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Martín-Llorente A, Serrano M, Bonilla-Del Río I, Lekunberri L, Ocerin G, Puente N, Ramos A, Rico-Barrio I, Gerrikagoitia I, Grandes P. Omega-3 Recovers Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Expression in the Adult Mouse Brain after Adolescent Binge Drinking. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17316. [PMID: 38139145 PMCID: PMC10744058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417316] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent binge drinking is a social problem with a long-lasting impact on cognitive functions. The cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in brain synaptic plasticity, cognition and behavior via receptor localization at specific subcellular compartments of the cortical, limbic and motor regions. Alcohol (EtOH) intake affects the ECS, CB1 and their functions. Evidence indicates that binge drinking during adolescence impairs memory via the abrogation of CB1-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. However, the impact of EtOH consumption on global CB1 receptor expression in the adult brain is unknown. We studied this using optical density analysis throughout brain regions processed for light microscopy (LM) immunohistotochemistry. CB1 staining decreased significantly in the secondary motor cortex, cerebellum, cingulate cortex, amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Next, as omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) rescue synaptic plasticity and improve EtOH-impaired cognition, we investigated whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) had any effect on CB1 receptors. N-3 intake during EtOH abstinence restored CB1 immunostaining in the secondary motor cortex, cerebellum and amygdala, and ameliorated receptor density in the cingulate cortex. These results show that n-3 supplementation recovers CB1 receptor expression disrupted by EtOH in distinct brain regions involved in motor functions and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Martín-Llorente
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
| | - Maitane Serrano
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Itziar Bonilla-Del Río
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Leire Lekunberri
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Garazi Ocerin
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Nagore Puente
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Almudena Ramos
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Irantzu Rico-Barrio
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Gerrikagoitia
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Pedro Grandes
- Laboratory of Ultrastructural and Functional Neuroanatomy of the Synapse, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (M.S.); (I.B.-D.R.); (L.L.); (G.O.); (N.P.); (A.R.); (I.R.-B.)
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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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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3
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De Aquino JP. Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase, Neurodevelopment, and Alcohol: Illuminating the Intricacies of the Endocannabinoid System in Addiction Susceptibility. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:e19-e21. [PMID: 37558315 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joao P De Aquino
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut.
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4
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Jiang H, Guo Y, Muzik O. Automated radiosynthesis of [ 18F]FMPEP- d2 for cannabinoid receptor PET imaging. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING 2023; 13:171-178. [PMID: 37736496 PMCID: PMC10509289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The cannabinoid subtype 1 receptor (CB1R) is highly expressed in the central nervous system and abnormalities in regional CB1R density are associated with neurodegenerative disorders. The PET tracer [18F]FMPEP-d2 is an inverse CB1R agonist which was shown to be suitable for non-invasive PET imaging. In this work, we reported the fully automated radiosynthesis of [18F]FMPEP-d2 on a Synthra RNplus research module. In a total synthesis time of 70 min, [18F]FMPEP-d2 was obtained in 2.2 ± 0.1 GBq (n = 3) with excellent radiochemical and chemical purity. Quality control test showed that [18F]FMPEP-d2 product meets all the release criteria for clinical patient use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huailei Jiang
- Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Core, Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MI, USA
- PET Center, Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yan Guo
- Cyclotron and Radiochemistry Core, Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MI, USA
- PET Center, Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Otto Muzik
- PET Center, Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Wayne State University Detroit, MI, USA
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5
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Gendy MNS, Frey BN, Van Ameringen M, Kuhathasan N, MacKillop J. Cannabidiol as a candidate pharmacotherapy for sleep disturbance in alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Alcohol 2023:7150867. [PMID: 37139966 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad031] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD), it is estimated that the majority suffer from persistent sleep disturbances for which few candidate medications are available. Our aim wass to critically review the potential for cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment for AUD-induced sleep disturbance. As context, notable side effects and abuse liability for existing medications for AUD-induced sleep disturbance reduce their clinical utility. CBD modulation of the endocannabinoid system and favorable safety profile have generated substantial interest in its potential therapeutic use for various medical conditions. A number of preclinical and clinical studies suggest promise for CBD in restoring the normal sleep-wake cycle and in enhancing sleep quality in patients diagnosed with AUD. Based on its pharmacology and the existing literature, albeit primarily preclinical and indirect, CBD is a credible candidate to address alcohol-induced sleep disturbance. Well-designed RCTs will be necessary to test its potential in managing this challenging feature of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie N S Gendy
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8P 3R2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Michael Van Ameringen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Nirushi Kuhathasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8P 3R2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Women's Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 3K7, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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6
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Gasparyan A, Navarrete F, Navarro D, Manzanares J. Cannabidiol regulates behavioral and brain alterations induced by spontaneous alcohol withdrawal. Neuropharmacology 2023; 233:109549. [PMID: 37085012 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109549] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to evaluate if the administration of cannabidiol (CBD) regulates behavioral and gene expression alterations induced by spontaneous alcohol withdrawal (SAW) in mice. Increasing doses of ethanol were administered to C57BL/6J male mice for 15 days (2.5, 3 and 3.5 g/kg/12 h, p. o.), and SAW was studied at 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after the last ethanol administration. The efficacy of acute CBD (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, i. p.) to regulate behavioral changes induced by SAW was explored at 6 h. Gene expression analyses of cannabinoid receptors 1 (Cnr1) and 2 (Cnr2), mu-opioid receptor (Opmr1), and proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and Pomc and tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), were carried out by real time-PCR. Pearson correlation was used to identify potential associations between the gene expression data and the anxiety-like behaviors. Biostatistical studies suggest associations between gene expression data and the anxiogenic behaviors in mice exposed to the SAW model and treated with VEH and 40 mg/kg of CBD. Mice exposed to the SAW model showed significant somatic withdrawal signs, anxiety-like behaviors, and remarkable changes in the gene expression of all brain targets at 6 h. CBD dose-dependently normalized the behavioral, somatic withdrawal signs and anxiety-like behaviors and modulated gene expression changes in the NAcc, but not in the VTA. The results of this study suggest that CBD may regulate specific alcohol withdrawal-associated alterations. However, further studies are required to explore the possible mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Daniela Navarro
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernandez-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain.
