from extrinsic and circumstantial factors. The main aim of this review is to summarize the current approaches, existing knowledge, and gaps in methods of evaluating return-to-fertility as well as to provide insights into the potential of new biomarkers to more accurately predict fertility restoration after contraceptive discontinuation. Biomarker candidates proposed in this document include those associated with folliculogenesis, cumulus cell expansion, follicular rupture and ovulation, and endometrial transport and receptivity which have been selected and scored on predefined criteria meant to evaluate their probable viability for advancement. The review also describes limitations, regulatory requirements, and a potential path to clinically testing these selected biomarkers. It is important to understand fertility restoration after contraceptive method discontinuation to provide users and health providers with accurate evidence-based information. Predictive biomarkers, if easy and low-cost, have the potential to enable robust evaluation of RTF, and provide potential users the information they desire when selecting a contraceptive method. This could lead to expanded uptake and continuation of modern contraception and inform the development of new contraceptive methods to widen user's family planning choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cordova-Gomez
- Office of Population and Reproductive Health, USAID/Public Health Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Andrew P. Wong
- CONRAD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Lee B. Sims
- Office of Population and Reproductive Health, USAID/Public Health Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Gustavo F. Doncel
- CONRAD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Laneta J. Dorflinger
- Department of Product Development and Introduction, FHI 360, Durham, NC, United States
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Couttas TA, Boost C, Pahlisch F, Sykorova EB, Leweke JE, Koethe D, Endepols H, Rohleder C, Leweke FM. Simultaneous Assessment of Serum Levels and Pharmacologic Effects of Cannabinoids on Endocannabinoids and N-Acylethanolamines by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:657-669. [PMID: 35580134 PMCID: PMC10442685 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The primary compounds of Cannabis sativa, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), inflict a direct influence on the endocannabinoid system-a complex lipid signaling network with a central role in neurotransmission and control of inhibitory and excitatory synapses. These phytocannabinoids often interact with endogenously produced endocannabinoids (eCBs), as well as their structurally related N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), to drive neurobiological, nociceptive, and inflammatory responses. Identifying and quantifying changes in these lipid neuromodulators can be challenging owing to their low abundance in complex matrices. Materials and Methods: This article describes a robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the extraction and quantification of the eCBs anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, along with their congener NAEs oleoylethanolamine and palmitoylethanolamine, and phytocannabinoids CBD, Δ9-THC, and 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a major metabolite of Δ9-THC. Our method was applied to explore pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects from intraperitoneal injections of Δ9-THC and CBD on circulating levels of eCBs and NAEs in rodent serum. Results: Detection limits ranged from low nanomolar to picomolar in concentration for eCBs (0.012-0.24 pmol/mL), NAEs (0.059 pmol/mL), and phytocannabinoids (0.24-0.73 pmol/mL). Our method displayed good linearity for calibration curves of all analytes (R2>0.99) as well as acceptable accuracy and precision, with quality controls not deviating >15% from their nominal value. Our LC-MS/MS method reliably identified changes to these endogenous lipid mediators that followed a causal relationship, which was dependent on both the type of phytocannabinoid administered and its pharmaceutical preparation. Conclusion: We present a rapid and reliable method for the simultaneous quantification of phytocannabinoids, eCBs, and NAEs in serum using LC-MS/MS. The accuracy and sensitivity of our assay infer it can routinely monitor endogenous levels of these lipid neuromodulators in serum and their response to external stimuli, including cannabimimetic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Couttas
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carola Boost
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Franziska Pahlisch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Eliska B. Sykorova
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Judith E. Leweke
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Koethe
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Heike Endepols
- Department of Multimodal Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Nuclear Chemistry (INM-5), Juelich, Germany
| | - Cathrin Rohleder
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen University, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Multimodal Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Neurological Research, Cologne, Germany
- Endosane Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - F. Markus Leweke
- Brain and Mind Centre, Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Vrkoslav V, Smeringaiova I, Smorodinova N, Svobodova A, Strnad S, Jackson CJ, Burkert J, Jirsova K. Quantification of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Lipid Mediators in Long-Term Cryopreserved and Freeze-Dried Preserved Human Amniotic Membrane. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:740. [PMID: 37370671 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10060740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare concentrations of endogenous N-acylethanolamine (NAE) lipid mediators-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and anandamide (AEA)-in fresh, decontaminated, cryopreserved, and freeze-dried amniotic membrane (AM) allografts, thereby determining whether AM's analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficiency related to NAEs persists during storage. The concentrations of NAEs were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Indirect fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to detect the PEA PPAR-α receptor. The concentrations of PEA, OEA, and AEA were significantly higher after decontamination. A significant decrease was found in cryopreserved AM compared to decontaminated tissue for PEA but not for OEA and AEA. However, significantly higher values for all NAEs were detected in cryopreserved samples compared to fresh tissue before decontamination. The freeze-dried AM had similar values to decontaminated AM with no statistically significant difference. The nuclear staining of the PPAR-α receptor was clearly visible in all specimens. The stability of NAEs in AM after cryopreservation was demonstrated under tissue bank storage conditions. However, a significant decrease, but still higher concentration of PEA compared to fresh not decontaminated tissue, was found in cryopreserved, but not freeze-dried, AM. Results indicate that NAEs persist during storage in levels sufficient for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. This means that cryopreserved AM allografts released for transplant purposes before the expected expiration (usually 3-5 years) will still show a strong analgesic effect. The same situation was confirmed for AM lyophilized after one year of storage. This work thus contributed to the clarification of the analgesic effect of NAEs in AM allografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Vrkoslav
- The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ingrida Smeringaiova
- Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Natalia Smorodinova
- Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Histology and Embryology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alzbeta Svobodova
- 2nd Department of Surgery-Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 08 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stepan Strnad
- The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Catherine Joan Jackson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Burkert
- Department of Transplantation and Tissue Bank, University Hospital in Motol, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Jirsova
- Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic
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Boyacıoğlu Ö, Reçber T, Kır S, Korkusuz P, Nemutlu E. Development and validation of a sensitive assay for the quantification of arachidonoylcyclopropylamide (ACPA) in cell culture by LC–MS/MS. J Anal Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1186/s40543-023-00381-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractSynthetic and natural cannabinoid derivatives are highly investigated as drug candidates due to their antinociceptive, antiepileptic and anticancer potential. Arachidonoylcyclopropylamide (ACPA) is a synthetic cannabinoid with antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic and endometrial carcinoma. Thus, ACPA has a great potential for being used as an anticancer drug for epithelial cancers. Therefore, determining the levels of ACPA in biological fluids, cells, tissues and pharmaceutical dosage forms is crucial in monitoring the effects of various pharmacological, physiological and pathological stimuli on biological systems. However, the challenge in the quantification of ACPA is its short half-life and lack of UV signal. Therefore, we developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) method for sensitive and selective quantification of ACPA in cell culture medium and intracellular matrix. Multiple reaction monitoring in the positive ionization mode was used for detection with 344 → 203 m/z transitions. The separation of ACPA was performed on C18 column (50 × 3.0 mm, 2.1 μm) with the mobile phase run in the gradient mode with 0.1% formic acid (FA) in water and 0.1% FA in acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 1.8–1000 ng/mL (r = 0.999). The validation studies revealed that the method was linear, sensitive, accurate, precise, selective, repeatable, robust and rugged. Finally, the developed method was applied to quantify ACPA in cell culture medium and intracellular matrix.
