1
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Galaj E, Bi GH, Xi ZX. β-caryophyllene inhibits heroin self-administration, but does not alter opioid-induced antinociception in rodents. Neuropharmacology 2024; 252:109947. [PMID: 38631564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109947] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
A growing body of research indicates that β-caryophyllene (BCP), a constituent present in a large number of plants, possesses significant therapeutic properties against CNS disorders, including alcohol and psychostimulant use disorders. However, it is unknown whether BCP has similar therapeutic potential for opioid use disorders. In this study, we found that systemic administration of BCP dose-dependently reduced heroin self-administration in rats under an FR2 schedule of reinforcement and partially blocked heroin-enhanced brain stimulation reward in DAT-cre mice, maintained by optical stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons at high frequencies. Acute administration of BCP failed to block heroin conditioned place preference (CPP) in male mice, but attenuated heroin-induced CPP in females. Furthermore, repeated dosing with BCP for 5 days facilitated the extinction of CPP in female but not male mice. In the hot plate assay, pretreatment with the same doses of BCP failed to enhance or prolong opioid antinociception. Lastly, in a substitution test, BCP replacement for heroin failed to maintain intravenous BCP self-administration, suggesting that BCP itself has no reinforcing properties. These findings suggest that BCP may have certain therapeutic effects against opioid use disorders with fewer unwanted side-effects by itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Galaj
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USA.
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
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2
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Gobira PH, Joca SR, Moreira FA. Roles of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the modulation of psychostimulant responses. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024; 36:67-77. [PMID: 35993329 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2022.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Addiction to psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, D-amphetamine, and methamphetamine, is a public health issue that substantially contributes to the global burden of disease. Psychostimulant drugs promote an increase in dopamine levels within the mesocorticolimbic system, which is central to the rewarding properties of such drugs. Cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R) are expressed in the main areas of this system and implicated in the neuronal mechanisms underlying the rewarding effect of psychostimulant drugs. Here, we reviewed studies focusing on pharmacological intervention targeting cannabinoid CB1R and CB2R and their interaction in the modulation of psychostimulant responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- P H Gobira
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - S R Joca
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - F A Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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3
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Mugnaini C, Kostrzewa M, Casini M, Kumar P, Catallo V, Allarà M, Guastaferro L, Brizzi A, Paolino M, Tafi A, Kapatais C, Giorgi G, Vacondio F, Mor M, Corelli F, Ligresti A. Systematic Modification of the Substitution Pattern of the 7-Hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Scaffold Enabled the Discovery of New Ligands with High Affinity and Selectivity for the Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor. Molecules 2023; 28:4958. [PMID: 37446625 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28134958] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective ligands of the CB2 receptor are receiving considerable attention due to their potential as therapeutic agents for a variety of diseases. Recently, 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamide derivatives were shown to act at the CB2 receptor either as agonists or as inverse agonists/antagonists in vitro and to have anti-osteoarthritic activity in vivo. In this article, we report the synthesis, pharmacological profile, and molecular modeling of a series of twenty-three new 7-hydroxy-5-oxopyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine-6-carboxamides with the aim of further developing this new class of selective CB2 ligands. In addition to these compounds, seven other analogs that had been previously synthesized were included in this study to better define the structure-activity relationship (SAR). Ten of the new compounds studied were found to be potent and selective ligands of the CB2 receptor, with Ki values ranging from 48.46 to 0.45 nM and CB1/CB2 selectivity indices (SI) ranging from >206 to >4739. In particular, compounds 54 and 55 were found to be high-affinity CB2 inverse agonists that were not active at all at the CB1 receptor, whereas 57 acted as an agonist. The functional activity profile of the compounds within this structural class depends mainly on the substitution pattern of the pyrazole ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Magdalena Kostrzewa
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marta Casini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Poulami Kumar
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Catallo
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Allarà
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Laura Guastaferro
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Paolino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Tafi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Christelos Kapatais
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giorgi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Alessia Ligresti
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
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4
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Martinez Ramirez CE, Ruiz-Pérez G, Stollenwerk TM, Behlke C, Doherty A, Hillard CJ. Endocannabinoid signaling in the central nervous system. Glia 2023; 71:5-35. [PMID: 36308424 PMCID: PMC10167744 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