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7
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Szulc M, Kujawski R, Pacholak A, Poprawska M, Czora-Poczwardowska K, Geppert B, Mikołajczak PŁ. Cannabidiol as a Modulator of the Development of Alcohol Tolerance in Rats. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15071702. [PMID: 37049542 PMCID: PMC10097131 DOI: 10.3390/nu15071702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to explore in vivo the influence of cannabidiol (CBD) on the development of alcohol tolerance in rats. Rats were treated with ethanol (3.0 g/kg, i.p.) and CBD (20 mg/kg, p.o.) for nine successive days, and rectal body temperature, sedation (sleeping time), and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were measured. In the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum, the cannabinoid (CB1R and CB2R) and dopaminergic (DRD1, DRD2, DRD4, DRD5) receptors’ mRNA level changes were analyzed using the quantitative RT-PCR method. CBD inhibited the development of tolerance to the hypothermic and sedative action of alcohol, coupled with BAC elevation. On a molecular level, the most pronounced effects of the CBD + ethanol interaction in the striatum were observed, where CBD reversed the downregulation of CB2R gene transcription caused by ethanol. For CB1R, DRD1, and DRD2 mRNAs, the CBD + ethanol interaction produced opposite effects than for CB2R ones. In turn, for the transcription of genes encoding dopaminergic receptors, the most potent effect of alcohol as CBD occurred in the hippocampus. However, the combined CBD and alcohol administration showed the same effect for each substance administered separately. Since tolerance is considered a prelude to drug addiction, obtained results allow us to emphasize the thesis that CBD can inhibit the development of alcohol dependence in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Szulc
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Radosław Kujawski
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Amanda Pacholak
- Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Poprawska
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Bogna Geppert
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Przemysław Ł. Mikołajczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 3, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
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8
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Pak K, Kantonen T, Pekkarinen L, Nuutila P, Nummenmaa L. Association of CNR1 gene and cannabinoid 1 receptor protein in the human brain. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:327-337. [PMID: 36440544 PMCID: PMC10100072 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25149] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to integrate genomic mapping from brain mRNA atlas with the protein expression from positron emission tomography (PET) scans of type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor and to compare the predictive power of CB1 receptor with those of other neuroreceptor/transporters using a meta-analysis. Volume of distribution (VT ) from F18-FMPEP-d2 PET scans, CNR1 gene (Cannabinoid receptor 1) expression, and H3-CP55940 binding were calculated and correlation analysis was performed. Between VT of F18-FMPEP-d2 PET scans and CNR1 mRNA expression, moderate strength of correlation was observed (rho = .5067, p = .0337). Strong positive correlation was also found between CNR1 mRNA expression and H3-CP55940 binding (r = .6336, p = .0364), validating the finding between F18-FMPEP-d2 PET scans and CNR1 mRNA. The correlation between VT of F18-FMPEP-d2 PET scans and H3-CP55940 binding was marginally significant (r = .5025, p = .0563). From the meta-analysis, the correlation coefficient between mRNA expression and protein expressions ranged from -.10 to .99, with a pooled effect of .76. In conclusion, we observed the moderate to strong associations between gene and protein expression for CB1 receptor in the human brain, which was validated by autoradiography. We combined the autoradiographic finding with PET of CB1 receptor, producing the density atlas map of CB1 receptor. From the meta-analysis, the moderate to strong correlation was observed between mRNA expression and protein expressions across multiple genes. Further study is needed to investigate the relationship between multiple genes and in vivo proteins to improve and accelerate drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoungjune Pak
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Tatu Kantonen
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Laura Pekkarinen
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Pirjo Nuutila
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Endocrinology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Lauri Nummenmaa
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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9
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Royse SK, Lopresti BJ, Mathis CA, Tollefson S, Narendran R. Beyond monoamines: II. Novel applications for PET imaging in psychiatric disorders. J Neurochem 2023; 164:401-443. [PMID: 35716057 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Early applications of positron emission tomography (PET) in psychiatry sought to identify derangements of cerebral blood flow and metabolism. The need for more specific neurochemical imaging probes was soon evident, and these probes initially targeted the sites of action of neuroleptic (dopamine D2 receptors) and psychoactive (serotonin receptors) drugs. For nearly 30 years, the centrality of monoamine dysfunction in psychiatric disorders drove the development of an armamentarium of monoaminergic PET radiopharmaceuticals and imaging methodologies. However, continued investments in monoamine-enhancing drug development realized only modest gains in efficacy and tolerability. As patent protection for many widely prescribed and profitable psychiatric drugs lapsed, drug development pipelines shifted away from monoamines in search of novel targets with the promises of improved efficacy, or abandoned altogether. Over this period, PET radiopharmaceutical development activities closely parallelled drug development priorities, resulting in the development of new PET imaging agents for non-monoamine targets. In part two of this review, we survey clinical research studies using the novel targets and radiotracers described in part one across major psychiatric application areas such as substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. Important limitations of the studies described are discussed, as well as key methodologic issues, challenges to the field, and the status of clinical trials seeking to exploit these targets for novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Royse
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian J Lopresti
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chester A Mathis
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Savannah Tollefson
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rajesh Narendran
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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D'Souza DC, DiForti M, Ganesh S, George TP, Hall W, Hjorthøj C, Howes O, Keshavan M, Murray RM, Nguyen TB, Pearlson GD, Ranganathan M, Selloni A, Solowij N, Spinazzola E. Consensus paper of the WFSBP task force on cannabis, cannabinoids and psychosis. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:719-742. [PMID: 35315315 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2038797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The liberalisation of cannabis laws, the increasing availability and potency of cannabis has renewed concern about the risk of psychosis with cannabis. METHODS The objective of the WFSBP task force was to review the literature about this relationship. RESULTS Converging lines of evidence suggest that exposure to cannabis increases the risk for psychoses ranging from transient psychotic states to chronic recurrent psychosis. The greater the dose, and the earlier the age of exposure, the greater the risk. For some psychosis outcomes, the evidence supports some of the criteria of causality. However, alternate explanations including reverse causality and confounders cannot be conclusively excluded. Furthermore, cannabis is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause psychosis. More likely it is one of the multiple causal components. In those with established psychosis, cannabis has a negative impact on the course and expression of the illness. Emerging evidence also suggests alterations in the endocannabinoid system in psychotic disorders. CONCLUSIONS Given that exposure to cannabis and cannabinoids is modifiable, delaying or eliminating exposure to cannabis or cannabinoids, could potentially impact the rates of psychosis related to cannabis, especially in those who are at high risk for developing the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Cyril D'Souza
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marta DiForti
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Suhas Ganesh
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tony P George
- Addictions Division and Centre for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wayne Hall
- The National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Carsten Hjorthøj
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health - CORE, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oliver Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Institute for Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Matcheri Keshavan
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Timothy B Nguyen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.,Institute for Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Godfrey D Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Olin Neuropsychiatry Ctr. Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.,Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alex Selloni
- Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nadia Solowij
- School of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE), New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Edoardo Spinazzola
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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11
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Radhakrishnan R, Worhunsky PD, Zheng MQ, Najafzadeh S, Gallezot JD, Planeta B, Henry S, Nabulsi N, Ranganathan M, Skosnik PD, Pittman B, Cyril D'Souza D, Carson RE, Huang Y, Potenza MN, Matuskey D. Age, gender and body-mass-index relationships with in vivo CB 1 receptor availability in healthy humans measured with [ 11C]OMAR PET. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119674. [PMID: 36243269 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119674] [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: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1Rs) contribute importantly to the regulation of autonomic tone, appetite, mood and cognition. Inconsistent results have been reported from positron emission tomography (PET) studies using different radioligands to examine relationships between age, gender and body mass index (BMI) and CB1R availability in healthy individuals. In this study, we examined these variables in 58 healthy individuals (age range: 18-55 years; 44 male; BMI=27.01±5.56), the largest cohort of subjects studied to date using the CB1R PET ligand [11C]OMAR. There was a significant decline in CB1R availability (VT) with age in the pallidum, cerebellum and posterior cingulate. Adjusting for BMI, age-related decline in VT remained significant in the posterior cingulate among males, and in the cerebellum among women. CB1R availability was higher in women compared to men in the thalamus, pallidum and posterior cingulate. Adjusting for age, CB1R availability negatively correlated with BMI in women but not men. These findings differ from those reported using [11C]OMAR and other radioligands such as [18F]FMPEP-d2 and [18F]MK-9470. Although reasons for these seemingly divergent findings are unclear, the choice of PET radioligand and range of BMI in the current dataset may contribute to the observed differences. This study highlights the need for cross-validation studies using both [11C]OMAR and [18F]FMPEP-d2 within the same cohort of subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Radhakrishnan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States.
| | - Patrick D Worhunsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Ming-Qiang Zheng
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Soheila Najafzadeh
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Jean-Dominique Gallezot
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Beata Planeta
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Shannan Henry
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Nabeel Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Patrick D Skosnik
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Brian Pittman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Deepak Cyril D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
| | - Richard E Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Marc N Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States; Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, United States; Connecticut Mental Health Center, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, United States
| | - David Matuskey
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicinev, New Haven, CT 06511, United States; Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, United States; Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, United States
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12
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Saumell-Esnaola M, Elejaga-Jimeno A, Echeazarra L, Borrega-Román L, Barrondo S, López de Jesús M, González-Burguera I, Gómez-Caballero A, Goicolea MA, Sallés J, García del Caño G. Design and validation of recombinant protein standards for quantitative Western blot analysis of cannabinoid CB1 receptor density in cell membranes: an alternative to radioligand binding methods. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:192. [PMID: 36109736 PMCID: PMC9479267 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01914-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Replacement of radioligand binding assays with antibody-antigen interaction-based approaches for quantitative analysis of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) levels requires the use of purified protein standards containing the antigen. GPCRs in general and cannabinoid CB1 receptor in particular show a progressive tendency to aggregate and precipitate in aqueous solution outside of their biological context due to the low solubility that the hydrophobic nature imprinted by their seven transmembrane domains. This renders full-length recombinant GPCRs useless for analytical purposes, a problem that can be overcome by engineering soluble recombinant fragments of the receptor containing the antigen. Results Here we generated highly soluble and stable recombinant protein constructs GST-CB1414–472 and GST-CB1414-442 containing much of the human CB1 receptor C-terminal tail for use as standard and negative control, respectively, in quantitative Western blot analysis of CB1 receptor expression on crude synaptosomes of the adult rat brain cortex. To this end we used three different antibodies, all raised against a peptide comprising the C-terminal residues 443–473 of the mouse CB1 receptor that corresponds to residues 442–472 in the human homolog. Estimated values of CB1 receptor density obtained by quantitative Western blot were of the same order of magnitude but slightly higher than values obtained by the radioligand saturation binding assay. Conclusions Collectively, here we provide a suitable Western blot-based design as a simple, cost-effective and radioactivity-free alternative for the quantitative analysis of CB1 receptor expression, and potentially of any GPCR, in a variety of biological samples. The discrepancies between the results obtained by quantitative Western blot and radioligand saturation binding techniques are discussed in the context of their particular theoretical bases and methodological constraints. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01914-1.