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Svobodova A, Vrkoslav V, Smeringaiova I, Jirsova K. Distribution of an analgesic palmitoylethanolamide and other N-acylethanolamines in human placental membranes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279863. [PMID: 36638082 PMCID: PMC9838831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human amniotic and amniochorionic membranes (AM, ACM) represent the most often used grafts accelerating wound healing. Palmitoylethanolamide, oleoylethanolamide and anandamide are endogenous bioactive lipid molecules, generally referred as N-acylethanolamines. They express analgesic, nociceptive, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. We assessed the distribution of these lipid mediators in placental tissues, as they could participate on analgesic and wound healing effect of AM/ACM grafts. METHODS Seven placentas were collected after caesarean delivery and fresh samples of AM, ACM, placental disc, umbilical cord, umbilical serum and vernix caseosa, and decontaminated samples (antibiotic solution BASE 128) of AM and ACM have been prepared. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for N-acylethanolamines analysis. RESULTS N-acylethanolamines were present in all studied tissues, palmitoylethanolamide being the most abundant and the anandamide the least. For palmitoylethanolamide the maximum average concentration was detected in AM (350.33 ± 239.26 ng/g), while oleoylethanolamide and anandamide were most abundant in placenta (219.08 ± 79.42 ng/g and 30.06 ± 7.77 ng/g, respectively). Low levels of N-acylethanolamines were found in serum and vernix. A significant increase in the levels of N-acylethanolamines (3.1-3.6-fold, P < 0.001) was observed in AM when the tissues were decontaminated using antibiotic solution. The increase in decontaminated ACM was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The presence of N-acylethanolamines, particularly palmitoylethanolamide in AM and ACM allows us to propose these lipid mediators as the likely factors responsible for the anti-hyperalgesic, but also anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective, effects of AM/ACM grafts in wound healing treatment. The increase of N-acylethanolamines levels in AM and ACM after tissue decontamination indicates that tissue processing is an important factor in maintaining the analgesic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Svobodova
- First Faculty of Medicine, 2 Department of Surgery–Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Vrkoslav
- The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ingrida Smeringaiova
- First Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Jirsova
- First Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS assay for quantification of endocannabinoids in cerebrospinal fluid using surrogate calibrant and surrogate matrix approaches. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 222:115090. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.115090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Sionov RV, Steinberg D. Anti-Microbial Activity of Phytocannabinoids and Endocannabinoids in the Light of Their Physiological and Pathophysiological Roles. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030631. [PMID: 35327432 PMCID: PMC8945038 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has become an increasing challenge in the treatment of various infectious diseases, especially those associated with biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic materials. There is an urgent need for new treatment protocols that can also target biofilm-embedded bacteria. Many secondary metabolites of plants possess anti-bacterial activities, and especially the phytocannabinoids of the Cannabis sativa L. varieties have reached a renaissance and attracted much attention for their anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activities at concentrations below the cytotoxic threshold on normal mammalian cells. Accordingly, many synthetic cannabinoids have been designed with the intention to increase the specificity and selectivity of the compounds. The structurally unrelated endocannabinoids have also been found to have anti-microbial and anti-biofilm activities. Recent data suggest for a mutual communication between the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiota. The present review focuses on the anti-microbial activities of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids integrated with some selected issues of their many physiological and pharmacological activities.
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Kratz D, Sens A, Schäfer SMG, Hahnefeld L, Geisslinger G, Thomas D, Gurke R. Pre-analytical challenges for the quantification of endocannabinoids in human serum. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2022; 1190:123102. [PMID: 35026652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (ECs) are potent lipid mediators with high physiological relevance. They are involved in a wide variety of diseases like depression or multiple sclerosis and are closely connected to metabolic parameters in humans. Therefore, their suitability as a biomarker in different (patho-)physiological conditions is discussed intensively and predominantly investigated by analyzing systemic concentrations in easily accessible matrices like blood. Carefully designed pre-analytical sample handling is of major importance for high-quality data, but harmonization is not achieved yet. Whole blood is either processed to serum or plasma before the onset of analytical workflows and while knowledge about pre-analytical challenges in plasma handling is thorough they were not systematically investigated for serum. Therefore, the ECs AEA and 2-AG, and closely related EC-like substances 1-AG, DHEA, and PEA were examined by LC-MS/MS in serum samples of nine healthy volunteers employing different pre-analytical sample handling protocols, including prolonged coagulation, and storage after centrifugation at room temperature (RT) or on ice. Furthermore, all analytes were also assessed in plasma samples obtained from the same individuals at the same time points to investigate the comparability between those two blood-based matrices regarding obtained concentrations and their 2-AG/1-AG ratio. This study shows that ECs and EC-like substances in serum samples were significantly higher than in plasma and are especially prone to ex vivo changes during initial and prolonged storage for coagulation at RT. Storage on ice after centrifugation is less critical. However, storage at RT further increases 1-AG and 2-AG concentrations, while also lowering the already reduced 2-AG/1-AG ratio due to isomerization. Thus, avoidance of prolonged processing at RT can increase data quality if serum as the matrix of choice is unavoidable. However, serum preparation in itself is expected to initiate changes of physiological concentrations as standard precautionary measures like fast and cooled processing can only be utilized by using plasma, which should be the preferred matrix for analyses of ECs and EC-like substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kratz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - A Sens
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - S M G Schäfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - L Hahnefeld
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - G Geisslinger
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - D Thomas
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - R Gurke
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Kratz D, Thomas D, Gurke R. Endocannabinoids as potential biomarkers: It's all about pre-analytics. J Mass Spectrom Adv Clin Lab 2021; 22:56-63. [PMID: 34939056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsacl.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are central lipid mediators of the endocannabinoid system. They are highly relevant due to their involvement in a wide variety of inflammatory, metabolic or malign diseases. Further elucidation of their modes of action and use as biomarkers in an easily accessible matrix, like blood, is restricted by their susceptibility to deviations during blood sampling and physiological co-dependences, which results in high variability of reported concentrations in low ng/mL ranges. Objectives The objective of this review is the identification of critical parameters during the pre-analytical phase and proposal of minimum requirements for reliable determination of endocannabinoids (ECs) in blood samples. Methods Reported physiological processes influencing the EC concentrations were put into context with published pre-analytical research and stability data from bioanalytical method validation. Results The cause for variability in EC concentrations is versatile. In part, they are caused by inter-individual factors like sex, metabolic status and/or diurnal changes. Nevertheless, enzymatic activity in freshly drawn blood samples is the main reason for changing concentrations of AEA and 2-AG, besides additional non-enzymatic isomerization of the latter. Conclusion Blood samples for EC analyses require immediate processing at low temperatures (>0 °C) to maintain sample integrity. Standardization of the respective blood tube or anti-coagulant, sampling time point, applied centrifugal force and complete processing time can further decrease variability caused by sample handling. Nevertheless, extensive characterization of study participants is needed to reduce distortion of clinical data caused by co-variables and facilitate research on the endocannabinoid system.
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Key Words
- (U)HPLC, (ultra) high performance liquid chromatography
- 1-AG, 1-arachidonoyl glycerol
- 2-AG, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol
- 2-Arachidonoyl glycerol
- AEA, arachidonoyl ethanolamide
- Anandamide
- BMI, body mass index
- Blood sampling
- CBR, cannabinoid receptor
- EC-like, endocannabinoid-like
- ECS, endocannabinoid system
- ECs, endocannabinoids
- EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
- Endocannabinoid
- FAAH, fatty acid amide hydrolase
- FT, freezing temperature
- FTC, freeze–thaw cycles
- HDL, high density lipo protein
- KSCN, potassium thiocyanate
- LLE, liquid–liquid extraction
- MAGL, monoacylglycerol lipase
- MS/MS, tandem mass spectrometry
- O-AEA, virodhamine
- OEA, oleoyl ethanolamide
- PAF, platelet-activating factor
- PEA, palmitoyl ethanolamide
- PMSF, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride
- Pre-analytics
- RT, room temperature
- SPE, solid-phase extraction
- WB, whole blood
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kratz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dominique Thomas
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Robert Gurke
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital of Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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11
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Gish A, Wiart JF, Turpin E, Allorge D, Gaulier JM. État de l’art et intérêt des dosages plasmatiques des substances endocannabinoïdes et endocannabinoïdes-like. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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Ney LJ, Crombie KM, Mayo LM, Felmingham KL, Bowser T, Matthews A. Translation of animal endocannabinoid models of PTSD mechanisms to humans: Where to next? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:76-91. [PMID: 34838529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is known to be involved in mechanisms relevant to PTSD aetiology and maintenance, though this understanding is mostly based on animal models of the disorder. Here we review how human paradigms can successfully translate animal findings to human subjects, with the view that substantially increased insight into the effect of endocannabinoid signalling on stress responding, emotional and intrusive memories, and fear extinction can be gained using modern paradigms and methods for assessing the state of the endocannabinoid system in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia; School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
| | - Kevin M Crombie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Allison Matthews
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
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13
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Rahaman O, Ganguly D. Endocannabinoids in immune regulation and immunopathologies. Immunology 2021; 164:242-252. [PMID: 34053085 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are key bioactive components of the endocannabinoid system, and the profound influence of endocannabinoids on the modulation of the immune system is being increasingly appreciated. The knowledge of endocannabinoid-immune cell crosstalk will pave the way to therapeutic implications of modulators of this pathway in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. Endocannabinoids seem to exert both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effects in specific contexts, based on specific receptor engagement and the downstream signalling pathways involved. In this review, we summarized the biosynthesis, signalling and degradation of two well-studied endocannabinoids-anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol in immune cells. Then, we discussed the effects of these two endocannabinoids on the functioning of major innate and adaptive immune cells, along with the choice of receptors employed in such interactions. Finally, we outline our current knowledge on the involvement of anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol in context of inflammation, allergies, autoimmunity and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oindrila Rahaman
