1
|
Khan A, Liu S, Tao F. Mechanisms Underlying Sex Differences in Temporomandibular Disorders and Their Comorbidity with Migraine. Brain Sci 2024; 14:707. [PMID: 39061447 PMCID: PMC11274652 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14070707] [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: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and their comorbidity with migraine are important phenomena observed in clinics. TMDs are the most prevalent orofacial pain conditions with jaw joint and masseter muscle dysfunction. Migraine is the predominant headache commonly associated with TMDs. Women much more often suffer from this orofacial pain than men. However, currently, there is no gender-specific therapy for such pain conditions. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms behind sex differences in TMDs as well as their comorbidity with migraines is essential for developing novel approaches for gender-specific treatment of TMDs and related orofacial pain comorbidity. In this review, we summarize recent research progress regarding sex differences in TMDs, focusing on the underlying mechanisms including craniofacial anatomy, hormonal regulation, and roles of opioids, transient receptor potential channels, and endocannabinoid systems. We also discuss the mechanisms of comorbid TMDs and migraine. The information covered in this review will provide mechanistic insights into sex differences in TMDs and their comorbidity with migraine, which could aid in developing effective treatment strategies for the overlapping orofacial pain condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Feng Tao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, USA; (A.K.); (S.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Durydivka O, Kuchar M, Blahos J. SGIP1 Deletion in Mice Attenuates Mechanical Hypersensitivity Elicited by Inflammation. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024. [PMID: 38979622 DOI: 10.1089/can.2024.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) in the nervous system modulates the processing of acute and chronic pain. CB1R activity is regulated by desensitization and internalization. SH3-containing GRB2-like protein 3-interacting protein 1 (SGIP1) inhibits the internalization of CB1R. This causes increased and prolonged association of the desensitized receptor with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) and beta-arrestin on the cell membrane and results in decreased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway. Genetic deletion of SGIP1 in mice leads to altered CB1R-related functions, such as decreased anxiety-like behaviors, modified cannabinoid tetrad behaviors, reduced acute nociception, and increased sensitivity to analgesics. In this work, we asked if deletion of SGIP1 affects chronic nociception and analgesic effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and WIN 55,212-2 (WIN) in mice. Methods: We measured tactile responses of hind paws to increasing pressure in wild-type and SGIP1 knock-out mice. Inflammation in the paw was induced by local injection of carrageenan. To determine the mechanical sensitivity, the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using an electronic von Frey instrument with the progression of the applied force. Results: The responses to mechanical stimuli varied depending on the sex, genotype, and treatment. SGIP1 knock-out male mice exhibited lower PWT than wild-type males. On the contrary, the female mice exhibited comparable PWT. Following THC or WIN treatment in male mice, SGIP1 knock-out males exhibited PWT lower than wild-type males. THC treatment in SGIP1 knock-out females resulted in PWT higher than after THC treatment of wild-type females. However, SGIP1 knock-out and wild-type female mice exhibited similar PWT after WIN treatment. Conclusions: We provide evidence that SGIP1, possibly by interacting with CB1R, is involved in processing the responses to chronic pain. The absence of SGIP1 results in enhanced sensitivity to mechanical stimuli in males, but not females. The antinociceptive effect of THC is superior to that of WIN in SGIP1 knock-out mice in the carrageenan-induced model of chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleh Durydivka
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Blahos
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gamble MC, Miracle S, Williams BR, Logan RW. Endocannabinoid agonist 2-arachidonoylglycerol differentially alters diurnal activity and sleep during fentanyl withdrawal in male and female mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2024; 240:173791. [PMID: 38761993 PMCID: PMC11166043 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Fentanyl has become the leading driver of opioid overdoses in the United States. Cessation of opioid use represents a challenge as the experience of withdrawal drives subsequent relapse. One of the most prominent withdrawal symptoms that can contribute to opioid craving and vulnerability to relapse is sleep disruption. The endocannabinoid agonist, 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), may promote sleep and reduce withdrawal severity; however, the effects of 2-AG on sleep disruption during opioid withdrawal have yet to be assessed. Here, we investigated the effects of 2-AG administration on sleep-wake behavior and diurnal activity in mice during withdrawal from fentanyl. Sleep-wake activity measured via actigraphy was continuously recorded before and after chronic fentanyl administration in both male and female C57BL/6J mice. Immediately following cessation of fentanyl administration, 2-AG was administered intraperitoneally to investigate the impact of endocannabinoid agonism on opioid-induced sleep disruption. We found that female mice maintained higher activity levels in response to chronic fentanyl than male mice. Furthermore, fentanyl administration increased wake and decreased sleep during the light period and inversely increased sleep and decreased wake in the dark period in both sexes. 2-AG treatment increased arousal and decreased sleep in both sexes during first 24-h of withdrawal. On withdrawal day 2, only females showed increased wakefulness with no changes in males, but by withdrawal day 3 male mice displayed decreased rapid-eye movement sleep during the dark period with no changes in female mice. Overall, repeated administration of fentanyl altered sleep and diurnal activity and administration of the endocannabinoid agonist, 2-AG, had sex-specific effects on fentanyl-induced sleep and diurnal changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie C Gamble
- Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophia Miracle
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin R Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ryan W Logan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stone AL, Pham A, Osmundson SS, Pedowitz A, Kingsley PJ, Marnett LJ, Patel S, Wickersham N, Sorabella LL, Bruehl S. Interactions Between Endocannabinoid and Endogenous Opioid Systems Prospectively Influence Postoperative Opioid Use in Pregnant Patients Undergoing Cesarean Delivery. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104548. [PMID: 38663651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Both endocannabinoid (EC) and endogenous opioid systems are involved in nociceptive processing and may work together synergistically based on preclinical models. This study evaluated the interactive effects of preoperative beta-endorphin concentrations (a key analgesic endogenous opioid) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ECs (CSF and plasma 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG] and plasma anandamide [AEA]) on postoperative opioid use and pain intensity in a prospective cohort of n = 112 pregnant patients undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery. Maternal blood and CSF samples were collected preoperatively for beta-endorphin and EC assays. Patients completed measures of outpatient opioid use (number of tablets used and days of use) and average pain intensity at 2 weeks postoperatively. Results of general linear model analyses controlling for maternal age, BMI at time of delivery, and race revealed significant multiplicative interactions between EC and beta-endorphin concentrations on number of opioid tablets used (based on pill count), days of opioid use, and total milligram morphine equivalents used in the 2 week follow-up period. Elevated preoperative plasma and CSF 2-AG predicted reduced outpatient opioid analgesic use particularly for patients low in CSF beta-endorphin. Similar analyses for pain intensity at 2-week follow-up indicated a significant interaction (p<.02) characterized by higher preoperative beta-endorphin concentrations being associated with lower subsequent pain only for individuals with low preoperative plasma AEA concentrations. Further exploration of interactions between EC and endogenous opioid inhibitory systems as they influence responses to opioid analgesics in other clinical pain populations may help guide development of precision pain management approaches. PERSPECTIVE: In the postoperative setting of patients undergoing cesarean delivery, elevated endocannabinoids were linked to reduced outpatient opioid analgesic use in individuals who had low endogenous opioid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. Further exploration of interactions between these two inhibitory systems as they impact on responses to pain management interventions appears warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Stone
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amelie Pham
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Sarah S Osmundson
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alex Pedowitz
- University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Philip J Kingsley
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; A.B. Hancock Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Larry J Marnett
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nancy Wickersham
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laura L Sorabella
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Stephen Bruehl
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pud D, Aamar S, Schiff-Keren B, Sheinfeld R, Brill S, Robinson D, Fogelman Y, Habib G, Sharon H, Amital H, Boltyansky B, Haroutounian S, Eisenberg E. Cannabis oil extracts for chronic pain: what else can be learned from another structured prospective cohort? Pain Rep 2024; 9:e1143. [PMID: 38680212 PMCID: PMC10898655 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The use of medicinal cannabis for managing pain expands, although its efficacy and safety have not been fully established through randomized controlled trials. Objectives This structured, prospective questionnaire-based cohort was aimed to assess long-term effectiveness and safety of cannabis oil extracts in patients with chronic pain. Methods Adult Israeli patients licensed to use cannabis oil extracts for chronic pain were followed prospectively for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in average weekly pain intensity, and secondary outcomes were changes in related symptoms and quality of life, recorded before treatment initiation and 1, 3, and 6 months thereafter. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze changes over time. In addition, "responders" (≥30% reduction in weekly pain at any time point) were identified. Results The study included 218 patients at baseline, and 188, 154, and 131 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. At 6 months, the mean daily doses of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol were 22.4 ± 24.0 mg and 20.8 ± 30.1 mg, respectively. Pain decreased from 7.9 ± 1.7 at baseline to 6.6 ± 2.2 at 6 months (F(3,450) = 26.22, P < 0.0001). Most secondary parameters also significantly improved. Of the 218 participants, 24% were "responders" but could not be identified by baseline parameters. "Responders" exhibited higher improvement in secondary outcomes. Adverse events were common but mostly nonserious. Conclusion This prospective cohort demonstrated a modest overall long-term improvement in chronic pain and related symptoms and a reasonable safety profile with the use of relatively low doses of individually titrated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Pud
- Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Suhail Aamar
- Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Roee Sheinfeld
- Institute for Pain Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Silviu Brill
- Pain Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dror Robinson
- Orthopedic Research Unit, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikwa, Israel
| | - Yaakov Fogelman
- Leumit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - George Habib
- Reumatology Unit, Laniado Hospital, Netanya, Israel
| | - Haggai Sharon
- Sagol Brain Institute and the Institute of Pain Medicine, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Howard Amital
- Institute for Pain Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Boris Boltyansky
- Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Simon Haroutounian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elon Eisenberg
- The Ruth & Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liktor-Busa E, Largent-Milnes TM. Natural Products Derived from Cannabis sativa for Pain Management. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38509238 DOI: 10.1007/164_2024_710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is one of the oldest medicinal plants in human history. Even ancient physicians from hundreds of years ago used Cannabis sativa to treat several conditions like pain. In the modern era, the research community, including health-care providers, have witnessed wide-scale changes in cannabis policy, legislation, and marketing, with a parallel increase in patient interest. A simple search in PubMed using "cannabis and pain" as keywords provides more than 2,400 articles, about 80% of which were published in the last 8-10 years. Several advancements have been achieved in understanding the complex chemistry of cannabis along with its multiple pharmacological activities. Preclinical data have demonstrated evidence for the promising potential of cannabis for pain management, and the continuous rise in the prevalence of pain increases the urgency to translate this into clinical practice. Despite the large body of cannabis literature, researchers still need to find rigorous answers for the questions about the efficacy and safety of cannabis in treatment of certain disorders such as pain. In the current chapter, we seek to present a critical overview about the current knowledge on cannabis with special emphasis on pain-related disorders.