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13
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Zou G, Xia J, Luo H, Xiao D, Jin J, Miao C, Zuo X, Gao Q, Zhang Z, Xue T, You Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Xiong W. Combined alcohol and cannabinoid exposure leads to synergistic toxicity by affecting cerebellar Purkinje cells. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1138-1149. [PMID: 36109623 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Combined use of cannabis and alcohol results in greater psychoactive toxicity than either substance alone, but the underlying central mechanisms behind this worsened outcome remain unclear. Here we show that the synergistic effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and ethanol on motor incoordination in mice is achieved by activating presynaptic type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) and potentiating extrasynaptic glycine receptors (GlyR) within cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). The combination of ethanol and THC significantly reduces miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency in a CB1R-dependent manner, while increasing the extrasynaptic GlyR-mediated chronic chloride current, both leading to decreased PC activity. Ethanol enhances THC actions by boosting the blood-brain-barrier permeability of THC and enriching THC in the cell membrane. Di-desoxy-THC, a designed compound that specifically disrupts THC-GlyR interaction without affecting the basic functions of CB1R and GlyR, is able to restore PC function and motor coordination in mice. Our findings provide potential therapeutic strategies for overcoming the synergistic toxicity caused by combining cannabis and alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guichang Zou
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Xia
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Heyi Luo
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Dan Xiao
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jin Jin
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chenjian Miao
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xin Zuo
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Tian Xue
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yezi You
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Aging Research, Hefei, China.
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14
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Sloan ME, Grant CW, Stangl BL, Klepp TD, Brewton HW, Cinar R, Kunos G, Ramchandani VA. The effects of acute alcohol administration on circulating endocannabinoid levels in humans. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13197. [PMID: 36001429 PMCID: PMC9413364 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13197] [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: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that endocannabinoid signalling may influence alcohol consumption. Preclinical studies have found that pharmacological blockade of cannabinoid receptor 1 leads to reductions in alcohol intake. Furthermore, variations in endocannabinoid metabolism between individuals may be associated with the presence and severity of alcohol use disorder. However, little is known about the acute effects of alcohol on the endocannabinoid system in humans. In this study, we evaluated the effect of acute alcohol administration on circulating endocannabinoid levels by analysing data from two highly-controlled alcohol administration experiments. In the first within-subjects experiment, 47 healthy participants were randomized to receive alcohol and placebo in a counterbalanced order. Alcohol was administered using an intravenous clamping procedure such that each participant attained a nearly identical breath alcohol concentration of 0.05%, maintained over 3 h. In the second experiment, 23 healthy participants self-administered alcohol intravenously; participants had control over their exposure throughout the paradigm. In both experiments, circulating concentrations of two endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), were measured at baseline and following alcohol exposure. During the intravenous clamping procedure, acute alcohol administration reduced circulating AEA but not 2-AG levels when compared to placebo. This finding was confirmed in the self-administration paradigm, where alcohol reduced AEA levels in an exposure-dependent manner. Future studies should seek to determine whether alcohol administration has similar effects on brain endocannabinoid signalling. An improved understanding of the bidirectional relationship between endocannabinoid signalling and alcohol intake may deepen our understanding of the aetiology and repercussions of alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Sloan
- Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosciences and Clinical Translation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline W Grant
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bethany L Stangl
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy D Klepp
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Honoree W Brewton
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Resat Cinar
- Section on Fibrotic Disorders, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - George Kunos
- Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Vijay A Ramchandani
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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15
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Ajalin RM, Al-Abdulrasul H, Tuisku JM, Hirvonen JES, Vahlberg T, Lahdenpohja S, Rinne JO, Brück AE. Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 in Parkinson's Disease: A Positron Emission Tomography Study with [ 18 F]FMPEP-d 2. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1673-1682. [PMID: 35674270 PMCID: PMC9544132 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The endocannabinoid system is a widespread neuromodulatory system affecting several biological functions and processes. High densities of type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors and endocannabinoids are found in basal ganglia, which makes them an interesting target group for drug development in basal ganglia disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Objective The aim of this study was to investigate CB1 receptors in PD with [18F]FMPEP‐d2 positron emission tomography (PET) and the effect of dopaminergic medication on the [18F]FMPEP‐d2 binding. Methods The data consisted of 16 subjects with PD and 10 healthy control subjects (HCs). All participants underwent a [18F]FMPEP‐d2 high‐resolution research tomograph PET examination for the quantitative assessment of cerebral binding to CB1 receptors. To investigate the effect of dopaminergic medication on the [18F]FMPEP‐d2 binding, 15 subjects with PD underwent [18F]FMPEP‐d2 PET twice, both on and off antiparkinsonian medication. Results [18F]FMPEP‐d2 distribution volume was significantly lower in the off scan compared with the on scan in basal ganglia, thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala (P < 0.05). Distribution volume was lower in subjects with PD off than in HCs globally (P < 0.05), but not higher than in HCs in any brain region. Conclusions Subjects with PD have lower CB1 receptor availability compared with HCs. PD medication increases CB1 receptor toward normal levels. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka M Ajalin
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Haidar Al-Abdulrasul
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Hospital and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Neurology), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouni M Tuisku
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Jussi E S Hirvonen
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Radiology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tero Vahlberg
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Salla Lahdenpohja
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Juha O Rinne
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Anna E Brück
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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16
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Molecular Alterations of the Endocannabinoid System in Psychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094764. [PMID: 35563156 PMCID: PMC9104141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic benefits of the current medications for patients with psychiatric disorders contrast with a great variety of adverse effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) components have gained high interest as potential new targets for treating psychiatry diseases because of their neuromodulator role, which is essential to understanding the regulation of many brain functions. This article reviewed the molecular alterations in ECS occurring in different psychiatric conditions. The methods used to identify alterations in the ECS were also described. We used a translational approach. The animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neurochemical aspects of psychiatric disorders and the molecular alterations in clinical studies in post-mortem brain tissue or peripheral tissues were analyzed. This article reviewed the most relevant ECS changes in prevalent psychiatric diseases such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism, attentional deficit, eating disorders (ED), and addiction. The review concludes that clinical research studies are urgently needed for two different purposes: (1) To identify alterations of the ECS components potentially useful as new biomarkers relating to a specific disease or condition, and (2) to design new therapeutic targets based on the specific alterations found to improve the pharmacological treatment in psychiatry.