- Dendritic Cell Biology Laboratory, IICB-Translational Research Unit of Excellence, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Dipyaman Ganguly
- Dendritic Cell Biology Laboratory, IICB-Translational Research Unit of Excellence, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
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14
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Prentice RN, Younus M, Krittaphol-Bailey W, Rizwan SB. A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the study of exogenously administered 13 C-oleoylethanolamide in rat plasma and brain tissue. J Sep Sci 2021; 44:2693-2704. [PMID: 33939878 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202001210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oleoylethanolamide is an endogenous molecule with neuroprotective effects. It has been reported that exogenous oleoylethanolamide can be administered therapeutically, but the confounding presence of the endogenous molecule has led to conflicting reports regarding the mechanisms of the effects and highlights a need for an adequate methodology to differentiate them. We have developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to study oleoylethanolamide in rat plasma and brain using a 13 C-labeled isotope, 13 C-oleoylethanolamide. 13 C-oleoylethanolamide was extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction employing acetonitrile and tert-butyl methyl ether (1:4). Analysis was performed using a gradient with a total run time of 12 min. 13 C-oleoylethanolamide, d4 -oleoylethanolamide (internal standard), and 12 C-oleoylethanolamide (endogenous background) eluted simultaneously at 1.64 min. The method was validated for specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision and found to be capable of quantification within acceptable limits of ±15% over the calibration range of 0.39-25 ng/mL for the plasma and 1.17-75 ng/g for the brain. It was then applied to quantify 13 C-oleoylethanolamide over 90 min after intravenous administration of a solution (1 mg/kg) in rats. Results suggest that 13 C-oleoylethanolamide does not reach therapeutic concentrations in the brain, despite a relatively prolonged plasma circulation, suggesting that rapid degradation in the brain remains an obstacle to its clinical application to neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Younus
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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15
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Antonuccio P, Marini HR, Micali A, Romeo C, Granese R, Retto A, Martino A, Benvenga S, Cuzzocrea S, Impellizzeri D, Di Paola R, Fusco R, Cervellione RM, Minutoli L. The Nutraceutical N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Reveals Widespread Molecular Effects Unmasking New Therapeutic Targets in Murine Varicocele. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13030734. [PMID: 33668991 PMCID: PMC7996616 DOI: 10.3390/nu13030734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Varicocele is an age-related disease with no current medical treatments positively impacting infertility. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression is present in normal testis with an involvement in the immunological reactions. The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), a nuclear receptor, in fertility is still unclear. N-Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an emerging nutraceutical compound present in plants and animal foods, is an endogenous PPAR-α agonist with well-demonstrated anti-inflammatory and analgesics characteristics. In this model of mice varicocele, PPAR-α and TLR4 receptors’ roles were investigated through the administration of ultra-micronized PEA (PEA-um). Male wild-type (WT), PPAR-α knockout (KO), and TLR4 KO mice were used. A group underwent sham operation and administration of vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. Another group (WT, PPAR-α KO, and TLR4 KO) underwent surgical varicocele and was treated with vehicle or PEA-um (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 21 days. At the end of treatments, all animals were euthanized. Both operated and contralateral testes were processed for histological and morphometric assessment, for PPAR-α, TLR4, occludin, and claudin-11 immunohistochemistry and for PPAR-α, TLR4, transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3), phospho-extracellular signal-Regulated-Kinase (p-ERK) 1/2, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) Western blot analysis. Collectively, our data showed that administration of PEA-um revealed a key role of PPAR-α and TLR4 in varicocele pathophysiology, unmasking new nutraceutical therapeutic targets for future varicocele research and supporting surgical management of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Antonuccio
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (P.A.); (C.R.); (R.G.); (A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Herbert Ryan Marini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (H.R.M.); (S.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Antonio Micali
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Carmelo Romeo
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (P.A.); (C.R.); (R.G.); (A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Roberta Granese
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (P.A.); (C.R.); (R.G.); (A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Annalisa Retto
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (P.A.); (C.R.); (R.G.); (A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Antonia Martino
- Department of Human Pathology of Adult and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (P.A.); (C.R.); (R.G.); (A.R.); (A.M.)
| | - Salvatore Benvenga
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (H.R.M.); (S.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (D.I.); (R.F.)
| | - Daniela Impellizzeri
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (D.I.); (R.F.)
| | - Rosanna Di Paola
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (D.I.); (R.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-2213655; Fax: +39-090-2213300
| | - Roberta Fusco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy; (S.C.); (D.I.); (R.F.)
| | | | - Letteria Minutoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (H.R.M.); (S.B.); (L.M.)
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16
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Ney L, Stone C, Nichols D, Felmingham K, Bruno R, Matthews A. Endocannabinoid reactivity to acute stress: Investigation of the relationship between salivary and plasma levels. Biol Psychol 2021; 159:108022. [PMID: 33460783 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) system has been shown in animal models to regulate the initiation and termination of central nervous responses to stress. In human studies, the role of peripherally measured eCBs is much less clear and the effect in salivary eCBs has not been studied. In this study, we use a novel method to quantify cortisol and eCBs arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) in human saliva, as well as in plasma samples. Forty-five females and 32 males completed a mixed physiological/psychosocial stress-induction study where saliva, and blood samples in males, were collected at baseline, immediately following, 30-minutes following, and 45-minutes following stress induction. Cortisol significantly increased after stress, but there were sex differences in the cortisol response to stress, with females having higher cortisol after stress compared to males. There was a significant increase in salivary levels of 2-AG immediately following stress induction, but no effect of AEA. Salivary AEA was higher in males compared to females. Surprisingly, there was no effect of stress on plasma AEA or 2-AG levels in the male cohort, though small effect sizes for 2-AG were observed, which is consistent with most other human literature. This study is the first to show that the eCB system is active in human saliva and is responsive to acute stress, possibly as part of the sympathetic nervous system response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Ney
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Caleb Stone
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - David Nichols
- Organic Mass Spectrometry, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kim Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
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17
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Petrosino S, Schiano Moriello A. Palmitoylethanolamide: A Nutritional Approach to Keep Neuroinflammation within Physiological Boundaries-A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9526. [PMID: 33333772 PMCID: PMC7765232 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a physiological response aimed at maintaining the homodynamic balance and providing the body with the fundamental resource of adaptation to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. Although the response is initiated with protective purposes, the effect may be detrimental when not regulated. The physiological control of neuroinflammation is mainly achieved via regulatory mechanisms performed by particular cells of the immune system intimately associated with or within the nervous system and named "non-neuronal cells." In particular, mast cells (within the central nervous system and in the periphery) and microglia (at spinal and supraspinal level) are involved in this control, through a close functional relationship between them and neurons (either centrally, spinal, or peripherally located). Accordingly, neuroinflammation becomes a worsening factor in many disorders whenever the non-neuronal cell supervision is inadequate. It has been shown that the regulation of non-neuronal cells-and therefore the control of neuroinflammation-depends on the local "on demand" synthesis of the endogenous lipid amide Palmitoylethanolamide and related endocannabinoids. When the balance between synthesis and degradation of this bioactive lipid mediator is disrupted in favor of reduced synthesis and/or increased degradation, the behavior of non-neuronal cells may not be appropriately regulated and neuroinflammation exceeds the physiological boundaries. In these conditions, it has been demonstrated that the increase of endogenous Palmitoylethanolamide-either by decreasing its degradation or exogenous administration-is able to keep neuroinflammation within its physiological limits. In this review the large number of studies on the benefits derived from oral administration of micronized and highly bioavailable forms of Palmitoylethanolamide is discussed, with special reference to neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Petrosino
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Napoli, Italy;
- Epitech Group SpA, Via Einaudi 13, 35030 Padova, Italy
| | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Napoli, Italy;
- Epitech Group SpA, Via Einaudi 13, 35030 Padova, Italy
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18
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Harfmann EJ, McAuliffe TL, Larson ER, Claesges SA, Sauber G, Hillard CJ, Goveas JS. Circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in grieving adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 120:104801. [PMID: 32682172 PMCID: PMC7348598 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Bereavement is one of the most intense, distressing, and traumatic events an elderly person will experience. The symptom responses to bereavement vary, particularly during the first year. However, the neurobiology underlying the symptom variance in grief is poorly understood. The endocannabinoid signaling (ECS) system is stress-responsive; mounting evidence implicates the central ECS in psychopathology. The current study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that the ECS is abnormal in grief, using circulating eCB concentrations as a biomarker of central ECS. A predominantly older sample of grief participants, within 13 months following the death of a loved one, and healthy comparison (HC) participants were studied. Associations of circulating eCBs with symptom variance in grievers were also examined. A total of 61 (grief: n = 44; HC: n = 17) adults completed cross-sectional clinical assessments and a fasting blood draw. Assessments included the Inventory of Complicated Grief scale; the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; and the Hamilton Anxiety scale. Serum eCB concentrations (i.e., N-arachidonoylethanolamine [AEA] and 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG]) were quantified using isotope dilution, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Relative to HC participants, grievers had significantly elevated serum AEA but similar 2-AG concentrations. In grievers, serum AEA concentrations were positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, but only in those with low grief symptoms. These novel findings indicate that elevated circulating eCB concentrations are found following bereavement. The eCB signaling response varies based on the degree of grief severity. Circulating eCB measures may have the potential to serve as biomarkers of prolonged grief disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth J Harfmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53295, USA
| | - Timothy L McAuliffe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA
| | - Eric R Larson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53295, USA
| | - Stacy A Claesges
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA
| | - Garrett Sauber
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA
| | - Cecilia J Hillard
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA
| | - Joseph S Goveas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA; Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, USA.