It is hard to overestimate the influence of the endocannabinoid signaling (ECS) system on central nervous system (CNS) function. In the 40 years since cannabinoids were found to trigger specific cell signaling cascades, studies of the ECS system continue to cause amazement, surprise, and confusion! CB1 cannabinoid receptors are expressed widely in the CNS and regulate cell-cell communication via effects on the release of both neurotransmitters and gliotransmitters. CB2 cannabinoid receptors are difficult to detect in the CNS but seem to "punch above their weight" as compounds targeting these receptors have significant effects on inflammatory state and behavior. Positive and negative allosteric modulators for both receptors have been identified and examined in preclinical studies. Concentrations of the endocannabinoid ligands, N-arachidonoylethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are regulated by a combination of enzymatic synthesis and degradation and inhibitors of these processes are available and making their way into clinical trials. Importantly, ECS regulates many essential brain functions, including regulation of reward, anxiety, inflammation, motor control, and cellular development. While the field is on the cusp of preclinical discoveries providing impactful clinical and therapeutic insights into many CNS disorders, there is still much to be learned about this remarkable and versatile modulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- César E Martinez Ramirez
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Gonzalo Ruiz-Pérez
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Todd M Stollenwerk
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christina Behlke
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ashley Doherty
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Cecilia J Hillard
- Neuroscience Research Center and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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5
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Slosky LM, Pires A, Bai Y, Clark NB, Hauser ER, Gross JD, Porkka F, Zhou Y, Chen X, Pogorelov VM, Toth K, Wetsel WC, Barak LS, Caron MG. Establishment of multi-stage intravenous self-administration paradigms in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21422. [PMID: 36503898 PMCID: PMC9742147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24740-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically tractable animal models provide needed strategies to resolve the biological basis of drug addiction. Intravenous self-administration (IVSA) is the gold standard for modeling psychostimulant and opioid addiction in animals, but technical limitations have precluded the widespread use of IVSA in mice. Here, we describe IVSA paradigms for mice that capture the multi-stage nature of the disorder and permit predictive modeling. In these paradigms, C57BL/6J mice with long-standing indwelling jugular catheters engaged in cocaine- or remifentanil-associated lever responding that was fixed ratio-dependent, dose-dependent, extinguished by withholding the drug, and reinstated by the presentation of drug-paired cues. The application of multivariate analysis suggested that drug taking in both paradigms was a function of two latent variables we termed incentive motivation and discriminative control. Machine learning revealed that vulnerability to drug seeking and relapse were predicted by a mouse's a priori response to novelty, sensitivity to drug-induced locomotion, and drug-taking behavior. The application of these behavioral and statistical-analysis approaches to genetically-engineered mice will facilitate the identification of neural circuits driving addiction susceptibility and relapse and focused therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Slosky
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Andrea Pires
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yushi Bai
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth R Hauser
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joshua D Gross
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Fiona Porkka
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Chen
- School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vladimir M Pogorelov
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Krisztian Toth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA
| | - William C Wetsel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Marc G Caron
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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6
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Ferranti AS, Foster DJ. Cannabinoid type-2 receptors: An emerging target for regulating schizophrenia-relevant brain circuits. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:925792. [PMID: 36033626 PMCID: PMC9403189 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.925792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2) is highly expressed in the immune system, emerging evidence points to CB2 playing a key role in regulating neuronal function in the central nervous system. Recent anatomical studies, combined with electrophysiological studies, indicate that CB2 receptors are expressed in specific dopaminergic and glutamatergic brain circuits that are hyperactive in schizophrenia patients. The ability of CB2 receptors to inhibit dopaminergic and hippocampal circuits, combined with the anti-inflammatory effects of CB2 receptor activation, make this receptor an intriguing target for treating schizophrenia, a disease where novel interventions that move beyond dopamine receptor antagonists are desperately needed. The development of new CB2-related pharmacological and genetic tools, including the first small molecule positive allosteric modulator of CB2 receptors, has greatly advanced our understanding of this receptor. While more work is needed to further elucidate the translational value of selectively targeting CB2 receptors with respect to schizophrenia, the studies discussed below could suggest that CB2 receptors are anatomically located in schizophrenia-relevant circuits, where the physiological consequence of CB2 receptor activation could correct circuit-based deficits commonly associated with positive and cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S. Ferranti
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Daniel J. Foster
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
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7