Collapse
|
7
|
Haddad NM, De Jesus LP, Serpa M, Van De Bilt M, Talib L, Costa A, Gattaz W, Loch AA. Endocannabinoid system alterations in schizophrenia: association with cannabis use and antipsychotic medication. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01788-x. [PMID: 38502208 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Determining peripheral modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may be important for differentiating individuals with schizophrenia. Such differentiation can also be extended to subgroups of individuals, those who use cannabis and antipsychotic medications, particularly those who are treatment resistant. Patients and controls were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Psychosis Group of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. A final sample of 93 individuals was divided into 3 groups: patients with schizophrenia using clozapine (treatment-resistant) (n = 29), patients with schizophrenia using another antipsychotic (n = 31), and controls (n = 33). By measuring the proteins and metabolites involved in the ECS pathways in the peripheral blood, AEA (anandamide), 2-AG (2-arachidonoyl ethanolamine), and CB2 receptor (peripheral) were quantified. Individuals reporting lifetime cannabis use had lower 2-AG plasma levels (p = 0.011). Regarding the CB2 receptor, the values of patients with schizophrenia and controls were similar, but those of patients using antipsychotics other than clozapine differed (p = 0.022). In generalized linear models to control for confounders, the use of cannabis remained the only factor that significantly influenced 2-AG levels. The relationship for non-clozapine antipsychotics as the only factor related to CB2 changes was marginally significant. We found for the first time that cannabis use and non-clozapine antipsychotic medication are potentially involved in the modulation of the ECS, specifically influencing 2-AG endocannabinoid and CB2 receptor levels. More studies regarding the ECS are needed since it has been increasingly related to the physiopathology of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Mansur Haddad
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo Peroni De Jesus
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Serpa
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBION), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Martinus Van De Bilt
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBION), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Leda Talib
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBION), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Alana Costa
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
| | - Wagner Gattaz
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBION), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Andrade Loch
- Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Instituto de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 4 Andar Ala Norte Sala 4N60, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05403-010, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria (INBION), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brasília, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Beldarrain G, Chillida M, Hilario E, Herrero de la Parte B, Álvarez A, Alonso-Alconada D. URB447 Is Neuroprotective in Both Male and Female Rats after Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia and Enhances Neurogenesis in Females. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1607. [PMID: 38338884 PMCID: PMC10855747 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031607] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The need for new and effective treatments for neonates suffering from hypoxia-ischemia is urgent, as the only implemented therapy in clinics is therapeutic hypothermia, only effective in 50% of cases. Cannabinoids may modulate neuronal development and brain plasticity, but further investigation is needed to better describe their implication as a neurorestorative therapy after neonatal HI. The cannabinoid URB447, a CB1 antagonist/CB2 agonist, has previously been shown to reduce brain injury after HI, but it is not clear whether sex may affect its neuroprotective and/or neurorestorative effect. Here, URB447 strongly reduced brain infarct, improved neuropathological score, and augmented proliferative capacity and neurogenic response in the damaged hemisphere. When analyzing these effects by sex, URB447 ameliorated brain damage in both males and females, and enhanced cell proliferation and the number of neuroblasts only in females, thus suggesting a neuroprotective effect in males and a double neuroprotective/neurorestorative effect in females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gorane Beldarrain
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marc Chillida
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Enrique Hilario
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Borja Herrero de la Parte
- Department of Surgery and Radiology and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Antonia Álvarez
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Daniel Alonso-Alconada
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Barnes RC, Banjara S, McHann MC, Almodovar S, Henderson-Redmond AN, Morgan DJ, Castro-Piedras I, Guindon J. Assessing Dose- and Sex-Dependent Antinociceptive Effects of Cannabidiol and Amitriptyline, Alone and in Combination, and Exploring Mechanism of Action Involving Serotonin 1A Receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 388:655-669. [PMID: 38129125 PMCID: PMC10801786 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory pain is caused by tissue hypersensitization and is a component of rheumatic diseases, frequently causing chronic pain. Current guidelines use a multimodal approach to pain and sociocultural changes have renewed interest in cannabinoid use, particularly cannabidiol (CBD), for pain. The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (AT) is approved for use in pain-related syndromes, alone and within a multimodal approach. Therefore, we investigated sex- and dose-dependent effects of CBD and AT antinociception in the 2.5% formalin inflammatory pain model. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with either vehicle, CBD (0.3-100 mg/kg), or AT (0.1-30 mg/kg) prior to formalin testing. In the acute phase, CBD induced antinociception after administration of 30-100 mg/kg in males and 100 mg/kg in females and in the inflammatory phase at doses of 2.5-100 mg/kg in males and 10-100 mg/kg in females. In the acute phase, AT induced antinociception at 10 mg/kg for all mice, and at 0.3 mg/kg in males and 3 mg/kg in female mice in the inflammatory phase. Combining the calculated median effective doses of CBD and AT produced additive effects for all mice in the acute phase and for males only in the inflammatory phase. Use of selective serotonin 1A receptor antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1 piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinylcyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY-100635) maleate (0.1 mg/kg) before co-administration of CBD and AT reversed antinociception in the acute and partially reversed antinociception in the inflammatory phase. Administration of AT was found to enhance cannabinoid receptor type 1mRNA expression only in female mice. These results suggest a role for serotonin and sex in mediating cannabidiol and amitriptyline-induced antinociception in inflammatory pain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Inflammatory pain is an important component of both acute and chronic pain. We have found that cannabidiol (CBD) and amitriptyline (AT) show dose-dependent, and that AT additionally shows sex-dependent, antinociceptive effects in an inflammatory pain model. Additionally, the combination of CBD and AT was found to have enhanced antinociceptive effects that is partially reliant of serotonin 1A receptors and supports the use of CBD within a multimodal approach to pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Barnes
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Satish Banjara
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Melissa C McHann
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Sharilyn Almodovar
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Angela N Henderson-Redmond
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Daniel J Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Isabel Castro-Piedras
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| | - Josée Guindon
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience (R.C.B., S.B., M.C.M., I.C.-P., J.G.), Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology (S.A.), and Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (J.G.), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; and Department of Biomedical Sciences (A.N.H.-R., D.J.M.), Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yadav-Samudrala BJ, Gorman BL, Dodson H, Ramineni S, Wallace ED, Peace MR, Poklis JL, Jiang W, Fitting S. Effects of acute Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice. Brain Res 2024; 1822:148638. [PMID: 37858856 PMCID: PMC10873064 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148638] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use is highly prevalent especially among people living with HIV (PLWH). Activation of the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective endocannabinoid system by phytocannabinoids, i.e. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been proposed to reduce HIV symptoms. However, THC's effects on HIV-related memory deficits are unclear. Using HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice, the current study investigates acute THC effects on various behavioral outcomes and the endocannabinoid system. For the rodent tetrad model, THC doses (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) induced known antinociceptive effects, with Tat induction increasing antinociceptive THC effects at 3 and 10 mg/kg doses. Only minor or no effects were noted for acute THC on body temperature, locomotor activity, and coordination. Increased anxiety-like behavior was found for females compared to males, but acute THC had no effect on anxiety. Object recognition memory was diminished by acute THC in Tat(-) females but not Tat(+) females, without affecting males. The endocannabinoid system and related lipids were not affected by acute THC, except for THC-induced decreases in CB1R protein expression levels in the spinal cord of Tat(-) mice. Female sex and Tat induction was associated with elevated 2-AG, AEA, AA, CB1R, CB2R, FAAH and/or MAGL expression in various brain regions. Further, AEA levels in the prefrontal cortex of Tat(+) females were negatively associated with object recognition memory. Overall, findings indicate that acute THC exerts differential effects on antinociception and memory, dependent on sex and HIV Tat expression, potentially in relation to an altered endocannabinoid system, which may be of relevance in view of potential cannabis-based treatment options for PLWH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barkha J Yadav-Samudrala
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin L Gorman
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hailey Dodson
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Shreya Ramineni
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - E Diane Wallace
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michelle R Peace
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Justin L Poklis
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sylvia Fitting
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yamakawa W, Yasukochi S, Tsurudome Y, Kusunose N, Yamaguchi Y, Tsuruta A, Matsunaga N, Ushijima K, Koyanagi S, Ohdo S. Suppression of neuropathic pain in the circadian clock-deficient Per2m/m mice involves up-regulation of endocannabinoid system. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgad482. [PMID: 38239754 PMCID: PMC10794166 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Neuropathic pain often results from injuries and diseases that affect the somatosensory system. Disruption of the circadian clock has been implicated in the exacerbation of the neuropathic pain state. However, in this study, we report that mice deficient in a core clock component Period2 (Per2m/m mice) fail to develop tactile pain hypersensitivity even following peripheral nerve injury. Similar to male wild-type mice, partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSL)-Per2m/m male mice showed activation of glial cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and increased expression of pain-related genes. Interestingly, α1D-adrenergic receptor (α1D-AR) expression was up-regulated in the spinal cord of Per2m/m mice, leading to increased production of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endocannabinoid receptor ligand. This increase in 2-AG suppressed the PSL-induced tactile pain hypersensitivity. Furthermore, intraspinal dorsal horn injection of adeno-associated viral vectors expressing α1D-AR also attenuated pain hypersensitivity in PSL-wild-type male mice by increasing 2-AG production. Our findings reveal an uncovered role of the circadian clock in neuropathic pain disorders and suggest a link between α1D-AR signaling and the endocannabinoid system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wakaba Yamakawa
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Sai Yasukochi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuya Tsurudome
- Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Yamaguchi, 756-0884, Japan
| | - Naoki Kusunose
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuta Yamaguchi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akito Tsuruta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Glocal Healthcare Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Naoya Matsunaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ushijima
- Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Yamaguchi, 756-0884, Japan
| | - Satoru Koyanagi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Glocal Healthcare Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shigehiro Ohdo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Amir Hamzah K, Toms LM, Kucharski N, Orr J, Turner NP, Hobson P, Nichols DS, Ney LJ. Sex-dimorphism in human serum endocannabinoid and n-acyl ethanolamine concentrations across the lifespan. Sci Rep 2023; 13:23059. [PMID: 38155287 PMCID: PMC10754838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50426-4] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (ECB) system has recently been considered a potential treatment target for various clinical disorders. However, research around age- and sex-related changes within the ECB system is relatively limited. To improve our understanding of these changes, the current study measured arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), oleoylethanolamine (OEA), palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), arachidonic acid (AA), cortisol, and progesterone in pooled serum samples stratified by sex (male and female) and age groups (5-15; 15-30; 30-45; 45-60; 60-75; 85+), using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Serum progesterone levels significantly increased in females of the 15-30 and 30-45 age groups, before declining. Significantly higher cortisol, AEA, 2-AG, OEA, and PEA were found in males and in older age, while significantly higher AA was found in females. Our results indicate that ECBs and related hormones exhibit sexual dimorphism in the age ranges that correspond with female pregnancy, menopause, and post menopause. Male testosterone levels most likely influences male ECB changes throughout the lifespan. Future research could capitalise on these findings by performing repeated measurements in individuals in a longitudinal style, to further refine the temporal profile of age-specific changes to the ECB system identified here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khalisa Amir Hamzah
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, 4059, Australia.