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19
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Gao W, Walther A, Wekenborg M, Penz M, Kirschbaum C. Determination of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in human hair with LC-MS/MS and their relation to symptoms of depression, burnout, and anxiety. Talanta 2020; 217:121006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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20
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Correia-Sá IB, Carvalho CM, Serrão PV, Loureiro AI, Fernandes-Lopes C, Marques M, Vieira-Coelho MA. A new role for anandamide: defective link between the systemic and skin endocannabinoid systems in hypertrophic human wound healing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11134. [PMID: 32636441 PMCID: PMC7341842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68058-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of cannabinoids to treat fibrotic skin diseases is an emergent issue. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate systemic and skin endocannabinoid responses in the wound-healing process in humans. A prospective study was performed in 50 patients who underwent body-contouring surgery. Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Ten (20%) patients developed hypertrophic (HT) scars. No significant changes were observed between the normal (N) scar and HT scar groups in terms of plasma and skin endocannabinoids. Nevertheless, a positive correlation between plasma and skin AEA concentrations was found in the N group (r = 0.38, p = 0.015), which was absent in the HT group. Moreover, the AEA concentration was significantly lower in HT scar tissue than in normal scar tissue (0.77 ± 0.12 ng/g vs 1.15 ± 0.15 ng/g, p < 0.001). Interestingly, in all patients, the surgical intervention produced a time-dependent effect with a U shape for AEA, PEA and OEA plasma concentrations. In contrast, 2-AG plasma concentrations increased 5 days after surgery and were reduced and stabilized 3 months later. These results suggest crosstalk between systemic and local skin endocannabinoid systems during human wound healing. AEA appears to be the most likely candidate for this link, which is deficient in patients with HT scars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês B Correia-Sá
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Burn Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto and Centro Hospitalar São João, EPE, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200 - 319, Porto, Portugal. .,Department of Biomedicine - Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia M Carvalho
- Department of Biomedicine - Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula V Serrão
- Department of Biomedicine - Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,MedInUP-Centro de Investigação Farmacológica E Inovação Medicamentosa, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana I Loureiro
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Research and Development, BIAL-Portela & Cª., S.A., Trofa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Fernandes-Lopes
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Research and Development, BIAL-Portela & Cª., S.A., Trofa, Portugal
| | - Marisa Marques
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Burn Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto and Centro Hospitalar São João, EPE, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200 - 319, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria A Vieira-Coelho
- Department of Biomedicine - Pharmacology and Therapeutics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,MedInUP-Centro de Investigação Farmacológica E Inovação Medicamentosa, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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21
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Ney LJ, Felmingham KL, Bruno R, Matthews A, Nichols DS. Simultaneous quantification of endocannabinoids, oleoylethanolamide and steroid hormones in human plasma and saliva. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1152:122252. [PMID: 32615536 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous cannabinoids are an increasingly intriguing target for biological research, given the changing legal status of medicinal cannabinoid-based products throughout the world. However, studying the endogenous cannabinoid system is a relatively new field, with few research teams attempting to develop quantitative methods for these important modulatory analytes in human matrices, other than blood. Here we develop and validate simultaneous methods for quantifying arachidonoyl-ethanolamide, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, oleoylethanolamide, cortisol and progesterone in human plasma and saliva using liquid-liquid extraction combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The method was fully validated over the linear concentration range 1-20 ng/mL for each analyte in plasma (R2 = 0.98-0.99) and saliva (R2 = 0.99). We find that salivary endogenous cannabinoids and cortisol are acutely responsive to exercise, suggesting that targeting the saliva system may present a convenient way for future research of endogenous cannabinoids. This finding also encourages a broader understanding of the endogenous cannabinoid system during stress responses, and our method may consequently lead to a better understanding of the role of endogenous cannabinoids in peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Raimondo Bruno
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - Allison Matthews
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | - David S Nichols
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Australia
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22
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Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides: Prohomeostatic Lipid Compounds for Animal Health and Wellbeing. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7020078. [PMID: 32560159 PMCID: PMC7355440 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7020078] [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: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Virtually every cellular process is affected by diet and this represents the foundation of dietary management to a variety of small animal disorders. Special attention is currently being paid to a family of naturally occurring lipid amides acting through the so-called autacoid local injury antagonism, i.e., the ALIA mechanism. The parent molecule of ALIAmides, palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA), has being known since the 1950s as a nutritional factor with protective properties. Since then, PEA has been isolated from a variety of plant and animal food sources and its proresolving function in the mammalian body has been increasingly investigated. The discovery of the close interconnection between ALIAmides and the endocannabinoid system has greatly stimulated research efforts in this field. The multitarget and highly redundant mechanisms through which PEA exerts prohomeostatic functions fully breaks with the classical pharmacology view of “one drug, one target, one disease”, opening a new era in the management of animals’ health, i.e., an according-to-nature biomodulation of body responses to different stimuli and injury. The present review focuses on the direct and indirect endocannabinoid receptor agonism by PEA and its analogues and also targets the main findings from experimental and clinical studies on ALIAmides in animal health and wellbeing.
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Wu Y, Wu Y, Deng J, Chu L, Yang H, Wang W, Liao J, Cheng Y, Deng H. Screening and identification of salivary biomarkers for assessing the effects of exogenous testosterone administration on HPG and HPA axes and ECS. Steroids 2020; 158:108604. [PMID: 32084505 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2020.108604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The contents of steroids and endocannabinoids along with the ratios between them would be candidate biomarkers for sensitively and comprehensively assessing the role of testosterone in regulating the activities of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis and endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS). However, previous studies mostly used the contents rather than the ratios as biomarkers. This study aimed to systematically screen and identify sensitive biomarkers from 21 candidates including both the contents of nine steroids and one endocannabinoid and their ratios in saliva. Three screening criteria were whether there were intergroup differences, time-dependent changes and considerable relative stability during a 4-h period after exogenous testosterone administration. This study used LC-APCI+-MS/MS to determine the salivary levels of the candidate biomarkers on 62 male healthy undergraduates who were divided into testosterone administration and placebo control groups. The results revealed that salivary testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA and the ratios of testosterone to estradiol and AEA, and of cortisol to testosterone and DHEA were sensitive biomarkers for assessing the effects of testosterone administration on the three neuroendocrine systems because they all showed significant intergroup differences and time-dependent changes and good relative stability. Salivary cortisol, cortisone and the ratios of testosterone to androstenedione and DHEA and of androstenedione to estrone, and of cortisol to cortisone, androstenedione and AEA might be suitable biomarkers because they met only two of the three criteria, but needed to be validated in the future. The rest biomarkers were unsuitable because they mostly showed no significant intergroup differences, blunt time-dependent changes and poor relative stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210096, China; Institute of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Yin Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China; School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - Jia Deng
- College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Liuxi Chu
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210096, China; Institute of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Haoran Yang
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210096, China; Institute of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210096, China; Institute of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jiajun Liao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China; School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - Yizhi Cheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Cognitive Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China; School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Department of Brain and Learning Science, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210096, China; Institute of Child Development and Education, Research Center for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
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Arachidonic Acid in Human Milk. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12030626. [PMID: 32121018 PMCID: PMC7146261 DOI: 10.3390/nu12030626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding is universally recommended as the optimal choice of infant feeding and consequently human milk has been extensively investigated to unravel its unique nutrient profile. The human milk lipid composition is unique and supplies specifically long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), in particular, arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). Arachidonic acid (ARA) is the most predominant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in human milk, albeit at low concentrations as compared to other fatty acids. It occurs predominantly in the triglyceride form and to a lesser extent as milk fat globule membrane phospholipids. Human milk ARA levels are modulated by dietary intake as demonstrated by animal and human studies and consequently vary dependent on dietary habits among mothers and regions across the globe. ARA serves as a precursor to eicosanoids and endocannabinoids that also occur in human milk. A review of scientific and clinical studies reveals that ARA plays an important role in physiological development and its related functions during early life nutrition. Therefore, ARA is an important nutrient during infancy and childhood and, as such, appropriate attention is required regarding its nutritional status and presence in the infant diet. Data are emerging indicating considerable genetic variation in encoding for desaturases and other essential fatty acid metabolic enzymes that may influence the ARA level as well as other LC-PUFAs. Human milk from well-nourished mothers has adequate levels of both ARA and DHA to support nutritional and developmental needs of infants. In case breastfeeding is not possible and infant formula is being fed, experts recommend that both ARA and DHA are added at levels present in human milk.