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Therapeutic potential of PIMSR, a novel CB1 receptor neutral antagonist, for cocaine use disorder: evidence from preclinical research. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:286. [PMID: 35851573 PMCID: PMC9293959 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02059-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) have been major targets in medication development for the treatment of substance use disorders. However, clinical trials with rimonabant, a CB1R antagonist/inverse agonist, failed due to severe side effects. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of PIMSR, a neutral CB1R antagonist lacking an inverse agonist profile, against cocaine's behavioral effects in experimental animals. We found that systemic administration of PIMSR dose-dependently inhibited cocaine self-administration under fixed-ratio (FR5), but not FR1, reinforcement, shifted the cocaine self-administration dose-response curve downward, decreased incentive motivation to seek cocaine under progressive-ratio reinforcement, and reduced cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. PIMSR also inhibited oral sucrose self-administration. Importantly, PIMSR alone is neither rewarding nor aversive as assessed by place conditioning. We then used intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) to explore the possible involvement of the mesolimbic dopamine system in PIMSR's action. We found that PIMSR dose-dependently attenuated cocaine-enhanced ICSS maintained by electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle in rats. PIMSR itself failed to alter electrical ICSS, but dose-dependently inhibited ICSS maintained by optical stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons in transgenic DAT-Cre mice, suggesting the involvement of dopamine-dependent mechanisms. Lastly, we examined the CB1R mechanisms underlying PIMSR's action. We found that PIMSR pretreatment attenuated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)- or ACEA (a selective CB1R agonist)-induced reduction in optical ICSS. Together, our findings suggest that the neutral CB1R antagonist PIMSR deserves further research as a promising pharmacotherapeutic for cocaine use disorder.
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8
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Role of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor in Alcohol Use Disorders: From Animal to Human Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23115908. [PMID: 35682586 PMCID: PMC9180470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23115908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence has pointed out cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2r) as a potential therapeutic key target for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). This review provides the most relevant results obtained from rodent and human studies, including an integrative section focused on the involvement of CB2r in the neurobiology of alcohol addiction. A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases Medline and Scopus for articles. The search strategy was as follows: “Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2” AND “Alcohol-Related Disorders” AND “human/or patients”; “Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2” AND “Alcohol” OR “Ethanol” AND “rodents/or mice/or rats”. Pharmacological approaches demonstrated that the activation or blockade of CB2r modulated different alcohol-addictive behaviors. Rodent models of alcoholism revealed significant alterations of CB2r in brain areas of the reward system. In addition, mice lacking CB2r (CB2KO) show increased alcohol consumption, motivation, and relapse alterations. It has been stressed that the potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying their behavioral effects involve critical elements of the alcohol reward system. Interestingly, recent postmortem studies showed CNR2 alterations in brain areas of alcoholic patients. Moreover, although the number of studies is limited, the results revealed an association between some genetic alterations of the CNR2 and an increased risk for developing AUD. This review provides evidence that CB2r may play a role in alcohol addiction. Clinical studies are necessary to figure out whether CB2r ligands may prove useful for the treatment of AUD in humans.
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9
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Yuan J, Jiang C, Wang J, Chen CJ, Hao Y, Zhao G, Feng Z, Xie XQ. In Silico Prediction and Validation of CB2 Allosteric Binding Sites to Aid the Design of Allosteric Modulators. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27020453. [PMID: 35056767 PMCID: PMC8781014 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the 3D structures of active and inactive cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2) are available, neither the X-ray crystal nor the cryo-EM structure of CB2-orthosteric ligand-modulator has been resolved, prohibiting the drug discovery and development of CB2 allosteric modulators (AMs). In the present work, we mainly focused on investigating the potential allosteric binding site(s) of CB2. We applied different algorithms or tools to predict the potential allosteric binding sites of CB2 with the existing agonists. Seven potential allosteric sites can be observed for either CB2-CP55940 or CB2-WIN 55,212-2 complex, among which sites B, C, G and K are supported by the reported 3D structures of Class A GPCRs coupled with AMs. Applying our novel algorithm toolset-MCCS, we docked three known AMs of CB2 including Ec2la (C-2), trans-β-caryophyllene (TBC) and cannabidiol (CBD) to each site for further comparisons and quantified the potential binding residues in each allosteric binding site. Sequentially, we selected the most promising binding pose of C-2 in five allosteric sites to conduct the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Based on the results of docking studies and MD simulations, we suggest that site H is the most promising allosteric binding site. We plan to conduct bio-assay validations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Yuan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Chen Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Junmei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Chih-Jung Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yixuan Hao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Guangyi Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Zhiwei Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (X.-Q.X.)
| | - Xiang-Qun Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; (J.Y.); (C.J.); (J.W.); (C.-J.C.); (Y.H.); (G.Z.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (X.-Q.X.)