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17
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Bornscheuer L, Lundin A, Forsell Y, Lavebratt C, Melas PA. The cannabinoid receptor-1 gene interacts with stressful life events to increase the risk for problematic alcohol use. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4963. [PMID: 35322131 PMCID: PMC8941304 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08980-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Problematic alcohol use is a major contributor to the global burden of death and disabilities, and it represents a public health concern that has grown substantially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The available treatment options remain limited and to develop better pharmacotherapies for alcohol misuse we need to identify suitable biological targets. Previous research has implicated the brain’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in psychiatric and stress-related outcomes, including substance use and habituation to repeated stress. Moreover, genetic variants in the cannabinoid-1 receptor gene (CNR1; CB1R) have been associated with personality traits, which are in turn predictors of substance use disorders. To date, however, no human genome-wide association study has provided evidence for an involvement of the ECS in substance use outcomes. One reason for this ECS-related “missing heritability” may be unexamined gene-environment interactions. To explore this possibility, we conducted cross-sectional analyses using DNA samples and stress-exposure data from a longitudinal Swedish population-based study (N = 2,915). Specifically, we genotyped rs2023239, a functional C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in CNR1, previously reported to be associated with CNR1 binding in the brain, subjective reward following alcohol intake, and alcohol cue-elicited brain activation. Our two outcomes of interest were (i) problematic alcohol use based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and (ii) personality trait scores based on the Five Factor Model. We found no baseline association between rs2023239 and problematic alcohol use or personality traits. However, there was a clear trend for interaction between rs2023239’s risk allele (C) and stressful life events (SLEs) in both childhood and adulthood, which predicted problematic alcohol use. Although not significant, there was also some indication that the risk allele interacted with child SLEs to increase scores on neuroticism. Our study supports the notion that the ECS can affect alcohol intake behaviors by interacting with life adversities and is—to the best of our knowledge—the first to focus on the interaction between CNR1 and stressors in both childhood and adulthood in humans. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Bornscheuer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Molecular Medicine, L8:00, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lundin
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Forsell
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catharina Lavebratt
- Center for Molecular Medicine, L8:00, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philippe A Melas
- Center for Molecular Medicine, L8:00, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, 11364, Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Acute stress and alcohol exposure during adolescence result in an anxious phenotype in adulthood: Role of altered glutamate/endocannabinoid transmission mechanisms. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 113:110460. [PMID: 34695542 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stressful episodes and high alcohol consumption during adolescence are considered major risk factors for the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Identification of mechanisms underlying these early events, which enhanced vulnerability to mental illness, is essential for both their prevention and treatment. METHODS Male Wistar rats were used to investigate the long-term effects of early restraint stress and intermittent alcohol exposure (intragastric administration of 3 g/kg ethanol; 4 days/week for 4 weeks during adolescence) on anxiety-like behavior and the expression of signaling systems associated with emotional behaviors [e.g., corticosterone, fatty acid-derived molecules and endocannabinoid enzymes, glutamate receptor subunits, corticotropin releasing hormone receptors (CRHR1 and CRHR2) and neuropeptide Y receptors (NPY1R and NPYR2)] in the blood and amygdala. RESULTS Overall, both stress and alcohol exposure during adolescence induced anxiogenic-like behaviors, increased plasma levels of corticosterone and increases in the amygdalar expression of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor and certain subunits of glutamate receptors (i.e., mGluR1, mGluR5 and NMDAR1) in young adult rats. In addition, there were specific main effects of alcohol exposure on the expression of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and NPY2R in the amygdala, and significant increases were observed in rats exposed to alcohol. Interestingly, there were significant interaction effects between restraint stress and alcohol exposure on the expression of plasma 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), and both CRHR1,2 and NPY1R in the amygdala. Thus, the restraint stress was associated with increased 2-AG levels, which was not observed in rats exposed to alcohol. The alcohol exposure was associated with an increased expression of CRHR1,2 but the restraint stress prevented these increases (stress alcohol rats). In contrast, NPY1R was only increased in rats exposed to stress and alcohol. Finally, we did not observe any potentiation of the behavioral and molecular effects by the combination of stress and alcohol, which is concordant with an overall ceiling effect on some of the variables. CONCLUSION Separate and combined early stress and alcohol induced a common anxious phenotype with increased corticosterone in adulthood. However, there were differences in the amygdalar expression of signaling systems involved in maladaptive changes in emotional behavior. Therefore, our results suggest the existence of partially different mechanisms for stress and alcohol exposures.
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19
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Navarrete F, García-Gutiérrez MS, Gasparyan A, Navarro D, López-Picón F, Morcuende Á, Femenía T, Manzanares J. Biomarkers of the Endocannabinoid System in Substance Use Disorders. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030396. [PMID: 35327588 PMCID: PMC8946268 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite substance use disorders (SUD) being one of the leading causes of disability and mortality globally, available therapeutic approaches remain ineffective. The difficulty in accurately characterizing the neurobiological mechanisms involved with a purely qualitative diagnosis is an obstacle to improving the classification and treatment of SUD. In this regard, identifying central and peripheral biomarkers is essential to diagnosing the severity of drug dependence, monitoring therapeutic efficacy, predicting treatment response, and enhancing the development of safer and more effective pharmacological tools. In recent years, the crucial role that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays in regulating the reinforcing and motivational properties of drugs of abuse has been described. This has led to studies characterizing ECS alterations after exposure to various substances to identify biomarkers with potential diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility. This review aims to compile the primary evidence available from rodent and clinical studies on how the ECS components are modified in the context of different substance-related disorders, gathering data from genetic, molecular, functional, and neuroimaging experimental approaches. Finally, this report concludes that additional translational research is needed to further characterize the modifications of the ECS in the context of SUD, and their potential usefulness in the necessary search for biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María S. García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Navarro
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco López-Picón
- PET Preclinical Imaging Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland;
| | - Álvaro Morcuende
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
| | - Teresa Femenía
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.); (Á.M.); (T.F.)
- Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03010 Alicante, Spain
- Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientada a Resultados en Salud (RICORS), Red de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Adicciones (RIAPAd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-965-919-248
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Abstract
PURPOSE A growing body of evidence has implicated the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in the acute, chronic, and withdrawal effects of alcohol/ethanol on synaptic function. These eCB-mediated synaptic effects may contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol exposure causes neurobiological alterations similar to those elicited by chronic cannabinoid (CB) exposure. Like alcohol, cannabinoids alter many central processes, such as cognition, locomotion, synaptic transmission, and neurotransmitter release. There is a strong need to elucidate the effects of ethanol on the eCB system in different brain regions to understand the role of eCB signaling in AUD. SEARCH METHODS For the scope of this review, preclinical studies were identified through queries of the PubMed database. SEARCH RESULTS This search yielded 459 articles. Clinical studies and papers irrelevant to the topic of this review were excluded. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The endocannabinoid system includes, but is not limited to, cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1), among the most abundantly expressed neuronal receptors in the brain; cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB2); and endogenously formed CB1 ligands, including arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA; anandamide), and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The development of specific CB1 agonists, such as WIN 55,212-2 (WIN), and antagonists, such as SR 141716A (rimonabant), provide powerful pharmacological tools for eCB research. Alcohol exposure has brain region-specific effects on the eCB system, including altering the synthesis of endocannabinoids (e.g., AEA, 2-AG), the synthesis of their precursors, and the density and coupling efficacy of CB1. These alcohol-induced alterations of the eCB system have subsequent effects on synaptic function including neuronal excitability and postsynaptic conductance. This review will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current literature on the synaptic interactions of alcohol exposure and eCB signaling systems, with an emphasis on molecular and physiological synaptic effects of alcohol on the eCB system. A limited volume of studies has focused on the underlying interactions of alcohol and the eCB system at the synaptic level in the brain. Thus, the data on synaptic interactions are sparse, and future research addressing these interactions is much needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Wolfe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
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21
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Nutt D, Hayes A, Fonville L, Zafar R, Palmer EO, Paterson L, Lingford-Hughes A. Alcohol and the Brain. Nutrients 2021; 13:3938. [PMID: 34836193 PMCID: PMC8625009 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol works on the brain to produce its desired effects, e.g., sociability and intoxication, and hence the brain is an important organ for exploring subsequent harms. These come in many different forms such as the consequences of damage during intoxication, e.g., from falls and fights, damage from withdrawal, damage from the toxicity of alcohol and its metabolites and altered brain structure and function with implications for behavioral processes such as craving and addiction. On top of that are peripheral factors that compound brain damage such as poor diet, vitamin deficiencies leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Prenatal alcohol exposure can also have a profound impact on brain development and lead to irremediable changes of fetal alcohol syndrome. This chapter briefly reviews aspects of these with a particular focus on recent brain imaging results. Cardiovascular effects of alcohol that lead to brain pathology are not covered as they are dealt with elsewhere in the volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Nutt
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Division of Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, UK; (A.H.); (L.F.); (R.Z.); (E.O.C.P.); (L.P.); (A.L.-H.)
