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AlKhelb D, Burke EL, Zvonok A, Iliopoulos-Tsoutsouvas C, Georgiadis MO, Jiang S, Ho TC, Nikas SP, Makriyannis A, Desai RI. Effects of cannabinoid agonists and antagonists in male rats discriminating the synthetic cannabinoid AM2201. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176168. [PMID: 38059442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176168] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The synthetic forms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), dronabinol or nabilone, have been approved to treat several indications. However, due to safety concerns their clinical utility remains limited. Consequently, there is a need for developing cannabinoid (CB) ligands that display better behavioral pharmacological profiles than Δ9-THC. Here, we utilized drug discrimination methods to compare the interoceptive effects of CB ligands that vary in potency, efficacy, and selectivity at the CB receptors, including two ligands, AM411 and AM4089, that show CB1 partial agonist-like actions in vitro. Male rats were trained to discriminate 0.1 mg/kg AM2201 from saline under a fixed-ratio (FR) 10 response schedule of food reinforcement. After establishing AM2201's discriminative-stimulus effects, pretreatment tests with the CB1 antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant blocked AM2201's effects, whereas the peripherally-restricted antagonist AM6545 had no effect. Next, the generalization profiles of AM411 and AM4089 with CB1 full agonists (JWH-018, CP-55,940, AM8936), partial agonist (Δ9-THC), and non-cannabinoids (fentanyl, atropine) were compared. The CBs either fully (AM2201, CP-55,940, JWH-018, AM8936, Δ9-THC) or partially (AM411, AM4089) substituted for AM2201, whereas fentanyl and atropine did not produce AM2201-like effects. All CB drugs were more potent than Δ9-THC and correlation analysis confirmed that the relative behavioral potencies of CBs corresponded strongly with their relative affinities at the CB1 but not CB2 receptors. Together, our results further demonstrate that AM411 and AM4089 exhibit better pharmacological profiles compared to Δ9-THC, in that they are more potent and display in vivo partial agonist-like actions that are centrally mediated via CB1 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalal AlKhelb
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12371, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emily L Burke
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexander Zvonok
- MAK Scientific LLC, 151 South Bedford Street, Burlington, MA, 01803, USA
| | - Christos Iliopoulos-Tsoutsouvas
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Markos-Orestis Georgiadis
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Thanh C Ho
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Spyros P Nikas
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; MAK Scientific LLC, 151 South Bedford Street, Burlington, MA, 01803, USA.
| | - Rajeev I Desai
- Center for Drug Discovery, Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Biology Program, Integrative Neurochemistry Laboratory, McLean Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
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Wilson G, Yang L, Su X, Ding S, Li L, Yang Y, Wang X, Wang W, Sa Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Ma X. Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural compounds modulating the endocannabinoid system in various diseases and disorders: review. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1410-1444. [PMID: 37906390 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00544-7] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), and the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the endocannabinoids make up the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The components of the ECS are proven to modulate a vast bulk of various physiological and pathological processes due to their abundance throughout the human body. Such discoveries have attracted the researchers' attention and emerged as a potential therapeutical target for the treatment of various diseases. In the present article, we reviewed the discoveries of natural compounds, herbs, herbs formula, and their therapeutic properties in various diseases and disorders by modulating the ECS. We also summarize the molecular mechanisms through which these compounds elicit their properties by interacting with the ECS based on the existing findings. Our study provides the insight into the use of natural compounds that modulate ECS in various diseases and disorders, which in turn may facilitate future studies exploiting natural lead compounds as novel frameworks for designing more effective and safer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gidion Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Lingling Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Xiaojuan Su
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Shuqin Ding
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Liuyan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Youyue Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Weibiao Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yuping Sa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jianyu Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Huatuo Road, Minhoushangjie, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
| | - Xueqin Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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Samanta A, Aleman-Zapata A, Agarwal K, Özsezer P, Alonso A, van der Meij J, Rayan A, Navarro-Lobato I, Genzel L. CBD lengthens sleep but shortens ripples and leads to intact simple but worse cumulative memory. iScience 2023; 26:108327. [PMID: 38026151 PMCID: PMC10656268 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108327] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is on the rise as over-the-counter medication to treat sleep disturbances, anxiety, pain, and epilepsy due to its action on the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the brain. However, it remains unclear if CBD also leads to adverse effects on memory via changes of sleep macro- and microarchitecture. To investigate the effect of CBD on sleep and memory consolidation, we performed two experiments using the object space task testing for both simple and cumulative memory in rats. We show that oral CBD administration extended the sleep period but changed the properties of rest and non-REM sleep oscillations (delta, spindle, ripples). Specifically, CBD also led to less long (>100 ms) ripples and, consequently, worse cumulative memory consolidation. In contrast, simple memories were not affected. In sum, we can confirm the beneficial effect of CBD on sleep; however, this comes with changes in oscillations that negatively impact memory consolidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anumita Samanta
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Adrian Aleman-Zapata
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Kopal Agarwal
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Pelin Özsezer
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Alejandra Alonso
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Jacqueline van der Meij
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Abdelrahman Rayan
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Irene Navarro-Lobato