| | - Leisa-Maree Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Nathaniel Kucharski
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Julia Orr
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie P Turner
- The Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR), Queensland University of Technology, 62 Graham Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Peter Hobson
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology, 24 Hurworth Street, Bowen Hills, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - David S Nichols
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, 4059, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Parnell J, Martin N, Dedek A, Rudyk C, Landrigan J, Bellavance J, VanDerLoo S, Tsai EC, Hildebrand ME. Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Expression and Localization in the Dorsal Horn of Male and Female Rat and Human Spinal Cord. Can J Pain 2023; 7:2264895. [PMID: 38170158 PMCID: PMC10761112 DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2023.2264895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that cannabis has potential analgesic properties. However, cannabinoid receptor expression and localization within spinal cord pain processing circuits remain to be characterized across sex and species. Aims We aimed to investigate the differential expression of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor across dorsal horn laminae and cell populations in male and female adult rats and humans. Methods To investigate and quantify CB1 receptor expression in the spinal dorsal horn across species, we refined immunohistochemical procedures for successful rat and human fixed tissue staining and confocal imaging. Immunohistochemical results were complemented with analysis of CB1 gene (CNR1) expression within rodent and human dorsal horn using single-cell/nuclei RNA sequencing data sets. Results We found that CB1 was preferentially localized to the neuropil within the superficial dorsal horn of both rats and humans, with CB1 somatic staining across dorsal horn laminae. CB1 receptor immunoreactivity was significantly higher in the superficial dorsal horn compared to the deeper dorsal horn laminae for both rats and humans, which was conserved across sex. Interestingly, we found that CB1 immunoreactivity was not primarily localized to peptidergic afferents in rats and humans and that CNR1 (CB1) but not CNR2 (CB2) was robustly expressed in dorsal horn neuron subpopulations of both rodents and humans. Conclusions The conserved preferential expression of CB1 receptors in the superficial dorsal horn in male and female rodents and humans has significant implications for understanding the roles of this cannabinoid receptor in spinal mechanisms of nociception and analgesia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Parnell
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Newton Martin
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Annemarie Dedek
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher Rudyk
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Landrigan
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin Bellavance
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon VanDerLoo
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eve C. Tsai
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael E. Hildebrand
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Aviram J, Glezerman M, Hayam E, Belobrov R, Procaccia S, Meiri D, Eisenberg E. Evaluating Sex Differences in Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics in Patients Treated with Cannabis by a Metered-Dose Inhaler. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1426. [PMID: 37895897 PMCID: PMC10610259 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101426] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical studies on medical cannabis (MC) treatment have shown sex-related differences, including higher susceptibility to adverse events among women and greater analgesia among men. Here, we used the Syqe metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and a single chemovar to analyze sex differences. METHODS A total of 1249 Israeli chronic pain patients were assessed for pain intensity, sleep and adverse events (AEs) over 240 days. RESULTS Following the first two weeks, no significant sex differences were found in the effectiveness or safety of MC treatment (p > 0.05). Inhaled Δ9-THC doses did not vary significantly between sexes (p > 0.05) except in the first month of treatment. Pain reduction and sleep improvement were similar for both sexes (p > 0.05). The overall rate of AEs was equal and relatively low at 10% (n = 65, 10% of women and n = 60, 10% of men; χ2 (1) = 0.05, p = 0.820). A secondary analysis of pharmacokinetic data showed no significant differences between sexes in Δ9-THC and its metabolite pharmacokinetics, cardiovascular measures, or AE severity (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Uniform MC treatment via the Syqe MDI showed no sex differences in short-term effectiveness, safety and pharmacokinetics, nor in long-term effects, under "real-life" conditions. These findings provide insights into MC treatment which may inform clinical practice and policy-making in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marek Glezerman
- Faculty of Medicine and Head, Gender- and Sex Conscious Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | | | | | - Shiri Procaccia
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - David Meiri
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Elon Eisenberg
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine-Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Vered S, Beiser AS, Sulimani L, Sznitman S, Gonzales MM, Aparicio HJ, DeCarli C, Scott MR, Ghosh S, Lewitus GM, Meiri D, Seshadri S, Weinstein G. The association of circulating endocannabinoids with neuroimaging and blood biomarkers of neuro-injury. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:154. [PMID: 37700370 PMCID: PMC10496329 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01301-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies highlight the importance of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids; eCBs) in neurodegeneration. Yet, prior observational studies focused on limited outcome measures and assessed only few eCB compounds while largely ignoring the complexity of the eCB system. We examined the associations of multiple circulating eCBs and eCB-like molecules with early markers of neurodegeneration and neuro-injury and tested for effect modification by sex. METHODS This exploratory cross-sectional study included a random sample of 237 dementia-free older participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort who attended examination cycle 9 (2011-2014), were 65 years or older, and cognitively healthy. Forty-four eCB compounds were quantified in serum, via liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations of eCB levels with brain MRI measures (i.e., total cerebral brain volume, gray matter volume, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities volume) and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and neuro-injury (i.e., total tau, neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein and Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1). All models were adjusted for potential confounders and effect modification by sex was examined. RESULTS Participants mean age was 73.3 ± 6.2 years, and 40% were men. After adjustment for potential confounders and correction for multiple comparisons, no statistically significant associations were observed between eCB levels and the study outcomes. However, we identified multiple sex-specific associations between eCB levels and the various study outcomes. For example, high linoleoyl ethanolamide (LEA) levels were related to decreased hippocampal volume among men and to increased hippocampal volume among women (β ± SE = - 0.12 ± 0.06, p = 0.034 and β ± SE = 0.08 ± 0.04, p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Circulating eCBs may play a role in neuro-injury and may explain sex differences in susceptibility to accelerated brain aging. Particularly, our results highlight the possible involvement of eCBs from the N-acyl amino acids and fatty acid ethanolamide classes and suggest specific novel fatty acid compounds that may be implicated in brain aging. Furthermore, investigation of the eCBs contribution to neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease in humans is warranted, especially with prospective study designs and among diverse populations, including premenopausal women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Vered
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Alexa S Beiser
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Liron Sulimani
- The Kleifeld Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sharon Sznitman
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Mitzi M Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Hugo J Aparicio
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Charles DeCarli
- Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95816, USA
| | - Matthew R Scott
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Saptaparni Ghosh
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Gil M Lewitus
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - David Meiri
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Galit Weinstein
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Salberg S, Li CN, Beveridge JK, Noel M, Yamakawa GR, Mychasiuk R. Gene expression changes in the cerebellum are associated with persistent post-injury pain in adolescent rats exposed to early life stress. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100145. [PMID: 38099278 PMCID: PMC10719517 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain develops following injury in approximately 20% of adolescents, at twice the rate in females than males. Adverse childhood experiences also increase the risk for poor health outcomes, such as chronic pain. Emerging literature suggests the cerebellum to be involved in pain processing, however detailed explorations into how the cerebellum contributes to pain are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise chronic pain outcomes and cerebellar gene expression changes following early life stress and injury in both sexes. The adverse childhood experience of neglect was modelled using a maternal separation (MS) paradigm, which was combined with a subsequent injury (mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or plantar incision surgery) in adolescent male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. We measured behavioural nociceptive sensitivity, systemic modulators of pain such as calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP) and Substance P, as well as gene expression of IL1β, GFAP, GR, MR, GABRA1, CNR1, MAOA, and DAT1 in the cerebellum to examine associations between pain and neuroinflammation, the stress response, inhibitory neurotransmission, and monoaminergic function. We found increases in mechanical nociceptive sensitivity following plantar incision surgery. Sex differences were observed in anxiety-like behaviour and neuroinflammation, whereas systemic pain modulators showed cumulative effects with the addition of stressors. Most interestingly however, the increases in nociceptive sensitivity were associated with the suppressed expression of cerebellar genes that regulate stress, inhibition, cannabinoid function, and dopaminergic function, alongside sex-dependent distinctions for genes involved in inflammation and injury. This study highlights a novel link between nociception and molecular function in the cerebellum. Further investigation into how the cerebellum contributes to pain in males and females will facilitate novel therapeutic insights and opportunities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Salberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Crystal N. Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jaimie K. Beveridge
- Department of Psychology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Melanie Noel
- Department of Psychology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Glenn R. Yamakawa
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chen I, Murdaugh LB, Miliano C, Dong Y, Gregus AM, Buczynski MW. NAPE-PLD regulates specific baseline affective behaviors but is dispensable for inflammatory hyperalgesia. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 14:100135. [PMID: 38099275 PMCID: PMC10719515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2023.100135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
N-acyl-ethanolamine (NAEs) serve as key endogenous lipid mediators as revealed by manipulation of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary enzyme responsible for metabolizing NAEs. Preclinical studies focused on FAAH or NAE receptors indicate an important role for NAE signaling in nociception and affective behaviors. However, there is limited information on the role of NAE biosynthesis in these same behavioral paradigms. Biosynthesis of NAEs has been attributed largely to the enzyme N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine Phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), one of three pathways capable of producing these bioactive lipids in the brain. In this report, we demonstrate that Nape-pld knockout (KO) mice displayed reduced sucrose preference and consumption, but other baseline anxiety-like or depression-like behaviors were unaltered. Additionally, we observed sex-dependent responses in thermal nociception and other baseline measures in wildtype (WT) mice that were absent in Nape-pld KO mice. In the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) model of inflammatory arthritis, WT mice exhibited sex-dependent changes in paw edema that were lost in Nape-pld KO mice. However, there was no effect of Nape-pld deletion on arthritic pain-like behaviors (grip force deficit and tactile allodynia) in either sex, indicating that while NAPE-PLD may alter local inflammation, it does not contribute to pain-like behaviors associated with inflammatory arthritis. Collectively, these findings indicate that chronic and systemic NAPE-PLD inactivation will likely be well-tolerated, warranting further pharmacological evaluation of this target in other disease indications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Chen
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Laura B. Murdaugh
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Cristina Miliano
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Yuyang Dong
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ann M. Gregus
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Buczynski