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22
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Patzke C, Dai J, Brockmann MM, Sun Z, Fenske P, Rosenmund C, Südhof TC. Cannabinoid receptor activation acutely increases synaptic vesicle numbers by activating synapsins in human synapses. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6253-6268. [PMID: 33931733 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are central agents that are used widely recreationally and are employed broadly for treating psychiatric conditions. Cannabinoids primarily act by stimulating presynaptic CB1 receptors (CB1Rs), the most abundant G-protein-coupled receptors in brain. CB1R activation decreases neurotransmitter release by inhibiting presynaptic Ca2+ channels and induces long-term plasticity by decreasing cellular cAMP levels. Here we identified an unanticipated additional mechanism of acute cannabinoid signaling in presynaptic terminals that regulates the size of synaptic vesicle pools available for neurotransmitter release. Specifically, we show that activation of CB1Rs in human and mouse neurons rapidly recruits vesicles to nerve terminals by suppressing the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of synapsins. We confirmed this unanticipated mechanism using conditional deletion of synapsin-1, the predominant synapsin isoform in human neurons, demonstrating that synapsin-1 significantly contributes to the CB1R-dependent regulation of neurotransmission. Interestingly, acute activation of the Gi-DREADD hM4D mimics the effect of CB1R activation in a synapsin-1-dependent manner, suggesting that the control of synaptic vesicle numbers by synapsin-1 phosphorylation is a general presynaptic mechanism of neuromodulation. Thus, we uncovered a CB1R-dependent presynaptic mechanism that rapidly regulates the organization and neurotransmitter release properties of synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Patzke
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, University of Notre Dame, 109A Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
| | - Jinye Dai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Marisa M Brockmann
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zijun Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Pascal Fenske
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Institute of Neurophysiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas C Südhof
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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23
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Alcohol induced impairment/abnormalities in brain: Role of MicroRNAs. Neurotoxicology 2021; 87:11-23. [PMID: 34478768 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol is a highly toxic substance and has teratogenic properties that can lead to a wide range of developmental disorders. Excessive use of alcohol can change the structural and functional aspects of developed brain and other organs. Which can further lead to significant health, social and economic implications in many countries of the world. Convincing evidence support the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in neurodevelopment and maintenance. They also show differential expression following an injury. MiRNAs are the special class of small non coding RNAs that can modify the gene by targeting the mRNA and fine tune the development of cells to organs. Numerous pieces of evidences have shown the relationship between miRNA, alcohol and brain damage. These studies also show how miRNA controls different cellular mechanisms involved in the development of alcohol use disorder. With the increasing number of research studies, the roles of miRNAs following alcohol-induced injury could help researchers to recognize alternative therapeutic methods to treat/cure alcohol-induced brain damage. The present review summarizes the available data and brings together the important miRNAs, that play a crucial role in alcohol-induced brain damage, which will help in better understanding complex mechanisms. Identifying these miRNAs will not only expand the current knowledge but can lead to the identification of better targets for the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
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24
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Influence of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Genetic Variants on the Subjective Effects of Smoked Cannabis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147388. [PMID: 34299009 PMCID: PMC8307475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As many jurisdictions consider relaxing cannabis legislation and usage is increasing in North America and other parts of the world, there is a need to explore the possible genetic differences underlying the subjective effects of cannabis. This pilot study investigated specific genetic variations within the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene for association with the subjective effects of smoked cannabis. Data were obtained from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial studying the impact of cannabis intoxication on driving performance. Participants randomized to the active cannabis group who consented to secondary genetic analysis (n = 52) were genotyped at the CNR1 rs1049353 and rs2023239 polymorphic areas. Maximum value and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were performed on subjective measures data. Analysis of subjective effects by genotype uncovered a global trend towards greater subjective effects for rs1049353 T-allele- and rs2023239 C-allele-carrying subjects. However, significant differences attributed to allelic identity were only documented for a subset of subjective effects. Our findings suggest that rs1049353 and rs2023239 minor allele carriers experience augmented subjective effects during acute cannabis intoxication.
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25
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Morris G, Walder K, Kloiber S, Amminger P, Berk M, Bortolasci CC, Maes M, Puri BK, Carvalho AF. The endocannabinoidome in neuropsychiatry: Opportunities and potential risks. Pharmacol Res 2021; 170:105729. [PMID: 34119623 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) comprises two cognate endocannabinoid receptors referred to as CB1R and CB2R. ECS dysregulation is apparent in neurodegenerative/neuro-psychiatric disorders including but not limited to schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and potentially bipolar disorder. The aim of this paper is to review mechanisms whereby both receptors may interact with neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative pathways, which play a pathophysiological role in these disorders. CB1R is located in the presynaptic terminals of GABAergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons where it regulates the retrograde suppression of neurotransmission. CB1R plays a key role in long-term depression, and, to a lesser extent, long-term potentiation, thereby modulating synaptic transmission and mediating learning and memory. Optimal CB1R activity plays an essential neuroprotective role by providing a defense against the development of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, which is achieved, at least in part, by impeding AMPA-mediated increase in intracellular calcium overload and oxidative stress. Moreover, CB1R activity enables optimal neuron-glial communication and the function of the neurovascular unit. CB2R receptors are detected in peripheral immune cells and also in central nervous system regions including the striatum, basal ganglia, frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala as well as the ventral tegmental area. CB2R upregulation inhibits the presynaptic release of glutamate in several brain regions. CB2R activation also decreases neuroinflammation partly by mediating the transition from a predominantly neurotoxic "M1" microglial phenotype to a more neuroprotective "M2" phenotype. CB1R and CB2R are thus novel drug targets for the treatment of neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative disorders including schizophrenia and affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerwyn Morris
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Ken Walder
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Deakin University, Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia
| | - Stefan Kloiber
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Ursula Franklin Street, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Amminger
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Berk
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chiara C Bortolasci
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
| | - Michael Maes
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | | | - Andre F Carvalho
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia.
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Fu R, Tang Y, Li W, Ren Z, Li D, Zheng J, Zuo W, Chen X, Zuo QK, Tam KL, Zou Y, Bachmann T, Bekker A, Ye JH. Endocannabinoid signaling in the lateral habenula regulates pain and alcohol consumption. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:220. [PMID: 33854035 PMCID: PMC8046806 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01337-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperalgesia, which often occurs in people suffering from alcohol use disorder, may drive excessive drinking and relapse. Emerging evidence suggests that the lateral habenula (LHb) may play a significant role in this condition. Previous research suggests that endocannabinoid signaling (eCBs) is involved in drug addiction and pain, and that the LHb contains core components of the eCBs machinery. We report here our findings in rats subjected to chronic ethanol vapor exposure. We detected a substantial increase in endocannabinoid-related genes, including Mgll and Daglb mRNA levels, as well as monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) protein levels, as well as a decrease in Cnr1 mRNA and type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) protein levels, in the LHb of ethanol-exposed rats. Also, rats withdrawing from ethanol exposure displayed hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal nociceptive stimuli. Conversely, intra-LHb injection of the MAGL inhibitor JZL184, the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597, or the CB1R agonist WIN55,212-2 produced an analgesic effect, regardless of ethanol or air exposure history, implying that alcohol exposure does not change eCB pain responses. Intra-LHb infusion of the CB1R inverse agonist rimonabant eliminated the analgesic effect of these chemicals. Rimonabant alone elicited hyperalgesia in the air-, but not ethanol-exposed animals. Moreover, intra-LHb JZL184, URB597, or WIN55,212-2 reduced ethanol consumption in both homecages and operant chambers in rats exposed to ethanol vapor but not air. These findings suggest that LHb eCBs play a pivotal role in nociception and facilitating LHb eCBs may attenuate pain in drinkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Fu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Wenfu Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Zhiheng Ren
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Ding Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Jiayi Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Wanhong Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Xuejun Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Qi Kang Zuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Kelsey L Tam
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Yucong Zou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Thomas Bachmann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Alex Bekker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Jiang-Hong Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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Identification of a sex-stratified genetic algorithm for opioid addiction risk. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2021; 21:326-335. [PMID: 33589790 DOI: 10.1038/s41397-021-00212-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on our country, with wide-ranging effects on healthcare, corrections, employment, and social systems. Programs have been put in place for monitoring prescriptions, initiating and expanding medications for opioid use disorder, and harm reduction (i.e., naloxone distribution, needle exchanges). However, opportunities for personalization of opioid therapy based on addiction risk have been limited. The goal of the present study was to develop an objective risk assessment algorithm based on genetic markers that are correlated with opioid use disorder (OUD). A total of 180 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested in patients with and without OUD. SNPs selected for testing were associated with opioid metabolism and drug reward pathways based on previous studies. Of the 394 patients recruited, 200 had OUD and 194 served as controls without OUD but with prior opioid exposure. Logistic regression analyses stratified by sex identified ten unique SNPs in females and nine unique SNPs in males that were significantly associated with OUD. A Genetics Opioid Risk Score (GenORs) was calculated by counting the number of OUD risk-associated SNPs/genotypes for each patient. To evaluate the discrimination of the GenORs, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for each sex was generated and determined to be sensitive and specific. This represents the first published example of a sex-based genetic risk score with potential to predict OUD, and the first OUD algorithm to include opioid-associated pharmacokinetic genes.