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Hanlon EC. Impact of circadian rhythmicity and sleep restriction on circulating endocannabinoid (eCB) N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide). Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 111:104471. [PMID: 31610409 PMCID: PMC7001881 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is involved in diverse aspects of human physiology and behavior but little is known about the impact of circadian rhythmicity on the system. The two most studied endocannabinoids, AEA (ananamide) and 2-AG (2-arachidonoylglycerol), can be measured in peripheral blood however the functional relevance of peripheral eCB levels is not clear. Having previously detailed the 24-h profile of serum 2-AG, here we report the 24-h serum profile of AEA to determine if these two endocannabinoids vary in parallel across the biological day including a nocturnal 8.5-h sleep period. Further, we assessed and compared the effect of a physiological challenge, in the form of sleep restriction to 4.5-h, on these two profiles. METHODS In this randomized crossover study, we examined serum concentrations of AEA across a 24-h period in fourteen young adults. Congeners of AEA, the structural analogs oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) were simultaneously assayed. Prior to 24-h blood sampling, each participant was exposed to two nights of normal (8.5 h) or restricted sleep (4.5 h). The two sleep conditions were separated by at least one month. In both sleep conditions, during the period of blood sampling, each individual ate the same high-carbohydrate meal at 0900, 1400, and 1900. RESULTS Mean 24-h concentrations of AEA were 0.697 ± 0.11 pmol/ml. A reproducible biphasic 24-h profile of AEA was observed with a first peak occurring during early sleep (0200) and a second peak in the mid-afternoon (1500) while a nadir was detected in the mid-morning (1000). The 24-h profiles for both OEA and PEA followed a similar pattern to that observed for AEA. AEA, OEA, and PEA levels were not affected by sleep restriction at any time of day, contrasting with the elevation of early afternoon levels previously observed for 2-AG. CONCLUSIONS The 24-h rhythm of AEA is markedly different from that of 2-AG, being of lesser amplitude and biphasic, rather than monophasic. These observations suggest distinct regulatory pathways of the two eCB and indicate that time of day needs to be carefully controlled in studies attempting to delineate their relative roles. Moreover, unlike 2-AG, AEA is not altered by sleep restriction, suggesting that physiological perturbations may affect AEA and 2-AG differently. Similar 24-h profiles were observed for OEA and PEA following normal and restricted sleep, further corroborating the validity of the wave-shape and lack of response to sleep loss observed for the AEA profile. Therapeutic approaches involving agonism or antagonism of peripheral eCB signaling will likely need to be tailored according to time of day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Hanlon
- University of Chicago, Department of Medicine, MC 1027, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, United States.
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26
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Bachkangi P, Taylor AH, Bari M, Maccarrone M, Konje JC. Prediction of preterm labour from a single blood test: The role of the endocannabinoid system in predicting preterm birth in high-risk women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019; 243:1-6. [PMID: 31618675 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if plasma concentrations of the N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), N-oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) increase in women at high risk for preterm birth (PTB) and whether these could be used to predict preterm delivery and if so, how they compare with current methods. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING A large UK teaching hospital. POPULATION 217 pregnant women were recruited between 24 and 34 gestational weeks at 'high-risk' for PTB, recruited from a prematurity prevention clinic or antenatal wards. METHODS Plasma AEA, OEA, and PEA concentrations were measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry whilst FAAH enzyme activity was measured by fluorometric radiometric assay and CL by ultrasound scan. The clinical usefulness of these measurements were determined by ROC and multivariate analyses. RESULTS AEA and PEA concentrations were significantly higher in women who delivered prematurely. An AEA concentration >1.095 nM predicted PTB, the gestational age at delivery and the recruitment to delivery interval (RTDI). A PEA concentration >17.50 nM only predicted PTB; FAAH enzyme activity was not related to these changes. Multivariate analysis (all variables) generated an equation to accurately predict the RTDI. CONCLUSIONS A single plasma AEA or PEA measurement can predict PTB. A single AEA measurement predicts the gestational age of delivery and the remaining period of pregnancy with reasonable accuracy and better than existing conventional tests thus offering a better window for primary prevention of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bachkangi
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - A H Taylor
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, Department of Medicine, UK
| | | | | | - Justin C Konje
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Sciences Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sidra Medicine, Doha and Wellness Women's Research Center, HMC, Doha, Qatar.
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27
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Peritore AF, Siracusa R, Crupi R, Cuzzocrea S. Therapeutic Efficacy of Palmitoylethanolamide and Its New Formulations in Synergy with Different Antioxidant Molecules Present in Diets. Nutrients 2019; 11:E2175. [PMID: 31514292 PMCID: PMC6769461 DOI: 10.3390/nu11092175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of a complete nutritional approach seems increasingly promising to combat chronic inflammation. The choice of healthy sources of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, associated with regular physical activity and avoidance of smoking is essential to fight the war against chronic diseases. At the base of the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant action of the diets, there are numerous molecules, among which some of a lipidic nature very active in the inflammatory pathway. One class of molecules found in diets with anti-inflammatory actions are ALIAmides. Among all, one is particularly known for its ability to counteract the inflammatory cascade, the Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). PEA is a molecular that is present in nature, in numerous foods, and is endogenously produced by our body, which acts as a balancer of inflammatory processes, also known as endocannabionoid-like. PEA is often used in the treatment of both acute and chronic inflammatory pathologies, either alone or in association with other molecules with properties, such as antioxidants or analgesics. This review aims to illustrate an overview of the different diets that are involved in the process of opposition to the inflammatory cascade, focusing on capacity of PEA and new formulations in synergy with other molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Filippo Peritore
- Department of Chemical Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosalba Siracusa
- Department of Chemical Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosalia Crupi
- Department of Chemical Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
- Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
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28
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Röhrig W, Achenbach S, Deutsch B, Pischetsrieder M. Quantification of 24 circulating endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid-related compounds, and their phospholipid precursors in human plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS. J Lipid Res 2019; 60:1475-1488. [PMID: 31235475 PMCID: PMC6672038 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d094680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related compounds (ERCs) are involved in many physiological processes. They are released on demand from phosphoinositide and N-acylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (NAPE) precursors and comprise 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MGs) and FA ethanolamides (FEAs). Despite the abundance of advanced quantitative methods, however, their determined concentrations in blood plasma are inconsistent because 2-MGs and FEAs undergo artifactual de novo formation, chemical isomerization, and degradation during sample collection and storage. For a comprehensive survey of these compounds in blood and plasma, we have developed and validated an ultra-HPLC-MS/MS method to quantify 24 endocannabinoids, ERCs, and their phospholipid precursors. Immediate acidification of EDTA-blood to pH 5.8 blocked artifactual FEA formation for at least 4 h on ice. The 2-MGs were stabilized after plasma harvest with 0.5 M potassium thiocyanate at pH 4.7. FEA and MG plasma concentrations in six healthy volunteers ranged between 0.04-3.48 and 0.63-6.18 ng/ml, respectively. Interestingly, only 1-5% of circulating FEAs were present in their free form, while the majority was bound to NAPEs. Similarly, 97% of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was bound to a potential phosphoinositide pool. The herein-described stabilization and extraction methods may now be used to reliably and comprehensively quantify endocannabinoids, ERCs, and their phospholipid precursors in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waldemar Röhrig
- Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Achenbach
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostaseology Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Birgit Deutsch
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Monika Pischetsrieder
- Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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29
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Recent advances in LC-MS/MS methods to determine endocannabinoids in biological samples: Application in neurodegenerative diseases. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1044:12-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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30
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Souza ID, Hantao LW, Queiroz MEC. Polymeric ionic liquid open tubular capillary column for on-line in-tube SPME coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS to determine endocannabinoids in plasma samples. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1045:108-116. [PMID: 30454565 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript describes the development of wall-coated open tubular capillary column with polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) for on-line in-tube solid phase microextraction coupled with ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (in-tube SPME/UHPLC-MS/MS) to determine anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2 A G) in plasma samples. Selective PILs were synthetized from the [VC6IM][Cl], [VC16IM][Br], and [(VIM)2C10]2 [Br] - ionic liquids - by in-situ thermal-initiated polymerization in a fused silica capillary column for in-tube SPME. The synthesis procedure was optimized, and the capillary columns were characterized using spectroscopic and chromatography techniques. The chemically bonded and cross-linked PIL-based sorbent phase (thickness coating: 1.7 μm) presented high chemical and mechanical stability. Among the sorbents evaluated, the PIL-based capillary, [VC16IM][Br]/[(VIM)2C10]2 [Br] presented the best performance with a sorption capacity of 37,311 ng cm-3 and 48,307 ng cm-3 for AEA and 2 A G, respectively. This capillary was reused more than ninety times without significant changes in extraction efficiency. The in-tube SPME-UHPLC-MS/MS method presented a linear range from 0.1 ng mL-1 to 100 ng mL-1 for AEA, and from 0.05 ng mL-1 to 100 ng mL-1 for 2 A G, with coefficients of determination higher than 0.99, p-value for Lack-of-fit test higher than 0.05 (α of 0.05), precision with coefficient of variation (CV) values ranging from 1.6 to 14.0% and accuracy with relative standard deviation (RSD) values from -19.6% to 13.2%. This method was successfully applied to determine AEA and 2 A G in plasma patients with Parkinson's disease. The concentrations in these plasma samples ranged from 0.14 to 0.46 ng mL-1 for AEA and from <0.05 ng mL-1 to 0.51 ng mL-1 for 2-AG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel D Souza