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Fernández-Moncada I, Eraso-Pichot A, Tor TD, Fortunato-Marsol B, Marsicano G. An enquiry to the role of CB1 receptors in neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106235. [PMID: 37481040 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106235] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are debilitating conditions that impair patient quality of life and that represent heavy social-economic burdens to society. Whereas the root of some of these brain illnesses lies in autosomal inheritance, the origin of most of these neuropathologies is scantly understood. Similarly, the cellular and molecular substrates explaining the progressive loss of brain functions remains to be fully described too. Indeed, the study of brain neurodegeneration has resulted in a complex picture, composed of a myriad of altered processes that include broken brain bioenergetics, widespread neuroinflammation and aberrant activity of signaling pathways. In this context, several lines of research have shown that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its main signaling hub, the type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor are altered in diverse neurodegenerative disorders. However, some of these data are conflictive or poorly described. In this review, we summarize the findings about the alterations in ECS and CB1 receptors signaling in three representative brain illnesses, the Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, and we discuss the relevance of these studies in understanding neurodegeneration development and progression, with a special focus on astrocyte function. Noteworthy, the analysis of ECS defects in neurodegeneration warrant much more studies, as our conceptual understanding of ECS function has evolved quickly in the last years, which now include glia cells and the subcellular-specific CB1 receptors signaling as critical players of brain functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Abel Eraso-Pichot
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Tommaso Dalla Tor
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania 95124, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Marsicano
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Schaffer J, Fogelman N, Seo D, Sinha R. Chronic pain, chronic stress and substance use: overlapping mechanisms and implications. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1145934. [PMID: 37415830 PMCID: PMC10320206 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1145934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is among the most common reasons adults in the U.S. seek medical care. Despite chronic pain's substantial impact on individuals' physical, emotional, and financial wellness, the biologic underpinnings of chronic pain remain incompletely understood. Such deleterious impact on an individuals' wellness is also manifested in the substantial co-occurrence of chronic stress with chronic pain. However, whether chronic stress and adversity and related alcohol and substance misuse increases risk of developing chronic pain, and, if so, what the overlapping psychobiological processes are, is not well understood. Individuals suffering with chronic pain find alleviation through prescription opioids as well as non-prescribed cannabis, alcohol, and other drugs to control pain, and use of these substances have grown significantly. Substance misuse also increases experience of chronic stress. Thus, given the evidence showing a strong correlation between chronic stress and chronic pain, we aim to review and identify overlapping factors and processes. We first explore the predisposing factors and psychologic features common to both conditions. This is followed by examining the overlapping neural circuitry of pain and stress in order to trace a common pathophysiologic processes for the development of chronic pain and its link to substance use. Based on the previous literature and our own findings, we propose a critical role for ventromedial prefrontal cortex dysfunction, an overlapping brain area associated with the regulation of both pain and stress that is also affected by substance use, as key in the risk of developing chronic pain. Finally, we identify the need for future research in exploring the role of medial prefrontal circuits in chronic pain pathology. Critically, in order to alleviate the enormous burden of chronic pain without exacerbating the co-occurring substance misuse crisis, we emphasize the need to find better approaches to treat and prevent chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - R. Sinha
- Department of Psychiatry and the Yale Stress Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Visibelli A, Peruzzi L, Poli P, Scocca A, Carnevale S, Spiga O, Santucci A. Supporting Machine Learning Model in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1776. [PMID: 37509416 PMCID: PMC10376077 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071776] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional therapy options for chronic pain are still insufficient and patients most frequently request alternative medical treatments, such as medical cannabis. Although clinical evidence supports the use of cannabis for pain, very little is known about the efficacy, dosage, administration methods, or side effects of widely used and accessible cannabis products. A possible solution could be given by pharmacogenetics, with the identification of several polymorphic genes that may play a role in the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of cannabis. Based on these findings, data from patients treated with cannabis and genotyped for several candidate polymorphic genes (single-nucleotide polymorphism: SNP) were collected, integrated, and analyzed through a machine learning (ML) model to demonstrate that the reduction in pain intensity is closely related to gene polymorphisms. Starting from the patient's data collected, the method supports the therapeutic process, avoiding ineffective results or the occurrence of side effects. Our findings suggest that ML prediction has the potential to positively influence clinical pharmacogenomics and facilitate the translation of a patient's genomic profile into useful therapeutic knowledge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Visibelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Luana Peruzzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo Poli
- POLIPAIN CLINIC, SIRCA Italian Society of Cannabis Research, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Scocca
- POLIPAIN CLINIC, SIRCA Italian Society of Cannabis Research, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Carnevale
- POLIPAIN CLINIC, SIRCA Italian Society of Cannabis Research, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ottavia Spiga
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Competence Center ARTES 4.0, 53100 Siena, Italy
- SienabioACTIVE-SbA, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Annalisa Santucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Competence Center ARTES 4.0, 53100 Siena, Italy
- SienabioACTIVE-SbA, 53100 Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Matheson J, Le Foll B. Impacts of recreational cannabis legalization on use and harms: A narrative review of sex/gender differences. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1127660. [PMID: 36970279 PMCID: PMC10036775 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1127660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Legalization of cannabis use for non-medical (recreational) purposes is changing the global cannabis landscape. As attitudes toward cannabis use become more positive and prevalence of use increases in complex ways, concerns emerge about the potential for increased cannabis-attributable harms. Understanding the who, why, and when of this likely increase in cannabis-attributable harms is thus an important public health priority. Both sex and gender contribute to variability in the use, effects, and harms of cannabis and thus sex/gender considerations are important when evaluating the impacts of cannabis legalization. The goal of this narrative review is to broadly discuss sex/gender differences in attitudes toward and prevalence of cannabis use, whether there are sex/gender differences in the impacts of cannabis legalization, and why these sex/gender differences might exist. One of our strongest conclusions is that men have always been more likely to use cannabis than women, yet the sex/gender gap in prevalence of cannabis use has narrowed over time, and this might be partly due to cannabis legalization. The existing evidence suggests that there have also been sex/gender differences in the impacts of legalization on cannabis-attributable harms such as cannabis-involved motor vehicle collisions and hospitalizations, though these results are more variable. The body of literature reviewed has focused almost exclusively on samples of cisgender research participants, and thus future research should encourage inclusion of transgender and gender-diverse participants. More consideration of sex- and gender-based analysis in research evaluating long-term impacts of cannabis legalization is a clear research priority.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Matheson
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Justin Matheson,
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Acute Care Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Waypoint Research Institute, Penetanguishene, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Lapeyre-Mestre M. Addictovigilance in women, the hidden part of the iceberg? Therapie 2023; 78:157-164. [PMID: 36280399 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2022.10.006] [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: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiology of substance use disorders and their complications is driven by a male predominance, and women, even if they are more and more prevalent, are never specifically represented in studies in the field. Apart from the time of pregnancy, which in itself requires specific prevention, treatment and follow-up, the importance of the sex of women in the complications of substance abuse is neglected. To illustrate, we described some characteristics of women identified in the addictovigilance information system in France and Europe, related to drug use disorders (both for illicit substances and medications). Even if the exposure to some psychoactive substances remains more prevalent in men, women, and particularly young women, seem to be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of these substances, as observed for opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, cannabis and even nitrous oxide. It is now imperative that the female sex/gender be taken into consideration in addictovigilance expertise and in drug safety in general, even for substances for which use is predominantly male. In addition, the adequate management of the women requires the development of specific prevention and care strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryse Lapeyre-Mestre
- Service de pharmacologie médicale et clinique, centre d'addictovigilance (CEIP-A), CHU de Toulouse-UFR santé, université de Toulouse, 31000 Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Müller-Vahl KR, Pisarenko A, Szejko N, Haas M, Fremer C, Jakubovski E, Musil R, Münchau A, Neuner I, Huys D, van Elst LT, Schröder C, Ringlstetter R, Koch A, Jenz EB, Großhennig A. CANNA-TICS: Efficacy and safety of oral treatment with nabiximols in adults with chronic tic disorders - Results of a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, phase IIIb superiority study. Psychiatry Res 2023; 323:115135. [PMID: 36878177 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Preliminary data suggest that cannabis-based medicines might be a promising new treatment for patients with Tourette syndrome (TS)/chronic tic disorders (CTD) resulting in an improvement of tics, comorbidities, and quality of life. This randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, phase IIIb study aimed to examine efficacy and safety of the cannabis extract nabiximols in adults with TS/CTD (n = 97, randomized 2:1 to nabiximols:placebo). The primary efficacy endpoint was defined as a tic reduction of ≥ 25% according to the Total Tic Score of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale after 13 weeks of treatment. Although a much larger number of patients in the nabiximols compared to the placebo group (14/64 (21·9%) vs. 3/33 (9·1%)) met the responder criterion, superiority of nabiximols could formally not be demonstrated. In secondary analyses, substantial trends for improvements of tics, depression, and quality of life were observed. Additionally exploratory subgroup analyses revealed an improvement of tics in particular in males, patients with more severe tics, and patients with comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder suggesting that these subgroups may benefit better from treatment with cannabis-based medication. There were no relevant safety issues. Our data further support the role of cannabinoids in the treatment of patients with chronic tic disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten R Müller-Vahl
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Pisarenko
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Natalia Szejko
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland; Department of Bioethics, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Martina Haas
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carolin Fremer
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ewgeni Jakubovski
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Richard Musil
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Münchau
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Irene Neuner
- Departments of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, School of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; JARA-BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Huys
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, LVR Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Schröder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rieke Ringlstetter
- Institute of Biostatistics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Armin Koch
- Institute of Biostatistics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Eva Beate Jenz
- Institute of Biostatistics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Anika Großhennig
- Institute of Biostatistics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover 30625, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Endocannabinoid System: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16020148. [PMID: 37017445 PMCID: PMC9966761 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (eCB) has been studied to identify the molecular structures present in Cannabis sativa. eCB consists of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands, and the associated enzymatic apparatus responsible for maintaining energy homeostasis and cognitive processes. Several physiological effects of cannabinoids are exerted through interactions with various receptors, such as CB1 and CB2 receptors, vanilloid receptors, and the recently discovered G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR55, GPR3, GPR6, GPR12, and GPR19). Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidoylglycerol (2-AG), two small lipids derived from arachidonic acid, showed high-affinity binding to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. eCB plays a critical role in chronic pain and mood disorders and has been extensively studied because of its wide therapeutic potential and because it is a promising target for the development of new drugs. Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids have shown varied affinities for eCB and are relevant to the treatment of several neurological diseases. This review provides a description of eCB components and discusses how phytocannabinoids and other exogenous compounds may regulate the eCB balance. Furthermore, we show the hypo- or hyperfunctionality of eCB in the body and how eCB is related to chronic pain and mood disorders, even with integrative and complementary health practices (ICHP) harmonizing the eCB.