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Oppong-Damoah A, Gannon BM, Murnane KS. The Endocannabinoid System and Alcohol Dependence: Will Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Agonism be More Fruitful than Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Antagonism? CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2021; 21:3-13. [PMID: 33573565 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210211115007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Alcohol-use disorder (AUD) remains a major public health concern. In recent years, there has been a heightened interest in components of the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of AUD. Cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors have been shown to modulate the rewarding effects of alcohol, reduce the abuse-related effects of alcohol, improve cognition, exhibit anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, which are all favorable properties of potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of AUD. However, CB1 agonists have not been investigated for the treatment of AUD because they stimulate the motivational properties of alcohol, increase alcohol intake, and have the tendency to be abused. Preclinical data suggest significant potential for the use of CB1 antagonists to treat AUD; however, a clinical phase I/II trial with SR14716A (rimonabant), a CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist showed that it produced serious neuropsychiatric adverse events such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. This has redirected the field to focus on alternative components of the endocannabinoid system, including cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor agonists as a potential therapeutic target for AUD. CB2 receptor agonists are of particular interest because they can modulate the reward pathway, reduce abuse-related effects of alcohol, reverse neuroinflammation, improve cognition, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, without exhibiting the psychiatric side effects seen with CB1 antagonists. Accordingly, this article presents an overview of the studies reported in the literature that have investigated CB2 receptor agonists with regards to AUD and provides commentary as to whether this receptor is a worthy target for continued investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aboagyewaah Oppong-Damoah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center,United States
| | - Brenda Marie Gannon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center,United States
| | - Kevin Sean Murnane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Mercer University Health Sciences Center,United States
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Chukwueke CC, Kowalczyk WJ, Gendy M, Taylor R, Tyndale RF, Le Foll B, Heishman SJ. The CB1R rs2023239 receptor gene variant significantly affects the reinforcing effects of nicotine, but not cue reactivity, in human smokers. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e01982. [PMID: 33369277 PMCID: PMC7882168 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) has been shown in preclinical studies to be involved in nicotine reinforcement and relapse-like behavior. The common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2023239 may code for an alternative CB1R protein, alter CB1R expression, and be involved in nicotine dependence. To date, no study has explored the relationship between this SNP in CB1R and specific phenotypes of nicotine dependence. METHODS The current study investigated the influence of CB1R rs2023239 in nicotine reinforcement and craving in regular cigarette smokers. Current smokers (n = 104, cigarettes per day ≥ 10) were genetically grouped (C allele group vs. No C allele group) and underwent laboratory measures of nicotine reinforcement and smoking cue-elicited craving. Nicotine reinforcement was assessed using a forced choice paradigm, while a cue-reactivity procedure measured cue-elicited craving. RESULTS These results show that smokers with the C allele variant (CC + CT genotypes) experienced a lower nicotine reinforcement effect compared to those without the C allele (TT genotype). These results were similar in both our subjective and behavioral reinforcement measures, though the subjective effects did not withstand controlling for race. There was no difference between genotype groups with respect to cue-elicited craving, suggesting a lack of influence in cue reactivity. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results suggest that the variation in the CB1R (i.e., rs2023239 SNP) may play a larger role in nicotine reinforcement compared to cue reactivity. This work provides impetus to further understand the physiological mechanisms that explain how CB1Rs influence nicotine dependence phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chidera C Chukwueke
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - William J Kowalczyk
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychology, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, USA
| | - Marie Gendy
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard Taylor
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rachel F Tyndale
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,CAMH, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Brain and Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,CAMH, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Brain and Therapeutics, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Acute Care Program, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J Heishman
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Gianessi CA, Groman SM, Taylor JR. The effects of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition and monoacylglycerol lipase inhibition on habit formation in mice. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:922-938. [PMID: 33506530 PMCID: PMC10370500 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Emerging data indicate that endocannabinoid signaling is critical to the formation of habitual behavior. Previous work demonstrated that antagonism of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) with AM251 during operant training impairs habit formation, but it is not known if this behavioral effect is specific to disrupted signaling of the endocannabinoid ligands anandamide or 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). Here, we used selective pharmacological compounds during operant training to determine the impact of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibition to increase anandamide (and other n-acylethanolamines) or monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibition to increase 2-AG levels on the formation of habitual behaviors in mice using a food-reinforced contingency degradation procedure. We found, contrary to our hypothesis, that inhibition of FAAH and of MAGL disrupted the formation of habits. Next, AM251 was administered during training to verify that impaired habit formation could be assessed using contingency degradation. AM251-exposed mice responded at lower rates during training and at higher rates in the test. To understand the inconsistency with published data, we performed a proof-of-principle dose-response experiment to compare AM251 in our vehicle-solution to the published vehicle-suspension on response rates. We found consistent reductions in response rate with increasing doses of AM251 in solution and an inconsistent dose-response relationship with AM251 in suspension. Together, our data suggest that further characterization of the role of CB1R signaling in the formation of habitual responding is warranted and that augmenting endocannabinoids may have clinical utility for prophylactically preventing aberrant habit formation such as that hypothesized to occur in substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol A Gianessi
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephanie M Groman
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jane R Taylor
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA.,Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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31
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Hou L, Rong J, Haider A, Ogasawara D, Varlow C, Schafroth MA, Mu L, Gan J, Xu H, Fowler CJ, Zhang MR, Vasdev N, Ametamey S, Cravatt BF, Wang L, Liang SH. Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of the Endocannabinoid System: Opportunities and Challenges in Radiotracer Development. J Med Chem 2020; 64:123-149. [PMID: 33379862 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in a wide range of biological functions and comprises cannabinoid receptors and enzymes responsible for endocannabinoid synthesis and degradation. Over the past 2 decades, significant advances toward developing drugs and positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting different components of the ECS have been made. Herein, we summarized the recent development of PET tracers for imaging cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1R) and 2 (CB2R) as well as the key enzymes monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), particularly focusing on PET neuroimaging applications. State-of-the-art PET tracers for the ECS will be reviewed including their chemical design, pharmacological properties, radiolabeling, as well as preclinical and human PET imaging. In addition, this review addresses the current challenges for ECS PET biomarker development and highlights the important role of PET ligands to study disease pathophysiology as well as to facilitate drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Hou
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Jian Rong
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Daisuke Ogasawara
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Cassis Varlow
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry/Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1R8 ON, Canada
| | - Michael A Schafroth
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Linjing Mu
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences of ETH, PSI, and USZ, and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jiefeng Gan
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Christopher J Fowler
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department of Radiopharmaceuticals Development, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry/Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, M5T 1R8 ON, Canada
| | - Simon Ametamey
- Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences of ETH, PSI, and USZ, and Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, SR107, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Lu Wang
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Steven H Liang
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
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32