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Leandro W Hantao
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Eugênia C Queiroz
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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31
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Circulating Endocannabinoids: From Whence Do They Come and Where are They Going? Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:155-172. [PMID: 28653665 PMCID: PMC5719092 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this review is to summarize studies in which concentrations of circulating endocannabinoids in humans have been examined in relationship to physiological measurements and pathological status. The roles of endocannabinoids in the regulation of energy intake and storage have been well studied and the data obtained consistently support the hypothesis that endocannabinoid signaling is associated with increased consumption and storage of energy. Physical exercise mobilizes endocannabinoids, which could contribute to refilling of energy stores and also to the analgesic and mood-elevating effects of exercise. Circulating concentrations of 2-arachidonoylglycerol are very significantly circadian and dysregulated when sleep is disrupted. Other conditions under which circulating endocannabinoids are altered include inflammation and pain. A second important role for endocannabinoid signaling is to restore homeostasis following stress. Circulating endocannabinoids are stress-responsive and there is evidence that their concentrations are altered in disorders associated with excessive stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Although determination of circulating endocannabinoids can provide important information about the state of endocannabinoid signaling and thus allow for hypotheses to be defined and tested, the large number of physiological factors that contribute to their circulating concentrations makes it difficult to use them in isolation as a biomarker for a specific disorder.
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32
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Parameters of the Endocannabinoid System as Novel Biomarkers in Sepsis and Septic Shock. Metabolites 2017; 7:metabo7040055. [PMID: 29104224 PMCID: PMC5746735 DOI: 10.3390/metabo7040055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis represents a dysregulated immune response to infection, with a continuum of severity progressing to septic shock. This dysregulated response generally follows a pattern by which an initial hyperinflammatory phase is followed by a state of sepsis-associated immunosuppression. Major challenges in improving sepsis care include developing strategies to ensure early and accurate identification and diagnosis of the disease process, improving our ability to predict outcomes and stratify patients, and the need for novel sepsis-specific treatments such as immunomodulation. Biomarkers offer promise with all three of these challenges and are likely also to be the solution to determining a patient’s immune status; something that is critical in guiding effective and safe immunomodulatory therapy. Currently available biomarkers used in sepsis lack sensitivity and specificity, among other significant shortcomings. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an emerging topic of research with evidence suggesting a ubiquitous presence on both central and peripheral tissues, including an intrinsic link with immune function. This review will first discuss the state of sepsis biomarkers and lack of available treatments, followed by an introduction to the ECS and a discussion of its potential to provide novel biomarkers and treatments.
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33
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Angelini R, Argueta DA, Piomelli D, DiPatrizio NV. Identification of a Widespread Palmitoylethanolamide Contamination in Standard Laboratory Glassware. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2017; 2:123-132. [PMID: 28861512 PMCID: PMC5510777 DOI: 10.1089/can.2017.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) are a family of lipid mediators that participate in a host of biological functions. Procedures for the quantitative analysis of FAEs include organic solvent extraction from biological matrices (e.g., blood), followed by purification and subsequent quantitation by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) or gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. During the validation process of a new method for LC/MS analysis of FAEs in biological samples, we observed unusually high levels of the FAE, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), in blank samples that did not contain any biological material. Materials and Methods: We investigated a possible source of this PEA artifact via liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, as well as accurate mass analysis. Results: We found that high levels of a contaminant indistinguishable from PEA is present in new 5.75″ glass Pasteur pipettes, which are routinely used by laboratories to carry out lipid extractions. This artifact might account for discrepancies found in the literature regarding PEA levels in human blood serum and other tissues. Conclusions: It is recommended to take into account this pitfall by analyzing potential contamination of the disposable glassware during the validation process of any method used for analysis of FAEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Angelini
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California.,Department of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Donovan A Argueta
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California.,Department of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Nicholas V DiPatrizio
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
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34
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Marchioni C, de Souza ID, Grecco CF, Crippa JA, Tumas V, Queiroz MEC. A column switching ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to determine anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in plasma samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 409:3587-3596. [PMID: 28337517 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0300-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This study reports a fast, sensitive, and selective column switching ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method to determine the endocannabinoids (eCBs), anandamide (AEA), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in plasma samples. This bidimensional system used a restricted access media column (RP-8 ADS, 25 mm × 4 mm × 25 μM) in the first dimension and a core-shell Kinetex C18 (100 mm × 2, 1.7 mm × 1 μM) column in the second dimension, followed by detection in a mass spectrometer triple quadrupole (multiple reactions monitoring mode) operating in the positive mode. RP-8 ADS was used for trace enrichment of eCBs (reverse phase partitioning) and macromolecular matrix size exclusion; the core-shell column was used for the chromatographic separation. The column switching UHPLC-MS/MS method presented a linear range spanning from 0.1 ng mL-1 (LOQ) to 6 ng mL-1 for AEA and from 0.04 ng mL-1 (LOQ) to 10 ng mL-1 for 2-AG. Excluding the LLOQ values, the precision assays provided coefficients of variation lower than 8% and accuracy with relative standard error values lower than 14%. Neither carryover nor matrix effects were detected. This high-throughput column switching method compared to conventional methods is time saving as it involves fewer steps, consumes less solvent, and presents lower LLOQ. The column switching UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to determine AEA and 2-AG in plasma samples obtained from Alzheimer's disease patients. Graphical abstract A column switching ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using RP-8 ADS column and core shell column to determine endocannabinoids in plasma samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Marchioni
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Israel Donizeti de Souza
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Caroline Fernandes Grecco
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - José Alexandre Crippa
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vitor Tumas
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Eugênia Costa Queiroz
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14040-901, Brazil.
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14040-901, Brazil.
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Microencapsulated bitter compounds (from Gentiana lutea) reduce daily energy intakes in humans. Br J Nutr 2016; 116:1841-1850. [PMID: 27829482 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114516003858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence showed that bitter-tasting compounds modulate eating behaviour through bitter taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of microencapsulated bitter compounds on human appetite and energy intakes. A microencapsulated bitter ingredient (EBI) with a core of bitter Gentiana lutea root extract and a coating of ethylcellulose-stearate was developed and included in a vanilla microencapsulated bitter ingredient-enriched pudding (EBIP). The coating masked bitterness in the mouth, allowing the release of bitter secoiridoids in the gastrointestinal tract. A cross-over randomised study was performed: twenty healthy subjects consumed at breakfast EBIP (providing 100 mg of secoiridoids) or the control pudding (CP) on two different occasions. Blood samples, glycaemia and appetite ratings were collected at baseline and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after breakfast. Gastrointestinal peptides, endocannabinoids (EC) and N-acylethanolamines (NAE) were measured in plasma samples. Energy intakes were measured at an ad libitum lunch 3 h after breakfast and over the rest of the day (post lunch) through food diaries. No significant difference in postprandial plasma responses of gastrointestinal hormones, glucose, EC and NAE and of appetite between EBIP and CP was found. However, a trend for a higher response of glucagon-like peptide-1 after EBIP than after CP was observed. EBIP determined a significant 30 % lower energy intake over the post-lunch period compared with CP. These findings were consistent with the tailored release of bitter-tasting compounds from EBIP along the gastrointestinal tract. This study demonstrated that microencapsulated bitter secoiridoids were effective in reducing daily energy intake in humans.