Collapse
|
25
|
Brierley SM, Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Sarnelli G, Sharkey KA, Storr M, Tack J. Targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:5-25. [PMID: 36168049 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00682-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The management of visceral pain in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction, notably irritable bowel syndrome, presents a considerable clinical challenge, with few available treatment options. Patients are increasingly using cannabis and cannabinoids to control abdominal pain. Cannabis acts on receptors of the endocannabinoid system, an endogenous system of lipid mediators that regulates gastrointestinal function and pain processing pathways in health and disease. The endocannabinoid system represents a logical molecular therapeutic target for the treatment of pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Here, we review the physiological and pathophysiological functions of the endocannabinoid system with a focus on the peripheral and central regulation of gastrointestinal function and visceral nociception. We address the use of cannabinoids in pain management, comparing them to other treatment modalities, including opioids and neuromodulators. Finally, we discuss emerging therapeutic candidates targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of pain in irritable bowel syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart M Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.,Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Giovanni Sarnelli
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. .,Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. .,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Martin Storr
- Department of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.,Zentrum für Endoskopie, Starnberg, Germany
| | - Jan Tack
- Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Noya-Riobó MV, Miguel CÁ, Soriano DB, Brumovsky PR, Villar MJ, Coronel MF. Changes in the expression of endocannabinoid system components in an experimental model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain: Evaluation of sex-related differences. Exp Neurol 2023; 359:114232. [PMID: 36179876 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain is a serious clinical problem and one of the major side effects in cancer treatment. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in regulating pain neurotransmission, and changes in the expression of different components of the ECS have been reported in experimental models of persistent pain. In addition, sex differences have been observed in ECS regulation and function. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether administration of oxaliplatin, a neurotoxic antineoplastic agent, induced changes in the expression of ECS components in peripheral and central stations of the pain pathway, and if those changes exhibited sexual dimorphism. Adult male and female rats were injected with oxaliplatin or saline, and mechanical and cold hypersensitivity and allodynia were evaluated using Von Frey and Choi Tests. The mRNA levels corresponding to cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2), cannabinoid-related receptors (GPR55, 5HT1A, TRPV1) and to the main enzymes involved in the synthesis (DAGL, DAGL, NAPE-PLD) and degradation (MGL, FAAH) of endocannabinoids were assessed in lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord by using real time RT-PCR. In addition, the levels of the main endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA), were evaluated using commercial ELISA kits. Oxaliplatin administration induced the development of mechanical and cold hypersensitivity and allodynia in male and female animals. Oxaliplatin also induced early and robust changes in the expression of several components of the ECS in DRGs. A marked upregulation of CB1, CB2, 5HT1A and TRPV1 was detected in both sexes. Interestingly, while DAGL mRNA levels remained unchanged, DAGL was downregulated in male and upregulated in female rats. Finally, MGL and NAPE-PLD showed increased levels only in male animals, while FAAH resulted upregulated in both sexes. In parallel, reduced 2-AG and AEA levels were detected in DRGs from male or female rats, respectively. In the lumbar spinal cord, only TRPV1 mRNA levels were found to be upregulated in both sexes. Our results reveal previously unreported changes in the expression of cannabinoid receptors, ligands and enzymes occurring mainly in the peripheral nervous system and displaying certain sexual dimorphism. These changes may contribute to the physiopathology of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain in male and female rats. A better understanding of these dynamic changes will facilitate the development of mechanism- and sex-specific approaches to optimize the use of cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced pain.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Female
- Male
- Rats
- Animals
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Endocannabinoids/therapeutic use
- Sex Characteristics
- Hyperalgesia/metabolism
- Oxaliplatin/toxicity
- TRPV Cation Channels/metabolism
- Neuralgia/metabolism
- Receptors, Cannabinoid/metabolism
- Cannabinoids
- Antineoplastic Agents/toxicity
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- RNA, Messenger
- Models, Theoretical
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/therapeutic use
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Noya-Riobó
- Laboratorio de Dolor en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET - Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Constanza Ágata Miguel
- Laboratorio de Dolor en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET - Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Delia Beatriz Soriano
- Laboratorio de Dolor en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET - Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Rodolfo Brumovsky
- Laboratorio de Mecanismos e Innovación Terapéutica en Dolor, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo José Villar
- Laboratorio de Dolor en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET - Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Florencia Coronel
- Laboratorio de Dolor en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional CONICET - Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Av. Pte. Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bourke SL, Schlag AK, O'Sullivan SE, Nutt DJ, Finn DP. Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in fibromyalgia: A review of preclinical and clinical research. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 240:108216. [PMID: 35609718 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Characterised by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, generalised hyperalgesia, and psychological distress, fibromyalgia (FM) is a significant unmet clinical need. The endogenous cannabinoid system plays an important role in modulating both pain and the stress response. Here, we appraise the evidence, from preclinical and clinical studies, for a role of the endocannabinoid system in FM and the therapeutic potential of targeting the endocannabinoid system. While many animal models have been used to study FM, the reserpine-induced myalgia model has emerged as perhaps the most translatable to the clinical phenotype. Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) has shown promise in preclinical studies, ameliorating pain- and anxiety-related behaviour . Clinically, there is evidence for alterations in the endocannabinoid system in patients with FM, including single nucleotide polymorphisms and increased levels of circulating endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamines. Single entity cannabinoids, cannabis, and cannabis-based medicines in patients with FM show promise therapeutically but limitations in methodology and lack of longitudinal studies to assess efficacy and tolerability preclude the current recommendation for their use in patients with FM. Gaps in the literature that warrant further investigation are discussed, particularly the need for further development of animal models with high validity for the multifaceted nature of FM, balanced studies to eliminate sex-bias in preclinical research, and ultimately, better translation between preclinical and clinical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Bourke
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Anne Katrin Schlag
- Drug Science, St. Peters House, Wood Street, London, UK; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK
| | | | - David J Nutt
- Drug Science, St. Peters House, Wood Street, London, UK; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Centre for Pain Research and Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Plasma and interstitial levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in patients with chronic widespread pain and fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Rep 2022; 7:e1045. [PMID: 36381652 PMCID: PMC9646668 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an essential endogenous signaling system that may be involved in the pathophysiology of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Further research is required to understand the role of ECS in the development and maintenance of CWP and FMS. We provided the first systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the clinical relevance of ECS alterations in patients with CWP and FMS by comparing plasma and interstitial levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in patients and healthy controls. A systematic search was conducted to identify studies that measured plasma and/or interstitial levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in patients with CWP or FMS and healthy controls. A total of 8 studies were included for qualitative review, and 7 studies were included for meta-analysis. The findings identified increased plasma levels of oleoylethanolamide and stearoylethanolamide in patients with FMS compared with those in controls (P = 0.005 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and increased plasma levels of palmitoylethanolamide and interstitial levels of stearoylethanolamide in patients with CWP compared with those in controls (P = 0.05 and P = 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in other ECS parameters. Most studies did not account for variables that may influence ECS function, including cannabis use, concomitant medication, comorbidities, physical activity, stress levels, circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and dietary factors, suggesting that future studies should explore the correlation between these variables and endocannabinoid activity. We highlight the importance of investigating endocannabinoid activity in CWP and FMS because it will underpin future translational research in the area.
Collapse
|
29
|
Morgan A, Adank D, Johnson K, Butler E, Patel S. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol-mediated endocannabinoid signaling modulates mechanical hypersensitivity associated with alcohol withdrawal in mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:2010-2024. [PMID: 36125319 PMCID: PMC10091740 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14949] [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: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly occurs in patients with chronic pain, and a major barrier to achieving abstinence and preventing relapse is the emergence of hyperalgesia during alcohol withdrawal. Elucidating novel therapeutic approaches to target hyperalgesia associated with alcohol withdrawal could have important implications for treating AUD. Here, we examined the role of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)-mediated endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling in the regulation of hyperalgesia associated with alcohol withdrawal in mice. We tested the hypothesis that pharmacological augmentation of 2-AG signaling could reduce hyperalgesia during withdrawal. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6J mice were tested during withdrawal from a continuous access two-bottle choice (2BC) paradigm to investigate how eCB signaling modulates mechanical and thermal sensitivity during withdrawal. Mice were pretreated with the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitor JZL184 to elevate levels of 2-AG. Rimonabant or AM630 were given to block CB1 and CB2 receptor activity, respectively. DO34 was given to reduce 2-AG by inhibiting the 2-AG synthetic enzyme diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL). RESULTS After 72 h of withdrawal, male and female mice exhibited increased mechanical, but not thermal, hypersensitivity, which normalized by 7 days. This effect was reversed by pretreatment with JZL184. The effects of JZL184 were prevented by coadministration of either the CB1 or the CB2 antagonist. DO34, Rimonabant, and AM630 exacerbated mechanical hypersensitivity during alcohol withdrawal, causing an earlier onset and persistent hypersensitivity even 1 week into withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the critical role of 2-AG signaling in the bidirectional regulation of mechanical sensitivity during alcohol withdrawal, with enhancement of 2-AG levels reducing sensitivity, and inhibition of 2-AG signaling exacerbating sensitivity. These data suggest that 2-AG augmentation represents a novel approach to the treatment of alcohol withdrawal-associated hyperalgesia and AUD in patients with comorbid pain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Morgan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Danielle Adank
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Keenan Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Emily Butler
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Salivary Endocannabinoid Profiles in Chronic Orofacial Pain and Headache Disorders: An Observational Study Using a Novel Tool for Diagnosis and Management. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113017. [PMID: 36361803 PMCID: PMC9659113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is involved in physiological and pathological processes, including pain generation, modulation, and sensation. Its role in certain types of chronic orofacial pain (OFP) has not been thoroughly examined. By exploring the profiles of specific salivary endocannabinoids (eCBs) in individuals with different types of OFP, we evaluated their use as biomarkers and the influence of clinical parameters and pain characteristics on eCB levels. The salivary levels of anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), and their endogenous breakdown product arachidonic acid (AA), as well as the eCB-like molecules N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and N-oleoylethanolamide (OEA), were assessed in 83 OFP patients and 43 pain-free controls using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Patients were grouped by diagnosis: post-traumatic neuropathy (PTN), trigeminal neuralgia (TN), temporomandibular disorder (TMD), migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Correlation analyses between a specific diagnosis, pain characteristics, and eCB levels were conducted. Significantly lower levels of 2-AG were found in the TN and TTH groups, while significantly lower PEA levels were found in the migraine group. BMS was the only group with elevated eCBs (AEA) versus the control. Significant correlations were found between levels of specific eCBs and gender, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), BMI, pain duration, and sleep awakenings. In conclusion, salivary samples exhibited signature eCBs profiles for major OFP disorders, especially migraine, TTH, TN, and BMS. This finding may pave the way for using salivary eCBs biomarkers for more accurate diagnoses and management of chronic OFP patients.