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Miederer I, Wiegand V, Bausbacher N, Leukel P, Maus S, Hoffmann MA, Lutz B, Schreckenberger M. Quantification of the Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor Availability in the Mouse Brain. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:593793. [PMID: 33328905 PMCID: PMC7714830 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.593793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The endocannabinoid system is involved in several diseases such as addictive disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders. As often mice are used as the preferred animal model in translational research, in particular when using genetically modified mice, this study aimed to provide a systematic analysis of in vivo cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor ligand-binding capacity using positron emission tomography (PET) using the ligand [18F]MK-9470. We then compared the PET results with literature data from immunohistochemistry (IHC) to review the consistency between ex vivo protein expression and in vivo ligand binding. Methods: Six male C57BL/6J (6–9 weeks) mice were examined with the CB1 receptor ligand [18F]MK-9470 and small animal PET. Different brain regions were evaluated using the parameter %ID/ml. The PET results of the [18F]MK-9470 accumulation in the mouse brain were compared with immunohistochemical literature data. Results: The ligand [18F]MK-9470 was taken up into the mouse brain within 5 min after injection and exhibited slow kinetics. It accumulated highly in most parts of the brain. PET and IHC classifications were consistent for most parts of the telencephalon, while brain regions of the diencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon were rated higher with PET than IHC. Conclusions: This preclinical [18F]MK-9470 study demonstrated the radioligand’s applicability for imaging the region-specific CB1 receptor availability in the healthy adult mouse brain and thus offers the potential to study CB1 receptor availability in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Miederer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Viktoria Wiegand
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nicole Bausbacher
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Leukel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephan Maus
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manuela A Hoffmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Federal Ministry of Defense, Bonn, Germany
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mathias Schreckenberger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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33
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Walker LC, Berizzi AE, Chen NA, Rueda P, Perreau VM, Huckstep K, Srisontiyakul J, Govitrapong P, Xiaojian J, Lindsley CW, Jones CK, Riddy DM, Christopoulos A, Langmead CJ, Lawrence AJ. Acetylcholine Muscarinic M 4 Receptors as a Therapeutic Target for Alcohol Use Disorder: Converging Evidence From Humans and Rodents. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 88:898-909. [PMID: 32331824 PMCID: PMC11390032 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major socioeconomic burden on society, and current pharmacotherapeutic treatment options are inadequate. Aberrant alcohol use and seeking alters frontostriatal function. METHODS We performed genome-wide RNA sequencing and subsequent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and receptor binding validation in the caudate-putamen of human AUD samples to identify potential therapeutic targets. We then back-translated our top candidate targets into a rodent model of long-term alcohol consumption to assess concordance of molecular adaptations in the rat striatum. Finally, we adopted rat behavioral models of alcohol intake and seeking to validate a potential therapeutic target. RESULTS We found that G protein-coupled receptors were the top canonical pathway differentially regulated in individuals with AUD. The M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) was downregulated at the gene and protein levels in the putamen, but not in the caudate, of AUD samples. We found concordant downregulation of the M4 mAChR, specifically on dopamine D1 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons in the rat dorsolateral striatum. Systemic administration of the selective M4 mAChR positive allosteric modulator, VU0467154, reduced home cage and operant alcohol self-administration, motivation to obtain alcohol, and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking in rats. Local microinjections of VU0467154 in the rat dorsolateral striatum reduced alcohol self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results identify the M4 mAChR as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AUD and the D1 receptor-positive medium spiny neurons in the dorsolateral striatum as a key site mediating the actions of M4 mAChR in relation to alcohol consumption and seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh C Walker
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alice E Berizzi
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicola A Chen
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Patricia Rueda
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Victoria M Perreau
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Huckstep
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jirawoot Srisontiyakul
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Piyarat Govitrapong
- Research Center for Neuroscience, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Jia Xiaojian
- Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience and Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience and Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Carrie K Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience and Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience and Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Darren M Riddy
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J Langmead
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Wade NE, Bagot KS, Tapert SF, Gruber SA, Filbey FM, Lisdahl KM. Cognitive Functioning Related to Binge Alcohol and Cannabis Co-Use in Abstinent Adolescents and Young Adults. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2020; 81:479-483. [PMID: 32800084 PMCID: PMC7437560 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2020.81.479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite preliminary evidence of unique acute cognitive and psychopharmacological changes attributable to combined alcohol and cannabis use, few studies have investigated more chronic effects of same-day co-use, particularly during neurodevelopmentally sensitive periods. Therefore, relationships between past-month binge alcohol and cannabis co-use and cognitive functioning were examined in adolescents and young adults. METHOD Data from the Imaging Data in Emerging Adults with Addiction (IDEAA) Consortium were used to assess cognitive functioning in emerging adults with a large range of substance use (n = 232; 15-26 years old) who were abstinent for at least 3 weeks. Multiple regressions assessed cognitive functioning by past-month binge episodes, cannabis use episodes, and same-day co-use, controlling for covariates (e.g., study site, sex, age). RESULTS After correcting for multiple comparisons, more past-month co-use episodes were related to decreased Ruff 2&7 selective attention accuracy (p = .036). Sex significantly covaried with California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition initial learning. CONCLUSIONS Although few significant relationships were found and effect sizes are modest, the persistence of an effect on attention despite a period of sustained abstinence highlights the need to carefully investigate patterns of substance use and potential independent and interactive effects on the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha E. Wade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Kara S. Bagot
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Susan F. Tapert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Staci A. Gruber
- Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Francesca M. Filbey
- Bert Moore Chair in BrainHealth, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
| | - Krista M. Lisdahl
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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35
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Lahdenpohja S, Keller T, Forsback S, Viljanen T, Kokkomäki E, Kivelä RV, Bergman J, Solin O, Kirjavainen AK. Automated GMP production and long-term experience in radiosynthesis of CB 1 tracer [ 18 F]FMPEP-d 2. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2020; 63:408-418. [PMID: 32374481 DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Here, we describe the development of an in-house-built device for the fully automated multistep synthesis of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor imaging tracer (3R,5R)-5-(3-([18 F]fluoromethoxy-d2 )phenyl)-3-(((R)-1-phenylethyl)amino)-1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)pyrrolidin-2-one ([18 F]FMPEP-d2 ), following good manufacturing practices. The device is interfaced to a HPLC and a sterile filtration unit in a clean room hot cell. The synthesis involves the nucleophilic 18 F-fluorination of an alkylating agent and its GC purification, the subsequent 18 F-fluoroalkylation of a precursor molecule, the semipreparative HPLC purification of the 18 F-fluoroalkylated product, and its formulation for injection. We have optimized the duration and temperature of the 18 F-fluoroalkylation reaction and addressed the radiochemical stability of the formulated product. During the past 5 years (2013-2018), we have performed a total of 149 syntheses for clinical use with a 90% success rate. The activity yield of the formulated product has been 1.0 ± 0.4 GBq starting from 11 ± 2 GBq and the molar activity 600 ± 300 GBq/μmol at the end of synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salla Lahdenpohja
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Thomas Keller
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sarita Forsback
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tapio Viljanen
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Esa Kokkomäki
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Riikka V Kivelä
- Hospital Pharmacy, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Jörgen Bergman
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Olof Solin
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Accelerator Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Anna K Kirjavainen
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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36
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Lower brain fatty acid amide hydrolase in treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder: a positron emission tomography study with [C-11]CURB. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020; 45:1289-1296. [PMID: 31910433 PMCID: PMC7298050 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0606-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), has been proposed as a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and co-morbid psychiatric illnesses. Investigating this target in the living human brain and its relationship to clinical outcome is a critical step of informed drug development. Our objective was to establish whether brain FAAH levels are low in individuals with AUD and related to drinking behavior. In this pilot study, treatment-seeking patients with AUD completed two PET scans with the FAAH radiotracer [C-11]CURB after 3-7 days (n = 14) and 2-4 weeks (n = 9) of monitored abstinence. Healthy controls (n = 25) completed one scan. FAAH genetic polymorphism (rs324420) and blood concentrations of anandamide and other N-acylethanolamines metabolized by FAAH were determined and AUD symptoms assessed. In AUD, brain FAAH levels were globally lower than controls during early abstinence (F(1,36) = 5.447; p = 0.025)) and FAAH substrates (anandamide, oleoylethanolamide, and N-docosahexaenoylethanolamide) were significantly elevated (30-67%). No significant differences in FAAH or FAAH substrates were noted after 2-4 weeks abstinence. FAAH levels negatively correlated with drinks per week (r = -0.57, p = 0.032) and plasma concentrations of the three FAAH substrates (r > 0.57; p < 0.04)). Our findings suggest that early abstinence from alcohol in AUD is associated with transiently low brain FAAH levels, which are inversely related to heavier alcohol use and elevated plasma levels of FAAH substrates. Whether low FAAH is an adaptive beneficial response to chronic alcohol is unknown. Therapeutic strategies focusing on FAAH inhibition should consider the possibility that low FAAH during early abstinence may be related to drinking.