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Kong X, Ferracane R, De Luca L, Vitaglione P. Salivary concentration of N -acylethanolamines upon food mastication and after meal consumption: Influence of food dietary fiber. Food Res Int 2016; 89:186-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2016.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Petrosino S, Di Marzo V. The pharmacology of palmitoylethanolamide and first data on the therapeutic efficacy of some of its new formulations. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 174:1349-1365. [PMID: 27539936 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has emerged as a potential nutraceutical, because this compound is naturally produced in many plant and animal food sources, as well as in cells and tissues of mammals, and endowed with important neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. Several efforts have been made to identify the molecular mechanism of action of PEA and explain its multiple effects both in the central and the peripheral nervous system. Here, we provide an overview of the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of PEA in neurodegenerative disorders, pain perception and inflammatory diseases. The current knowledge of new formulations of PEA with smaller particle size (i.e. micronized and ultra-micronized) when given alone or in combination with antioxidant flavonoids (i.e. luteolin) and stilbenes (i.e. polydatin) is also reviewed. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Petrosino
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy.,Epitech Group S.p.A., Saccolongo (PD), Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pozzuoli (NA), Italy
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Identification of the oleic acid ethanolamide (OEA) isomer cis-vaccenic acid ethanolamide (VEA) as a highly abundant 18:1 fatty acid ethanolamide in blood plasma from rats and humans. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:6141-51. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9720-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Wu J, Gouveia-Figueira S, Domellöf M, Zivkovic AM, Nording ML. Oxylipins, endocannabinoids, and related compounds in human milk: Levels and effects of storage conditions. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2015; 122:28-36. [PMID: 26656029 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The presence of fatty acid derived oxylipins, endocannabinoids and related compounds in human milk may be of importance to the infant. Presently, clinically relevant protocols for storing and handling human milk that minimize error and variability in oxylipin and endocannabinoid concentrations are lacking. In this study, we compared the individual and combined effects of the following storage conditions on the stability of these fatty acid metabolites in human milk: state (fresh or frozen), storage temperature (4 °C, -20 °C or -80 °C), and duration (1 day, 1 week or 3 months). Thirteen endocannabinoids and related compounds, as well as 37 oxylipins were analyzed simultaneously by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Twelve endocannabinoids and related compounds (2-111 nM) and 31 oxylipins (1.2 pM-1242 nM) were detected, with highest levels being found for 2-arachidonoylglycerol and 17(R)hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid, respectively. The concentrations of most endocannabinoid-related compounds and oxylipins were dependent on storage condition, and especially storage at 4 °C introduced significant variability. Our findings suggest that human milk samples should be analyzed immediately after, or within one day of collection (if stored at 4 °C). Storage at -80 °C is required for long-term preservation, and storage at -20 °C is acceptable for no more than one week. These findings provide a protocol for investigating the oxylipin and endocannabinoid metabolome in human milk, useful for future milk-related clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Sandra Gouveia-Figueira
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Magnus Domellöf
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Angela M Zivkovic
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Foods for Health Institute, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Malin L Nording
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
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Amoako AA, Marczylo TH, Elson J, Taylor AH, Willets JM, Konje JC. Relationship between seminal plasma levels of anandamide congeners palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide and semen quality. Fertil Steril 2014; 102:1260-7. [PMID: 25212838 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.07.767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether changes in seminal plasma concentrations of the endogenous lipid signaling molecules palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) have significant effects on sperm quality. DESIGN Biochemical and physiological studies of human seminal plasma and spermatozoa. SETTING Academic tertiary care medical center. PATIENT(S) Ninety men attending an infertility clinic for semen analysis. INTERVENTION(S) Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA extracted from seminal plasma were quantified by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry. Patient sperm from semen with normal parameters were exposed in vitro to PEA or OEA to determine effects on sperm motility, viability, and mitochondrial activity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The relationship between seminal plasma concentrations of PEA and OEA and sperm quality and the effect of these compounds on sperm motility, viability, and mitochondria activity in vitro. RESULT(S) Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA concentrations in seminal plasma were lower in men with asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozospermia compared with men with normal semen parameters. Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA rapidly and significantly improved sperm motility and maintained viability without affecting mitochondria activity in vitro. CONCLUSION(S) Maintenance of normal PEA and OEA tone in human seminal plasma may be necessary for the preservation of normal sperm function and male fertility. Exocannabinoids found in Cannabis, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, could compete with these endocannabinoids upsetting their finely balanced, normal functioning and resulting in male reproductive failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akwasi Atakora Amoako
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
| | - Timothy Hywel Marczylo
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anthony Henry Taylor
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathon M Willets
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Chi Konje
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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Rapino C, Battista N, Bari M, Maccarrone M. Endocannabinoids as biomarkers of human reproduction. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 20:501-16. [PMID: 24516083 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that affects ∼10-15% of couples attempting to conceive a baby. More than half of all cases of infertility are a result of female conditions, while the remaining cases can be attributed to male factors, or to a combination of both. The search for suitable biomarkers of pregnancy outcome is a challenging issue in human reproduction, aimed at identifying molecules with predictive significance of the reproductive potential of male and female gametes. Among the various candidates, endocannabinoids (eCBs), and in particular anandamide (AEA), represent potential biomarkers of human fertility disturbances. Any perturbation of the balance between synthesis and degradation of eCBs will result in local changes of their tone in human female and male reproductive tracts, which in turn regulates various pathophysiological processes, oocyte and sperm maturation included. METHODS PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for papers using relevant keywords like 'biomarker', 'endocannabinoid', 'infertility', 'pregnancy' and 'reproduction'. RESULTS In this review, we discuss different studies on the measurements of AEA and related eCBs in human reproductive cells, tissues and fluids, where the local contribution of these bioactive lipids could be critical in ensuring normal sperm fertilizing ability and pregnancy. CONCLUSION Based on the available data, we suggest that the AEA tone has the potential to be exploited as a novel diagnostic biomarker of infertility, to be used in association with assays of conventional hormones (e.g. progesterone, β-chorionic gonadotrophin) and semen analysis. However further quantitative research of its predictive capacity is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Rapino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy StemTeCh Group, Chieti, Italy
| | - Natalia Battista
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Bari
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Gouveia-Figueira S, Nording ML. Development and validation of a sensitive UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 15 endocannabinoids and related compounds in milk and other biofluids. Anal Chem 2013; 86:1186-95. [PMID: 24377270 DOI: 10.1021/ac403352e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has gained an increasing interest over the past decades since the discovery of anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). These, and structurally related compounds, are associated with a wide variety of physiological processes. For instance, eCB levels in milk have been associated with infants' feeding and sleeping behavior. A method based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 15 eCBs and related compounds, including both fatty acid amides and glycerols. Linearity (0.9845 < R(2) < 1), limit of detection and quantification (0.52-293 pg on column), inter- and intraday accuracy (>70%) and precision (CV < 15%), stability, and recovery (in milk and plasma) were established in accordance to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The method was successfully applied to bovine and elk milk revealing species-specific eCB profiles, with significant different levels of 2-AG, 2-linoleoyl glycerol, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide, palmitoyl ethanolamide, and oleoyl ethanolamide. Furthermore, stearoyl ethanolamide and docosatetraenoyl ethanolamide were only detected in elk milk. In summary, our UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method may be used for quantification of eCBs and related compounds in different biofluids and applied to investigations of the role of these emerging compounds in various physiological processes.
