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Pérez-Olives C, Rivas-Santisteban R, Lillo J, Navarro G, Franco R. Recent Advances in the Potential of Cannabinoids for Neuroprotection in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1264:81-92. [PMID: 33332005 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-57369-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Three prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's are in need of symptomatic relief of slowing disease progression or both. This chapter focuses on the potential of cannabinoids to afford neuroprotection, i.e. avoid or retard neuronal death. The neuroprotective potential of cannabinoids is known from the work in animal models and is mediated by the two cannabinoid receptors (CB1/CB2) and eventually, by their heteromers, GPR55, orphan receptors (GPR3/GPR6/GPR12/GPR18), or PPARγ. Now, there is the time to translate the findings into patients. The chapter takes primarily into account advances since 2016 and addresses the issue of proving neuroprotection in humans. One recent discovery is the existence of activated microglia with neuroprotective phenotype; cannabinoids are good candidates to skew phenotype, especially via glial CB2 receptors (CB2R), whose targeting has, a priori, less side effects those targeting the CBs1 receptor (CB1R), which are expressed in both neurons and glia. The fact that a cannabis extract (SativexTM) is approved for human therapy, such that cannabis use will likely be legalized in many countries and different possibilities that cannabinoid pharmacology suggests a successful route of cannabinoids (natural or synthetic) all the way to be approved and used in the treatment of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Pérez-Olives
- Molecular Neurobiology laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Rivas-Santisteban
- Molecular Neurobiology laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED). Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaume Lillo
- Molecular Neurobiology laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED). Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED). Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. .,Department Biochemistry and Physiology. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rafael Franco
- Molecular Neurobiology laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED). Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Ahmad F, Liu P. Synaptosome as a tool in Alzheimer's disease research. Brain Res 2020; 1746:147009. [PMID: 32659233 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Synapse dysfunction is an integral feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. In fact, prodromal manifestation of structural and functional deficits in synapses much prior to appearance of overt pathological hallmarks of the disease indicates that AD might be considered as a degenerative disorder of the synapses. Several research instruments and techniques have allowed us to study synaptic function and plasticity and their alterations in pathological conditions, such as AD. One such tool is the biochemically isolated preparations of detached and resealed synaptic terminals, the "synaptosomes". Because of the preservation of many of the physiological processes such as metabolic and enzymatic activities, synaptosomes have proved to be an indispensable ex vivo model system to study synapse physiology both when isolated from fresh or cryopreserved tissues, and from animal or human post-mortem tissues. This model system has been tremendously successful in the case of post-mortem tissues because of their accessibility relative to acute brain slices or cultures. The current review details the use of synaptosomes in AD research and its potential as a valuable tool in furthering our understanding of the pathogenesis and in devising and testing of therapeutic strategies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faraz Ahmad
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Rodrigues RS, Lourenço DM, Paulo SL, Mateus JM, Ferreira MF, Mouro FM, Moreira JB, Ribeiro FF, Sebastião AM, Xapelli S. Cannabinoid Actions on Neural Stem Cells: Implications for Pathophysiology. Molecules 2019; 24:E1350. [PMID: 30959794 PMCID: PMC6480122 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increase of life expectancy, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming not only a health but also a social burden worldwide. However, due to the multitude of pathophysiological disease states, current treatments fail to meet the desired outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for new therapeutic strategies focusing on more integrated, personalized and effective approaches. The prospect of using neural stem cells (NSC) as regenerative therapies is very promising, however several issues still need to be addressed. In particular, the potential actions of pharmacological agents used to modulate NSC activity are highly relevant. With the ongoing discussion of cannabinoid usage for medical purposes and reports drawing attention to the effects of cannabinoids on NSC regulation, there is an enormous, and yet, uncovered potential for cannabinoids as treatment options for several neurological disorders, specifically when combined with stem cell therapy. In this manuscript, we review in detail how cannabinoids act as potent regulators of NSC biology and their potential to modulate several neurogenic features in the context of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Diogo M Lourenço
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara L Paulo
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Joana M Mateus
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel F Ferreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Francisco M Mouro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João B Moreira
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Filipa F Ribeiro
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ana M Sebastião
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sara Xapelli
- Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Lasala M, Fabiani C, Corradi J, Antollini S, Bouzat C. Molecular Modulation of Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor by Amyloid-β Peptides. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:37. [PMID: 30800059 PMCID: PMC6376857 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a key player in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is the primary component of senile plaques in AD patients and is also found in soluble forms. Cholinergic activity mediated by α7 nicotinic receptors has been shown to be affected by Aβ soluble forms. To shed light into the molecular mechanism of this effect, we explored the direct actions of oligomeric Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 on human α7 by fluorescence spectroscopy and single-channel recordings. Fluorescence measurements using the conformational sensitive probe crystal violet (CrV) revealed that in the presence of Aβ α7 undergoes concentration-dependent conformational changes. Exposure of α7 to 100 pM Aβ changes CrV KD towards that of the desensitized state. However, α7 is still reactive to high carbamylcholine (Carb) concentrations. These observations are compatible with the induction of active/desensitized states as well as of a novel conformational state in the presence of both Aβ and Carb. At 100 nM Aβ, α7 adopts a resting-state-like structure which does not respond to Carb, suggesting stabilization of α7 in a blocked state. In real time, we found that Aβ is capable of eliciting α7 channel activity either in the absence or presence of the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) PNU-120596. Activation by Aβ is favored at picomolar or low nanomolar concentrations and is not detected at micromolar concentrations. At high Aβ concentrations, the mean duration of activation episodes elicited by ACh in the presence of PNU-120596 is significantly reduced, an effect compatible with slow open-channel block. We conclude that Aβ directly affects α7 function by acting as an agonist and a negative modulator. Whereas the capability of low concentrations of Aβ to activate α7 could be beneficial, the reduced α7 activity in the presence of higher Aβ concentrations or its long exposure may contribute to the cholinergic signaling deficit and may be involved in the initiation and development of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Lasala
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Camila Fabiani
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Jeremías Corradi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Silvia Antollini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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