Collapse
|
31
|
Cherkasova V, Wang B, Gerasymchuk M, Fiselier A, Kovalchuk O, Kovalchuk I. Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids for Treatment of Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5142. [PMID: 36291926 PMCID: PMC9600568 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an ancient homeostasis mechanism operating from embryonic stages to adulthood. It controls the growth and development of many cells and cell lineages. Dysregulation of the components of the ECS may result in uncontrolled proliferation, adhesion, invasion, inhibition of apoptosis and increased vascularization, leading to the development of various malignancies. Cancer is the disease of uncontrolled cell division. In this review, we will discuss whether the changes to the ECS are a cause or a consequence of malignization and whether different tissues react differently to changes in the ECS. We will discuss the potential use of cannabinoids for treatment of cancer, focusing on primary outcome/care-tumor shrinkage and eradication, as well as secondary outcome/palliative care-improvement of life quality, including pain, appetite, sleep, and many more factors. Finally, we will complete this review with the chapter on sex- and gender-specific differences in ECS and response to cannabinoids, and equality of the access to treatments with cannabinoids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriia Cherkasova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Marta Gerasymchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Anna Fiselier
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Matheson J, Bourgault Z, Le Foll B. Sex Differences in the Neuropsychiatric Effects and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol: A Scoping Review. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101462. [PMID: 36291671 PMCID: PMC9599539 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound with diverse molecular targets and potential therapeutic effects, including effects relevant to the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this scoping review, we sought to determine the extent to which sex and gender have been considered as potential moderators of the neuropsychiatric effects and pharmacokinetics of CBD. In this case, 300 articles were screened, retrieved from searches in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, PsycInfo and CINAHL, though only 12 met our eligibility criteria: eight studies in preclinical models and four studies in humans. Among the preclinical studies, three suggested that sex may influence long-term effects of gestational or adolescent exposure to CBD; two found no impact of sex on CBD modulation of addiction-relevant effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); two found antidepressant-like effects of CBD in males only; and one found greater plasma and liver CBD concentrations in females compared to males. Among the human studies, two found no sex difference in CBD pharmacokinetics in patient samples, one found greater plasma CBD concentrations in healthy females compared to males, and one found no evidence of sex differences in the effects of CBD on responses to trauma recall in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No studies were identified that considered the role of gender in CBD treatment effects. We discuss potential implications and current limitations of the existing literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin Matheson
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Zoe Bourgault
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Acute Care Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
- Waypoint Research Institute, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1G3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sepulveda DE, Morris DP, Raup-Konsavage WM, Sun D, Vrana KE, Graziane NM. Evaluating the Antinociceptive Efficacy of Cannabidiol Alone or in Combination with Morphine Using the Formalin Test in Male and Female Mice. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:648-657. [PMID: 34846928 PMCID: PMC9587782 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Phytocannabinoids have emerged as a potential alternative treatment option for individuals experiencing persistent pain. However, evidence-based research regarding their clinical utility in both males and females remains incomplete. In addition, it is unknown whether combining readily available cannabinoids with opioids has a synergistic or subadditive effect on pain modulation. To begin to fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the antinociceptive effects of the phytocannabinoid, CBD, either alone or in combination with opioids in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Results: Using the formalin test, our results show that CBD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment evoked antinociception in phase I, but not in phase II, of the formalin test in male mice. However, in female mice, CBD showed no significant antinociceptive effect. In addition, a direct sex comparison showed that CBD evoked a significant increase in nociceptive behaviors in female versus male mice during phase I of the formalin test. Furthermore, we show that CBD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) in combination with low-dose morphine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was ineffective at eliciting a synergistic antinociceptive response in both male and female mice. Lastly, consistent with previous literature, we showed that females treated with a relatively higher dose of morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) displayed a significant increase in the variability of nociceptive behaviors compared to morphine-treated male mice. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest that CBD treatment may have beneficial antinociceptive effects during the acute phase of persistent pain, but these effects are more beneficial to males than females. We provide further pre-clinical support that treatments geared toward reducing nociceptive behaviors differentially affect males and females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana E. Sepulveda
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Wesley M. Raup-Konsavage
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dongxiao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kent E. Vrana
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Graziane
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wei D, Tsheringla S, McPartland JC, Allsop AZASA. Combinatorial approaches for treating neuropsychiatric social impairment. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210051. [PMID: 35858103 PMCID: PMC9274330 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Social behaviour is an essential component of human life and deficits in social function are seen across multiple psychiatric conditions with high morbidity. However, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for social dysfunction. Since social cognition and behaviour rely on multiple signalling processes acting in concert across various neural networks, treatments aimed at social function may inherently require a combinatorial approach. Here, we describe the social neurobiology of the oxytocin and endocannabinoid signalling systems as well as translational evidence for their use in treating symptoms in the social domain. We leverage this systems neurobiology to propose a network-based framework that involves pharmacology, psychotherapy, non-invasive brain stimulation and social skills training to combinatorially target trans-diagnostic social impairment. Lastly, we discuss the combined use of oxytocin and endocannabinoids within our proposed framework as an illustrative strategy to treat specific aspects of social function. Using this framework provides a roadmap for actionable treatment strategies for neuropsychiatric social impairment. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Don Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Fortin D, Marcellin F, Carrieri P, Mancini J, Barré T. Medical Cannabis: Toward a New Policy and Health Model for an Ancient Medicine. Front Public Health 2022; 10:904291. [PMID: 35712276 PMCID: PMC9197104 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.904291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabienne Marcellin
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Patrizia Carrieri
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Julien Mancini
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Tangui Barré
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sex differences exist in the perceived relief of cancer symptoms with medical cannabis: results from the Quebec Cannabis Registry. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:7863-7871. [PMID: 35723729 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07193-1] [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: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study explored whether symptom relief differs by sex in patients with cancer receiving medical cannabis (MC) therapy. METHODS This is an analysis of data collected from patients with cancer enrolled in the Quebec Cannabis Registry. MC was initiated for the therapeutic management of cancer symptoms. Patients completed the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) questionnaire at baseline and 3-month follow-up. We examined the interaction between sex and time on each ESAS-r symptom and the interaction between time and tetrahydrocannabinol:cannabidiol (THC:CBD) ratios for each sex on total symptom burden. RESULTS The analysis included 358 patients (M: 171). There were no sex differences in baseline ESAS-r scores. Three months of MC therapy led to significant improvements in pain (M: - 1.4 ± 0.3, p < 0.001; F: - 1.1 ± 0.3, p < 0.01), tiredness (M: - 1.7 ± 0.4, p < 0.001; F: - 1.2 ± 0.4, p < 0.05), anxiety (M: - 1.1 ± 0.4, p < 0.05; F: - 1.2 ± 0.4, p < 0.001), and well-being (M: - 1.2 ± 0.4, p < 0.05; F: - 1.4 ± 0.4, p < 0.01) in both sexes. Only F perceived improved drowsiness (- 1.1 ± 0.4, p < 0.05), nausea (- 0.9 ± 0.3, p < 0.05), lack of appetite (- 1.7 ± 0.4, p < 0.001), and shortness of breath (- 0.9 ± 0.3, p < 0.05). From baseline to 3-month follow-up, THC-dominant MC significantly reduced pain (- 1.52 ± 0.52, p < 0.05) in M, whereas in F it diminished nausea (- 2.52 ± 0.70, p < 0.01) and improved well-being (- 2.41 ± 0.79, p < 0.05). THC:CBD-balanced products significantly reduced pain (- 1.48 ± 0.49, p < 0.05), tiredness (- 1.82 ± 0.62, p < 0.05), anxiety (- 1.83 ± 0.54, p < 0.05), and improved well-being (- 2.01 ± 0.56, p < 0.01) in M. CBD-dominant products did not offer significant symptom relief in either sex. CONCLUSION The perceived relief of cancer symptoms from MC differs between sexes. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our findings.