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Battista N, Sergi M, Montesano C, Napoletano S, Compagnone D, Maccarrone M. Analytical approaches for the determination of phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids in human matrices. Drug Test Anal 2013; 6:7-16. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Battista
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment; University of Teramo; Teramo Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation; Rome Italy
| | - Manuel Sergi
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment; University of Teramo; Teramo Italy
| | | | - Sabino Napoletano
- Department of Chemistry; Sapienza University of Rome; Rome Italy
- Department of Public Safety, Ministry of Interior; Forensic Service/GIPS; Ancona Italy
| | - Dario Compagnone
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment; University of Teramo; Teramo Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation; Rome Italy
- Center of Integrated Research; Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome; Rome Italy
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LC–ESI-MS/MS quantification of 4β-hydroxycholesterol and cholesterol in plasma samples of limited volume. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2013; 85:145-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2013.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Varga A, Jenes A, Marczylo TH, Sousa-Valente J, Chen J, Austin J, Selvarajah S, Piscitelli F, Andreou AP, Taylor AH, Kyle F, Yaqoob M, Brain S, White JPM, Csernoch L, Di Marzo V, Buluwela L, Nagy I. Anandamide produced by Ca(2+)-insensitive enzymes induces excitation in primary sensory neurons. Pflugers Arch 2013; 466:1421-35. [PMID: 24114173 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-013-1360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The endogenous lipid agent N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), among other effects, has been shown to be involved in nociceptive processing both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Anandamide is thought to be synthesised by several enzymatic pathways both in a Ca(2+)-sensitive and Ca(2+)-insensitive manner, and rat primary sensory neurons produce anandamide. Here, we show for the first time, that cultured rat primary sensory neurons express at least four of the five known Ca(2+)-insensitive enzymes implicated in the synthesis of anandamide, and that application of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-arachidonoyl, the common substrate of the anandamide-synthesising pathways, results in anandamide production which is not changed by the removal of extracellular Ca(2+). We also show that anandamide, which has been synthesised in primary sensory neurons following the application of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-arachidonoyl induces a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 ion channel-mediated excitatory effect that is not inhibited by concomitant activation of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor. Finally, we show that sub-populations of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 ion channel-expressing primary sensory neurons also express some of the putative Ca(2+)-insensitive anandamide-synthesising enzymes. Together, these findings indicate that anandamide synthesised by primary sensory neuron via a Ca(2+)-insensitive manner has an excitatory rather than an inhibitory role in primary sensory neurons and that excitation is mediated predominantly through autocrine signalling. Regulation of the activity of the Ca(2+)-insensitive anandamide-synthesising enzymes in these neurons may be capable of regulating the activity of these cells, with potential relevance to controlling nociceptive processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Varga
- Section of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9NH, UK
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Galve-Roperh I, Chiurchiù V, Díaz-Alonso J, Bari M, Guzmán M, Maccarrone M. Cannabinoid receptor signaling in progenitor/stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Prog Lipid Res 2013; 52:633-50. [PMID: 24076098 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids, the active components of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) extracts, have attracted the attention of human civilizations for centuries, much earlier than the discovery and characterization of their substrate of action, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The latter is an ensemble of endogenous lipids, their receptors [in particular type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) cannabinoid receptors] and metabolic enzymes. Cannabinoid signaling regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, with different outcomes depending on the molecular targets and cellular context involved. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed and functional from the very early developmental stages, when they regulate embryonic and trophoblast stem cell survival and differentiation, and thus may affect the formation of manifold adult specialized tissues derived from the three different germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm). In the ectoderm-derived nervous system, both CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in neural progenitor/stem cells and control their self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. CB1 and CB2 show opposite patterns of expression, the former increasing and the latter decreasing along neuronal differentiation. Recently, endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling has also been shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation of mesoderm-derived hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, with a key role in determining the formation of several cell types in peripheral tissues, including blood cells, adipocytes, osteoblasts/osteoclasts and epithelial cells. Here, we will review these new findings, which unveil the involvement of eCB signaling in the regulation of progenitor/stem cell fate in the nervous system and in the periphery. The developmental regulation of cannabinoid receptor expression and cellular/subcellular localization, together with their role in progenitor/stem cell biology, may have important implications in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Galve-Roperh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, IUIN, CIBERNED and IRYCIS, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Amoako AA, Marczylo TH, Marczylo EL, Elson J, Willets JM, Taylor AH, Konje JC. Anandamide modulates human sperm motility: implications for men with asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Hum Reprod 2013; 28:2058-66. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/det232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
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Denoroy L, Zimmer L, Renaud B, Parrot S. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography as a tool for the discovery and the analysis of biomarkers of diseases: A review. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2013; 927:37-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2012.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Matias I, Gatta-Cherifi B, Tabarin A, Clark S, Leste-Lasserre T, Marsicano G, Piazza PV, Cota D. Endocannabinoids measurement in human saliva as potential biomarker of obesity. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42399. [PMID: 22860123 PMCID: PMC3409167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The discovery of the endocannabinoid system and of its role in the regulation of energy balance has significantly advanced our understanding of the physiopathological mechanisms leading to obesity and type 2 diabetes. New knowledge on the role of this system in humans has been acquired by measuring blood endocannabinoids. Here we explored endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamines in saliva and verified their changes in relation to body weight status and in response to a meal or to body weight loss. Methodology/Principal Findings Fasting plasma and salivary endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines were measured through liquid mass spectrometry in 12 normal weight and 12 obese, insulin-resistant subjects. Salivary endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines were evaluated in the same cohort before and after the consumption of a meal. Changes in salivary endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines after body weight loss were investigated in a second group of 12 obese subjects following a 12-weeks lifestyle intervention program. The levels of mRNAs coding for enzymes regulating the metabolism of endocannabinoids, N-acylethanolamines and of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor, alongside endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines content, were assessed in human salivary glands. The endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), N-arachidonoylethanolamide (anandamide, AEA), and the N-acylethanolamines (oleoylethanolamide, OEA and palmitoylethanolamide, PEA) were quantifiable in saliva and their levels were significantly higher in obese than in normal weight subjects. Fasting salivary AEA and OEA directly correlated with BMI, waist circumference and fasting insulin. Salivary endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines did not change in response to a meal. CB1 receptors, ligands and enzymes were expressed in the salivary glands. Finally, a body weight loss of 5.3% obtained after a 12-weeks lifestyle program significantly decreased salivary AEA levels. Conclusions/Significance Endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines are quantifiable in saliva and their levels correlate with obesity but not with feeding status. Body weight loss significantly decreases salivary AEA, which might represent a useful biomarker in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Matias
- Group “Endocannabinoids and Neuroadaptation”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Blandine Gatta-Cherifi
- Group “Energy Balance and Obesity”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- Endocrinology Department, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Pessac, France
| | - Antoine Tabarin
- Group “Energy Balance and Obesity”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- Endocrinology Department, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, Pessac, France
| | - Samantha Clark
- Group “Energy Balance and Obesity”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thierry Leste-Lasserre
- Group “Physiopathology of Addiction”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Giovanni Marsicano
- Group “Endocannabinoids and Neuroadaptation”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Pier Vincenzo Piazza
- Group “Physiopathology of Addiction”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniela Cota
- Group “Energy Balance and Obesity”, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Neurocentre Magendie, Physiophatologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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Diagnostic accuracy of maternal serum macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A at 6-10 weeks of gestation to predict miscarriage. Obstet Gynecol 2012; 119:1000-8. [PMID: 22525911 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0b013e3182518fd3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether serum macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), anandamide, or β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measured in an asymptomatic population in the middle of the first trimester with a viable fetus predicts subsequent miscarriage. METHODS We undertook a prospective cohort study at Mercy Hospital for Women between 2004 and 2008. Participants (N=782) were recruited from prenatal clinics, where samples were taken from asymptomatic women at 6 0/7 to 10 6/7 weeks of gestation. We collected samples from only those women for whom we were able to obtain ultrasound evidence of a singleton with fetal cardiac activity. Serum macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1, PAPP-A, anandamide, and β-hCG concentrations were assayed. RESULTS Twenty-one (2.7%) miscarried and 761 did not. Among those who miscarried, macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 and PAPP-A were significantly decreased at 63% (multiples of the median (MOM) 0.63, 25th-75th percentiles 0.33-0.88) and 23% (MOM 0.23, 25th-75th percentiles 0.12-0.48) of levels seen among those with ongoing pregnancies (P<.001 for both comparisons). In contrast, neither serum β-hCG (MOM 0.99, 25th-75th percentiles 0.46-1.86) nor anandamide (MOM 1.07, 25th-75th percentiles 0.87-1.19) was elevated or decreased among those who miscarried compared with those with ongoing pregnancies. At a fixed 10% false-positive rate (90% specificity), a test combining macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 and PAPP-A yielded 63% sensitivity and a 6.6 positive likelihood ratio in predicting miscarriage. CONCLUSION Low serum levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 and PAPP-A measured from asymptomatic women at 6-10 weeks of gestation with viable pregnancies can predict subsequent miscarriage. These analytes are likely to have an important biological role in early pregnancy and are likely to be useful clinical biomarkers for miscarriage and other early pregnancy complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II.
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