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
| | - Lisa Genzel
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Postbus 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen
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Hill MN, Haney M, Hillard CJ, Karhson DS, Vecchiarelli HA. The endocannabinoid system as a putative target for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Psychol Med 2023; 53:7006-7024. [PMID: 37671673 PMCID: PMC10719691 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002465] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis is well established to impact affective states, emotion and perceptual processing, primarily through its interactions with the endocannabinoid system. While cannabis use is quite prevalent in many individuals afflicted with psychiatric illnesses, there is considerable controversy as to whether cannabis may worsen these conditions or provide some form of therapeutic benefit. The development of pharmacological agents which interact with components of the endocannabinoid system in more localized and discrete ways then via phytocannabinoids found in cannabis, has allowed the investigation if direct targeting of the endocannabinoid system itself may represent a novel approach to treat psychiatric illness without the potential untoward side effects associated with cannabis. Herein we review the current body of literature regarding the various pharmacological tools that have been developed to target the endocannabinoid system, their impact in preclinical models of psychiatric illness and the recent data emerging of their utilization in clinical trials for psychiatric illnesses, with a specific focus on substance use disorders, trauma-related disorders, and autism. We highlight several candidate drugs which target endocannabinoid function, particularly inhibitors of endocannabinoid metabolism or modulators of cannabinoid receptor signaling, which have emerged as potential candidates for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, particularly substance use disorder, anxiety and trauma-related disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Although there needs to be ongoing clinical work to establish the potential utility of endocannabinoid-based drugs for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses, the current data available is quite promising and shows indications of several potential candidate diseases which may benefit from this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N. Hill
- Departments of Cell Biology and Anatomy & Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Margaret Haney
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Cecilia J. Hillard
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
| | - Debra S. Karhson
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, USA
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Duranti A, Beldarrain G, Álvarez A, Sbriscia M, Carloni S, Balduini W, Alonso-Alconada D. The Endocannabinoid System as a Target for Neuroprotection/Neuroregeneration in Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury. Biomedicines 2022; 11:biomedicines11010028. [PMID: 36672536 PMCID: PMC9855621 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (EC) system is a complex cell-signaling system that participates in a vast number of biological processes since the prenatal period, including the development of the nervous system, brain plasticity, and circuit repair. This neuromodulatory system is also involved in the response to endogenous and environmental insults, being of special relevance in the prevention and/or treatment of vascular disorders, such as stroke and neuroprotection after neonatal brain injury. Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia leading to neonatal encephalopathy is a devastating condition with no therapeutic approach apart from moderate hypothermia, which is effective only in some cases. This overview, therefore, gives a current description of the main components of the EC system (including cannabinoid receptors, ligands, and related enzymes), to later analyze the EC system as a target for neonatal neuroprotection with a special focus on its neurogenic potential after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Duranti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.D.); (D.A.-A.); Tel.: +39-0722-303501 (A.D.); +34-946-013294 (D.A.-A.)
| | - Gorane Beldarrain
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School 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
| | - Matilde Sbriscia
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Silvia Carloni
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Walter Balduini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Daniel Alonso-Alconada
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, School of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.D.); (D.A.-A.); Tel.: +39-0722-303501 (A.D.); +34-946-013294 (D.A.-A.)
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Mińczuk K, Baranowska-Kuczko M, Krzyżewska A, Schlicker E, Malinowska B. Cross-Talk between the (Endo)Cannabinoid and Renin-Angiotensin Systems: Basic Evidence and Potential Therapeutic Significance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6350. [PMID: 35683028 PMCID: PMC9181166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This review is dedicated to the cross-talk between the (endo)cannabinoid and renin angiotensin systems (RAS). Activation of AT1 receptors (AT1Rs) by angiotensin II (Ang II) can release endocannabinoids that, by acting at cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs), modify the response to AT1R stimulation. CB1R blockade may enhance AT1R-mediated responses (mainly vasoconstrictor effects) or reduce them (mainly central nervous system-mediated effects). The final effects depend on whether stimulation of CB1Rs and AT1Rs induces opposite or the same effects. Second, CB1R blockade may diminish AT1R levels. Third, phytocannabinoids modulate angiotensin-converting enzyme-2. Additional studies are required to clarify (1) the existence of a cross-talk between the protective axis of the RAS (Ang II-AT2 receptor system or angiotensin 1-7-Mas receptor system) with components of the endocannabinoid system, (2) the influence of Ang II on constituents of the endocannabinoid system and (3) the (patho)physiological significance of AT1R-CB1R heteromerization. As a therapeutic consequence, CB1R antagonists may influence effects elicited by the activation or blockade of the RAS; phytocannabinoids may be useful as adjuvant therapy against COVID-19; single drugs acting on the (endo)cannabinoid system (cannabidiol) and the RAS (telmisartan) may show pharmacokinetic interactions since they are substrates of the same metabolizing enzyme of the transport mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Mińczuk
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-222 Białystok, Poland; (K.M.); (M.B.-K.); (A.K.)
| | - Marta Baranowska-Kuczko
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-222 Białystok, Poland; (K.M.); (M.B.-K.); (A.K.)
| | - Anna Krzyżewska
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-222 Białystok, Poland; (K.M.); (M.B.-K.); (A.K.)
| | - Eberhard Schlicker
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Barbara Malinowska
- Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2A, 15-222 Białystok, Poland; (K.M.); (M.B.-K.); (A.K.)
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