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10
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He XH, Galaj E, Bi GH, He Y, Hempel B, Wang YL, Gardner EL, Xi ZX. β-caryophyllene, an FDA-Approved Food Additive, Inhibits Methamphetamine-Taking and Methamphetamine-Seeking Behaviors Possibly via CB2 and Non-CB2 Receptor Mechanisms. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:722476. [PMID: 34566647 PMCID: PMC8458938 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.722476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research indicates that brain cannabinoid CB2 receptors are involved in drug reward and addiction. However, it is unclear whether β-caryophyllene (BCP), a natural product with a CB2 receptor agonist profile, has therapeutic effects on methamphetamine (METH) abuse and dependence. In this study, we used animal models of self-administration, electrical brain-stimulation reward (BSR) and in vivo microdialysis to explore the effects of BCP on METH-taking and METH-seeking behavior. We found that systemic administration of BCP dose-dependently inhibited METH self-administration under both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio reinforcement schedules in rats, indicating that BCP reduces METH reward, METH intake, and incentive motivation to seek and take METH. The attenuating effects of BCP were partially blocked by AM 630, a selective CB2 receptor antagonist. Genetic deletion of CB2 receptors in CB2-knockout (CB2-KO) mice also blocked low dose BCP-induced reduction in METH self-administration, suggesting possible involvement of a CB2 receptor mechanism. However, at high doses, BCP produced a reduction in METH self-administration in CB2-KO mice in a manner similar as in WT mice, suggesting that non-CB2 receptor mechanisms underlie high dose BCP-produced effects. In addition, BCP dose-dependently attenuated METH-enhanced electrical BSR and inhibited METH-primed and cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking in rats. In vivo microdialysis assays indicated that BCP alone did not produce a significant reduction in extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), while BCP pretreatment significantly reduced METH-induced increases in extracellular NAc DA in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a DA-dependent mechanism involved in BCP action. Together, the present findings suggest that BCP might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of METH use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Hu He
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - Ewa Galaj
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yi He
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Briana Hempel
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yan-Lin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - Eliot L Gardner
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
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11
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Abstract
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health crisis worldwide, and effective treatment options are limited. During the past 2 decades, researchers have investigated the impact of a variety of pharmacological approaches to treat SUD, one of which is the use of medical cannabis or cannabinoids. Significant progress was made with the discovery of rimonabant, a selective CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonist (also an inverse agonist), as a promising therapeutic for SUDs and obesity. However, serious adverse effects such as depression and suicidality led to the withdrawal of rimonabant (and almost all other CB1R antagonists/inverse agonists) from clinical trials worldwide in 2008. Since then, much research interest has shifted to other cannabinoid-based strategies, such as peripheral CB1R antagonists/inverse agonists, neutral CB1R antagonists, allosteric CB1R modulators, CB2R agonists, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) inhibitors, or nonaddictive phytocannabinoids with CB1R or CB2R-binding profiles, as new therapeutics for SUDs. In this article, we first review recent progress in research regarding the endocannabinoid systems, cannabis reward versus aversion, and the underlying receptor mechanisms. We then review recent progress in cannabinoid-based medication development for the treatment of SUDs. As evidence continues to accumulate, neutral CB1R antagonists (such as AM4113), CB2R agonists (JWH133, Xie2-64), and nonselective phytocannabinoids (cannabidiol, β-caryophyllene, ∆9-tetrahydrocannabivarin) have shown great therapeutic potential for SUDs, as shown in experimental animals. Several cannabinoid-based medications (e.g., dronabinol, nabilone, PF-04457845) that entered clinical trials have shown promising results in reducing withdrawal symptoms in cannabis and opioid users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Galaj
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discoveries Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medication Discoveries Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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