Collapse
|
37
|
Jiang Z, Wang Q, Zhao J, Wang J, Li Y, Dai W, Zhang X, Fang Z, Hou W, Xiong L. Sex-specific cannabinoid 1 receptors on GABAergic neurons in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray mediate analgesia in mice. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2315-2334. [PMID: 35716006 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in analgesic effects have gradually attracted public attention in preclinical and clinical studies. Both human and animal females are more sensitive to cannabinoid antinociception than males. Expression of the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1 R) and the function of the endocannabinoid system have been explored in both male and female mice and CB1 Rs in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) participate in antinociception. However, whether there are cell-type- and sex-specific patterns of vlPAG CB1 R expression that affect analgesia is unknown. In the current study, we either activated or inhibited CB1 Rs in the vlPAG and found that female mice produced stronger analgesia or developed more robust mechanical allodynia than males did. Specific deletion of GABAergic CB1 Rs in the vlPAG promoted stronger mechanical allodynia in female mice than that in male mice. However, no sex differences in cannabinoid antinociception were found following chemogenetic inhibition of GABAergic neurons. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that the sex difference in cannabinoid antinociception was due to females having higher expression of GABAergic CB1 Rs in the vlPAG than males. Furthermore, activation of CB1 Rs in the vlPAG significantly reduced the frequency of GABA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents recorded in vGlut2-tdTomato positive neurons in both sexes. This effect was greater in females than males and this reduction was closely related to CB1 R expression difference between sexes. Our work indicates that vlPAG GABAergic CB1 Rs modulate cannabinoid-mediated analgesia in a sex-specific manner, which may provide a potential explanation of sex difference found in the analgesic effect of cannabinoids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jianshuai Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - You Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wei Dai
- Hangzhou Sanatorium Health Management Center, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zongping Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wugang Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Lize Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Panevin TS, Bobkova AO, Karateev AE, Zotkin EG. Endogenous estrogen deficiency and the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain: A review. TERAPEVT ARKH 2022; 94:683-688. [DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2022.05.201490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism of chronic diseases is a phenomenon determined by differences in the hormonal status of men and women. In this regard, estrogens, which have a complex effect on the body, are of great interest. In particular, estrogens play an important role in the natural control of pain and inflammation. A decrease in estrogen levels associated with menopause or iatrogenic effects (hysterectomy, use of aromotase inhibitors), as well as mutations of genes responsible for the synthesis of structural components of membrane estrogen receptors (ESR1 and ESR2), can significantly reduce the positive effects of these hormones. Deficiency of estrogen can become one of the reasons for the development of serious pathological changes in particular, the formation of chronic pain associated with the pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
Collapse
|
39
|
Shen CL, Castro L, Fang CY, Castro M, Sherali S, White S, Wang R, Neugebauer V. Bioactive compounds for neuropathic pain: An update on preclinical studies and future perspectives. J Nutr Biochem 2022; 104:108979. [PMID: 35245654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2022.108979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Among different types of chronic pain, neuropathic pain (NP), arising from damage to the nervous system, including peripheral fibers and central neurons, is notoriously difficult to treat and affects 7-10% of the general population. Currently available treatment options for NP are limited and opioid analgesics have severe side effects and can result in opioid use disorder. Recent studies have exhibited the role of dietary bioactive compounds in the mitigation of NP. Here, we assessed the effects of commonly consumed bioactive compounds (ginger, curcumin, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, epigallocatechin gallate, resveratrol, soy isoflavones, lycopene, and naringin) on NP and NP-related neuroinflammation. Cellular studies demonstrated that these bioactive compounds reduce inflammation via suppression of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways that regulate apoptosis/cell survival, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory responses. Animal studies strongly suggest that these regularly consumed bioactive compounds have a pronounced anti-NP effect as shown by decreased mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, and cold hyperalgesia. The proposed molecular mechanisms include (1) the enhancement of neuron survival, (2) the reduction of neuronal hyperexcitability by activation of antinociceptive cannabinoid 1 receptors and opioid receptors, (3) the suppression of sodium channel current, and (4) enhancing a potassium outward current in NP-affected animals, triggering a cascade of chemical changes within, and between neurons for pain relief. Human studies administered in this area have been limited. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the findings of preclinical efficacies using bioactive compounds in patients with NP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chwan-Li Shen
- Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA; Center of Excellence for Integrative Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA; Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
| | - Luis Castro
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Chih-Yu Fang
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Maribel Castro
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Samir Sherali
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Steely White
- Department of Microbiology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Center of Excellence for Integrative Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA; Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA; Garrison Institute on Aging, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zhang Y, Ke J, Zhou Y, Liu X, Huang T, Wang F. Sex-specific characteristics of cells expressing the cannabinoid 1 receptor in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2451-2473. [PMID: 35580011 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly clear that robust sex differences exist in the processing of acute and chronic pain in both rodents and humans. However, the underlying mechanism has not been well characterized. The dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord is the fundamental building block of ascending and descending pain pathways. It has been shown that numerous neurotransmitter and neuromodulator systems in the spinal cord, including the endocannabinoid system and its main receptor, the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1 R), play vital roles in processing nociceptive information. Our previous findings have shown that CB1 R mRNA is widely expressed in the brain in sex-dependent patterns. However, the sex-, lamina-, and cell-type-specific characteristics of CB1 R expression in the spinal cord have not been fully described. In this study, the CB1 R-iCre-EGFP mouse strain was generated to label and identify CB1 R-positive (CB1 RGFP ) cells. We reported no sex difference in CB1 R expression in the lumbar dorsal horn of the spinal cord, but a dynamic distribution within superficial laminae II and III in female mice between estrus and nonestrus phases. Furthermore, the cell-type-specific CB1 R expression pattern in the dorsal horn was similar in both sexes. Over 50% of CB1 RGFP cells were GABAergic neurons, and approximately 25% were glycinergic and 20-30% were glutamatergic neurons. The CB1 R-expressing cells also represented a subset of spinal projection neurons. Overall, our work indicates a highly consistent distribution pattern of CB1 RGFP cells in the dorsal horn of lumbar spinal cord in males and females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Ke
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Liu
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianwen Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, Shenzhen Key Lab of Drug Addiction, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Gogulski HY, Craft RM. Adolescent THC exposure: effects on pain-related, exploratory, and consummatory behaviors in adult male vs. female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:1563-1578. [PMID: 35266035 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06094-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Adolescent cannabinoid exposure has been shown to alter cognitive, reward-related, and motor behaviors as well as mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) function in adult animals. Pain is also influenced by mesocorticolimbic DA function, but it is not known whether pain or cannabinoid analgesia in adults is altered by early exposure to cannabinoids. OBJECTIVE To determine whether adolescent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure alters pain-related behaviors before and after induction of persistent inflammatory pain, and whether it influences antinociceptive of THC, in adult rats, and to compare the impact of adolescent THC exposure on pain to its effects on known DA-dependent behaviors such as exploration and consumption of a sweet solution. METHODS Vehicle or THC (2.5 to 10 mg/kg s.c.) was administered daily to male and female rats on post-natal day (PND) 30-43. In adulthood (PND 80-88), sensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli before and after intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was determined. Antinociceptive, exploratory, and consummatory effects of 2.0 mg/kg THC were then examined. RESULTS Adolescent THC exposure did not significantly alter adult sensitivity to non-noxious or noxious stimuli either before or after CFA injection, nor did it alter the antinociceptive effect of THC. In contrast, adolescent THC exposure altered adult exploratory and consummatory behaviors in a sex-dependent manner: when tested as adults, adolescent THC-treated males showed less hedonic drinking than adolescent vehicle-treated males, and females but not males that had been THC-exposed as adolescents showed reduced sensitivity to THC-induced suppression of activity and THC-induced hedonic drinking as adults. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent THC exposure that altered both exploratory and consummatory behaviors in adults did not alter pain-related behaviors either before or after induction of inflammatory pain, suggesting that cannabinoid exposure during adolescence is not likely to substantially alter pain or cannabinoid analgesia in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Y Gogulski
- Psychology Department, Washington State University, PO Box 644820, Pullman, WA, 99164-4820, USA
| | - Rebecca M Craft
- Psychology Department, Washington State University, PO Box 644820, Pullman, WA, 99164-4820, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Gender Differences in Dual Diagnoses Associated with Cannabis Use: A Review. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12030388. [PMID: 35326345 PMCID: PMC8946108 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12030388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Gender differences in psychiatric disorders and drug use are well known. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug among young people. In recent years, its use has been related to the development of psychiatric pathologies; however, few studies have incorporated the gender perspective as of yet. The present work analyses the literature to determine the existence of gender differences in the development of psychotic, depressive and anxious symptoms associated with cannabis use. First, we describe cannabis misuse and its consequences, paying special attention to adolescent subjects. Second, the main gender differences in psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis, depression, anxiety and cannabis use disorders, are enumerated. Subsequently, we discuss the studies that have evaluated gender differences in the association between cannabis use and the appearance of psychotic, depressive and anxious symptoms; moreover, we consider the possible explanations for the identified gender differences. In conclusion, the studies referred to in this review reveal the existence of gender differences in psychiatric symptoms associated with cannabis use, although the direction of such differences is not always clear. Future research is necessary to discern the causal relationship between cannabis use and the development of psychiatric symptoms, as well as the gender differences found.
Collapse
|
43
|
Workman CD, Sosnoff JJ, Rudroff T. Sample entropy discriminates balance performance of older cannabis users from non-users. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2022; 93:105593. [PMID: 35151108 PMCID: PMC8960352 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2022.105593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintaining an upright stance involves a complex interaction of sensory processing and motor outputs to adequately perform this fundamental motor skill. Aging and cannabis use independently disrupt balance performance, but our recent data did not find differences in static balance performance between older cannabis Users and older Non-Users using traditional linear measures (i.e., characteristics of the center of pressure sway). The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether an unbiased entropy measure (sample entropy) can differentiate postural control (standing posture) strategies between older cannabis Users and Non-Users when typical linear measures could not. METHODS Eight medical cannabis Users and eight age- and sex-matched controls completed static posturography testing in an eyes-open condition for 60 s. Linear measures included pathlength of the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions and an ellipse that encapsulates 95% of the 2D area explored. The nonlinear measure was the sample entropy of the center of pressure time-series in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions. Group comparisons were accomplished via pairwise testing and effect size calculations. FINDINGS The statistical testing revealed that sample entropy in the anterior-posterior direction was significantly larger in the Users (mean ± SD = 0.29 ± 0.08) compared to the Non-Users (0.19 ± 0.05; P = 0.01, d = 1.55). INTERPRETATION This finding indicates that the Users had a decreased regularity of their center of pressure signal in the anterior-posterior direction, which might reflect reduced balance adaptability and accompanies the increased fall risk observed in our recent report on these same subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig D. Workman
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA,Corresponding author: Craig D. Workman, Department of Health and Human Physiology, N418 Field House, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA,
| | - Jacob J. Sosnoff
- Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science and Athletic Training, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160 USA
| | - Thorsten Rudroff
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA,Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Health Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Presto P, Mazzitelli M, Junell R, Griffin Z, Neugebauer V. Sex differences in pain along the neuraxis. Neuropharmacology 2022; 210:109030. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
45
|
Reitsma SE, Lakshmanan HHS, Johnson J, Pang J, Parra-Izquierdo I, Melrose AR, Choi J, Anderson DEJ, Hinds MT, Stevens JF, Aslan JE, McCarty OJT, Lo JO. Chronic edible dosing of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in nonhuman primates reduces systemic platelet activity and function. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 322:C370-C381. [PMID: 35080922 PMCID: PMC8858671 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00373.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis usage has steadily increased as acceptance is growing for both medical and recreational reasons. Medical cannabis is administered for treatment of chronic pain based on the premise that the endocannabinoid system signals desensitize pain sensor neurons and produce anti-inflammatory effects. The major psychoactive ingredient of cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that signals mainly through cannabinoid receptor-1 (CBr), which is also present on nonneuron cells including blood platelets of the circulatory system. In vitro, CBr-mediated signaling has been shown to acutely inhibit platelet activation downstream of the platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP)VI. The systemic effects of chronic THC administration on platelet activity and function remain unclear. This study investigates the effects of chronic THC administration on platelet function using a nonhuman primate (NHP) model. Our results show that female and male NHPs consuming a daily THC edible had reduced platelet adhesion, aggregation, and granule secretion in response to select platelet agonists. Furthermore, a change in bioactive lipids (oxylipins) was observed in the female cohort after THC administration. These results indicate that chronic THC edible administration desensitized platelet activity and function in response to GPVI- and G-protein coupled receptor-based activation by interfering with primary and secondary feedback signaling pathways. These observations may have important clinical implications for patients who use medical marijuana and for providers caring for these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie E. Reitsma
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | | | - Jennifer Johnson
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jiaqing Pang
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Iván Parra-Izquierdo
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon,2Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Alex R. Melrose
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon,2Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jaewoo Choi
- 3Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Deirdre E. J. Anderson
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Monica T. Hinds
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jan Frederik Stevens
- 3Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon,4College of Pharmacy, Oregon State university, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Joseph E. Aslan
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon,2Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Owen J. T. McCarty
- 1Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jamie O. Lo
- 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Young AP, Denovan-Wright EM. The Dynamic Role of Microglia and the Endocannabinoid System in Neuroinflammation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:806417. [PMID: 35185547 PMCID: PMC8854262 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.806417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, can take on a range of pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes to maintain homeostasis. However, the sustained activation of pro-inflammatory microglia can lead to a state of chronic neuroinflammation characterized by high concentrations of neurotoxic soluble factors throughout the brain. In healthy brains, the inflammatory processes cease and microglia transition to an anti-inflammatory phenotype, but failure to halt the pro-inflammatory processes is a characteristic of many neurological disorders. The endocannabinoid system has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for chronic neuroinflammation as there is evidence that synthetic and endogenously produced cannabinoids temper the pro-inflammatory response of microglia and may encourage a switch to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Activation of cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptors has been proposed as the mechanism of action responsible for these effects. The abundance of components of the endocannabinoid system in microglia also change dynamically in response to several brain pathologies. This can impact the ability of microglia to synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids or react to endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids. Cannabinoid receptors also participate in the formation of receptor heteromers which influences their function specifically in cells that express both receptors, such as microglia. This creates opportunities for drug-drug interactions between CB2 receptor-targeted therapies and other classes of drugs. In this article, we review the roles of pro- and anti-inflammatory microglia in the development and resolution of neuroinflammation. We also discuss the fluctuations observed in the components of the endocannabinoid in microglia and examine the potential of CB2 receptors as a therapeutic target in this context.
Collapse
|
47
|
Britch SC, Craft RM. No antinociceptive synergy between morphine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in male and female rats with persistent inflammatory pain. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 32:630-639. [PMID: 34561365 PMCID: PMC8578411 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Studies have demonstrated antinociceptive synergy between morphine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in animals, but whether such synergy occurs against all types of pain and in humans is unclear. Because a majority of chronic pain patients are women, and sex differences in morphine and THC potencies have been observed in rodents, the present study examined sex-specific effects of morphine and THC given alone and in combination, in rats with persistent inflammatory pain. On day 1, baseline mechanical and thermal response thresholds, hindpaw weight-bearing, locomotor activity, and hindpaw thickness were determined. Inflammation was then induced via hindpaw injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Three days later, morphine (s.c.), THC (i.p) or a morphine-THC combination (1:1, 3:1 and 1:3 dose ratios) was administered, and behavioral testing was conducted at 30-240 min postinjection. Morphine alone was antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic, with no sex differences, but at some doses increased weight-bearing on the CFA-treated paw more in males than females. THC alone reduced mechanical allodynia with similar potency in both sexes, but reduced thermal hyperalgesia and locomotor activity with greater potency in females than males. All morphine-THC combinations reduced allodynia and hyperalgesia, but isobolographic analysis of mechanical allodynia data showed no significant morphine-THC synergy in either sex. Additionally, whereas morphine alone was antinociceptive at doses that did not suppress locomotion, morphine-THC combinations suppressed locomotion and did not increase weight-bearing on the inflamed paw. These results suggest that THC is unlikely to be a beneficial adjuvant when given in combination with morphine for reducing established inflammatory pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stevie C Britch
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Rebecca M Craft
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Fear-conditioned Analgesia in Rats and Associated Alterations in the Endocannabinoid System in the Periaqueductal Grey. Neuroscience 2021; 480:117-130. [PMID: 34774710 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.005] [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: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system within the periaqueductal grey (PAG) has been implicated in fear-conditioned analgesia (FCA), the profound suppression of pain upon re-exposure to a context previously paired with an aversive stimulus. Since the endocannabinoid and nociceptive systems exhibit sexual dimorphism, the aim of the present study was to assess possible sex differences in the expression of FCA, fear in the presence of nociceptive tone, and associated sex-dependent alterations in the endocannabinoid system within the PAG. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats received footshock (10 × 1s; 0.4 mA; every 60 s) or no-footshock in a conditioning arena and 23.5 h later received intraplantar injection of formalin (2.5%) under brief isoflourane anaesthetic into the right hind paw. Nociceptive and fear-related behaviours were assessed 30 min later. Levels of endocannabinoids, N-acylethanolamines and neurotransmitters in the PAG were assessed by LC-MS/MS and expression of endocannabinoid system-related proteins by Western immunoblotting. Male, but not female, rats exhibited robust FCA and greater expression of fear-related behaviours than females. Fear-conditioned formalin-treated males, but not females, had higher levels of N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the PAG, compared with non-fear-conditioned controls. There was no effect of fear conditioning on the levels of FAAH or CB1 receptor expression (CB1R) in the PAG of male or female formalin-treated rats. Non-fear-conditioned females had higher levels of CB1R and PPARγ expression than non-fear-conditioned male counterparts. In summary, our results provide evidence of sexual dimorphism in the expression of FCA and fear-related behaviours, and associated alterations in components of the endocannabinoid system and GABA within the PAG.
Collapse
|
49
|
Blanton HL, Pietrzak A, McHann MC, Guindon J. Sex and dose-dependent antinociceptive effects of the JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) inhibitor SU 3327 are mediated by CB 2 receptors in female, and CB 1/CB 2 receptors in male mice in an inflammatory pain model. Brain Res Bull 2021; 177:39-52. [PMID: 34530070 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.09.004] [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: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) has been implicated in the development and persistence of inflammatory and neuropathic pain in animal models. Moreover, JNKs have been involved in the maintenance of chronic pain, as well as development of tolerance to antinociceptive agents in the opioid and cannabinoid class of compounds. In this study, we evaluated the antinociceptive effects of the JNK inhibitor SU 3327 (0.3-30 mg/kg) in the formalin pain model with an emphasis on the sex-specific actions of this compound. In wild-type C57BL6J mice, SU 3327 produced strong antinociceptive effects in the formalin pain model which were mediated by CB2 receptors in females, and both CB1 and CB2 receptors in males. SU 3327 at a dose of 10 mg/kg produced antinociception, hypothermia, motor impairment, and hypolocomotion to a similar extent in both males and females. The antinociceptive effects of SU 3327 were more potent in males at lower doses (1 and 3 mg/kg), while females were more sensitive to the hypothermic, and motor-suppression effects at lower (3 mg/kg) doses versus males. Analysis of spinal cords, using qPCR following SU 3327 administration in the formalin test, revealed changes in cannabinoid, tolerance and inflammatory markers in females only, and only in the high (10-30 mg/kg) dose conditions. Indeed, females showed an increase in mRNA levels of cannabinoid (CB2), but a decrease in tolerance (β-arrestin 1) and inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6)-associated markers. The differences between males and females, in this study, support sex as an important factor in nociception and antinociceptive responses mediated by JNK and the endocannabinoid system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry L Blanton
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 6592, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Agata Pietrzak
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 6592, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Melissa C McHann
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 6592, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Josée Guindon
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street STOP 6592, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Boullon L, Finn DP, Llorente-Berzal Á. Sex Differences in a Rat Model of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain and Associated Levels of Endogenous Cannabinoid Ligands. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2021; 2:673638. [PMID: 35295501 PMCID: PMC8915733 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.673638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic neuropathic pain is a major unmet clinical need affecting 10% of the world population, the majority of whom suffer from co-morbid mood disorders. Sex differences have been reported in pain prevalence, perception and response to analgesics. However, sexual dimorphism in chronic neuropathic pain and the associated neurobiology, are still poorly understood. The lack of efficacy and the adverse effects associated with current pharmacological treatments, further underline the need for new therapeutic targets. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a lipid signalling system which regulates a large number of physiological processes, including pain. The aim of this study was to investigate sexual dimorphism in pain-, anxiety- and depression-related behaviours, and concomitant alterations in supraspinal and spinal endocannabinoid levels in the spared nerve injury (SNI) animal model of peripheral neuropathic pain. Sham or SNI surgery was performed in adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Mechanical and cold allodynia was tested weekly using von Frey and acetone drop tests, respectively. Development of depression-related behaviours was analysed using sucrose splash and sucrose preference tests. Locomotor activity and anxiety-related behaviours were assessed with open field and elevated plus maze tests. Levels of endocannabinoid ligands and related N-acylethanolamines in supraspinal regions of the descending inhibitory pain pathway, and spinal cord, were analysed 42 days post-surgery. SNI surgery induced allodynia in rats of both sexes. Female-SNI rats exhibited earlier onset and greater sensitivity to cold and mechanical allodynia than their male counterparts. In male rats, SNI induced a significant reduction of rearing, compared to sham controls. Trends for depressive-like behaviours in females and for anxiety-like behaviours in males were observed after SNI surgery but did not reach statistical significance. No concomitant alterations in levels of endogenous cannabinoid ligands and related N-acylethanolamines were observed in the regions analysed. Our results demonstrate differential development of SNI-induced nociceptive behaviour between male and female rats suggesting important sexually dimorphic modifications in pain pathways. SNI had no effect on depression- or anxiety-related behaviours in animals of either sex, or on levels of endocannabinoid ligands and related N-acylethanolamines across the regions involved in the descending modulation of nociception at the time points investigated.
Collapse
|