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Gianessi CA, Groman SM, Thompson SL, Jiang M, van der Stelt M, Taylor JR. Endocannabinoid contributions to alcohol habits and motivation: Relevance to treatment. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12768. [PMID: 31056846 PMCID: PMC7790504 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with alcohol use disorder exhibit compulsive habitual behaviors that are thought to be, in part, a consequence of chronic and persistent use of alcohol. The endocannabinoid system plays a critical role in habit learning and in ethanol self-administration, but the role of this neuromodulatory system in the expression of habitual alcohol seeking is unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the endocannabinoid system in established alcohol habits using contingency degradation in male C57BL/6 mice. We found that administration of the novel diacyl glycerol lipase inhibitor DO34, which decreases the biosynthesis of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), reduced habitual responding for ethanol and ethanol approach behaviors. Moreover, administration of the endocannabinoid transport inhibitor AM404 or the cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonist AM251 produced similar reductions in habitual responding for ethanol and ethanol approach behaviors. Notably, AM404 was also able to reduce ethanol seeking and consumption in mice that were insensitive to lithium chloride-induced devaluation of ethanol. Conversely, administration of JZL184, a monoacyl glycerol lipase inhibitor that increases levels of 2-AG, increased motivation to respond for ethanol on a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. These results demonstrate an important role for endocannabinoid signaling in the motivation to seek ethanol, in ethanol-motivated habits, and suggest that pharmacological manipulations of endocannabinoid signaling could be effective therapeutics for treating alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol A. Gianessi
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Groman
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Summer L. Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ming Jiang
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jane R. Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Sanchez-Marin L, Gavito AL, Decara J, Pastor A, Castilla-Ortega E, Suarez J, de la Torre R, Pavon FJ, Rodriguez de Fonseca F, Serrano A. Impact of intermittent voluntary ethanol consumption during adolescence on the expression of endocannabinoid system and neuroinflammatory mediators. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 33:126-138. [PMID: 32057593 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The adolescent brain displays high vulnerability to the deleterious effects of ethanol, including greater risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life. Here, we characterized the gene expression of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and relevant signaling systems associated with neuroinflammation and emotional behaviors in the brain of young adult control and ethanol-exposed (EtOH) rats. We measured mRNA levels of candidate genes using quantitative real time PCR in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), amygdala and hippocampus. EtOH rats were generated by maintenance on an intermittent and voluntary ethanol consumption during adolescence using the two-bottle choice paradigm (4 days/week for 4 weeks) followed by 2 week-withdrawal, a time-point of withdrawal with no physical symptoms. Mean differences and effect sizes were calculated using t-test and Cohen's d values. In the mPFC and hippocampus, EtOH rats had significantly higher mRNA expression of endocannabinoid-signaling (mPFC: Ppara, Dagla, Daglb and Napepld; and hippocampus: Cnr2, Dagla and Mgll) and neuroinflammation-associated genes (mPFC: Gfap; and hippocampus: Aif1) than in controls. Moreover, EtOH rats had significantly higher mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y receptor genes (Npy1r, Npy2r and Npy5r) in the hippocampus. Finally, EtOH rats also displayed higher plasma endocannabinoid levels than controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that adolescent ethanol exposure can lead to long-term alterations in the gene expression of the ECS and other signaling systems involved in neuroinflammation and regulation of emotional behaviors in key brain areas for the development of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Sanchez-Marin
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain
| | - A L Gavito
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain
| | - J Decara
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain
| | - A Pastor
- Programa de Neurociencias, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Castilla-Ortega
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain
| | - J Suarez
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain
| | - R de la Torre
- Programa de Neurociencias, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - F J Pavon
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain; Unidad Gestión Clínica del Corazón, IBIMA, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - F Rodriguez de Fonseca
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain.
| | - A Serrano
- Unidad Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Carlos Haya 82, Sótano, Málaga 29010, Spain.
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39
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Kunos G. Interactions Between Alcohol and the Endocannabinoid System. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:790-805. [PMID: 32056226 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators that interact with the same cannabinoid receptors that recognize Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive constituent of marijuana, to induce similar effects in the brain and periphery. Alcohol and THC are both addictive substances whose acute use elicits rewarding effects that can lead to chronic and compulsive use via engaging similar signaling pathways in the brain. In the liver, both alcohol and endocannabinoids activate lipogenic gene expression leading to fatty liver disease. This review focuses on evidence accumulated over the last 2 decades to indicate that both the addictive neural effects of ethanol and its organ toxic effects in the liver and elsewhere are mediated, to a large extent, by endocannabinoids signaling via cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1 R). The therapeutic potential of CB1 R blockade globally or in peripheral tissues only is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Kunos
- From the, Division of Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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40
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Wade NE, Thomas AM, Gruber SA, Tapert SF, Filbey FM, Lisdahl KM. Binge and Cannabis Co-Use Episodes in Relation to White Matter Integrity in Emerging Adults. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2020; 5:62-72. [PMID: 32322677 DOI: 10.1089/can.2018.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Growing evidence suggests that cannabis and alcohol (and especially binge alcohol drinking) use independently alters neural structure and functioning, particularly during sensitive developmental time periods (e.g., emerging adulthood). However, few studies have investigated the effects of same-day use of these two substances. Here, white matter (WM) integrity was investigated in relation to binge alcohol drinking, cannabis, and same-day binge and cannabis co-use in adolescents and emerging adults. Methods: FreeSurfer's TRACULA was used to assess WM in emerging adults (n=75; 16-26 years old). Timeline Followback calculated past month cannabis use, binge episodes, and same-day cannabis and binge drinking co-use. Multiple regressions investigated WM by past month cannabis, binge, and co-use. Results: Results revealed co-use episodes were related to lower fractional anisotropy (FA), an overall measure of neuronal integrity, in three tracts (left inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], p=0.02; right anterior thalamic radiation [ATR], p=0.01; and left cingulum cingulate gyrus [CCG], p=0.01); and lower axial diffusivity in left ILF (p=0.03). Cannabis use was significantly related to greater FA in left ILF (p=0.005), left ATR (p=0.02), right ATR (p=0.05), left CCG (p=0.006), right CCG (p=0.03), and right superior longitudinal fasciculus parietal (p=0.03). Binge episodes related to greater FA in right ATR (p=0.03). Conclusions: These findings suggest that co-use was associated with lower WM integrity across frontolimbic tracts. In addition, greater FA was related to greater cannabis use across several tracts and binge alcohol use in one tract. Co-users also appeared to be more severe substance users. Future research should investigate the potential independent and interactive effects of these substances on pre-clinical and clinical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha E Wade
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Alicia M Thomas
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Staci A Gruber
- Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Susan F Tapert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Francesca M Filbey
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Krista M Lisdahl
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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41
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Borgan F, Laurikainen H, Veronese M, Marques TR, Haaparanta-Solin M, Solin O, Dahoun T, Rogdaki M, Salokangas RKR, Karukivi M, Di Forti M, Turkheimer F, Hietala J, Howes O. In Vivo Availability of Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Levels in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76:1074-1084. [PMID: 31268519 PMCID: PMC6613300 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Experimental and epidemiological studies implicate the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) in the pathophysiology of psychosis. However, whether CB1R levels are altered in the early stages of psychosis and whether they are linked to cognitive function or symptom severity remain unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate CB1R availability in first-episode psychosis (FEP) without the confounds of illness chronicity or the use of illicit substances or antipsychotics. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional, case-control study of 2 independent samples included participants receiving psychiatric early intervention services at 2 independent centers in Turku, Finland (study 1) and London, United Kingdom (study 2). Study 1 consisted of 18 volunteers, including 7 patients with affective or nonaffective psychoses taking antipsychotic medication and 11 matched controls; study 2, 40 volunteers, including 20 antipsychotic-naive or antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 20 matched controls. Data were collected from January 5, 2015, through September 26, 2018, and analyzed from June 20, 2016, through February 12, 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The availability of CB1R was indexed using the distribution volume (VT, in milliliters per cubic centimeter) of 2 CB1R-selective positron emission tomography radiotracers: fluoride 18-labeled FMPEP-d2 (study 1) and carbon 11-labeled MePPEP (study 2). Cognitive function was measured using the Wechsler Digit Symbol Coding Test. Symptom severity was measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for study 1 and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for study 2. RESULTS A total of 58 male individuals were included in the analyses (mean [SD] age of controls, 27.16 [5.93] years; mean [SD] age of patients, 26.96 [4.55] years). In study 1, 7 male patients with FEP (mean [SD] age, 26.80 [5.40] years) were compared with 11 matched controls (mean [SD] age, 27.18 [5.86] years); in study 2, 20 male patients with FEP (mean [SD] age, 27.00 [5.06] years) were compared with 20 matched controls (mean [SD] age, 27.15 [6.12] years). In study 1, a significant main effect of group on [18F]FMPEP-d2 VT was found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (t16 = -4.48; P < .001; Hedges g = 1.2), hippocampus (t16 = -2.98; P = .006; Hedges g = 1.4), striatum (t16 = -4.08; P = .001; Hedges g = 1.9), and thalamus (t16 = -4.67; P < .001; Hedges g = 1.4). In study 2, a significant main effect of group on [11C]MePPEP VT was found in the ACC (Hedges g = 0.8), hippocampus (Hedges g = 0.5), striatum (Hedges g = 0.4), and thalamus (Hedges g = 0.7). In patients, [11C]MePPEP VT in the ACC was positively associated with cognitive functioning (R = 0.60; P = .01), and [11C]MePPEP VT in the hippocampus was inversely associated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total symptom severity (R = -0.50; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The availability of CB1R was lower in antipsychotic-treated and untreated cohorts relative to matched controls. Exploratory analyses indicated that greater reductions in CB1R levels were associated with greater symptom severity and poorer cognitive functioning in male patients. These findings suggest that CB1R may be a potential target for the treatment of psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Borgan
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heikki Laurikainen
- Turku PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Mattia Veronese
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Merja Haaparanta-Solin
- Turku PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Olof Solin
- Turku PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Tarik Dahoun
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Rogdaki
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Raimo KR Salokangas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Max Karukivi
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University, Satakunta Hospital District, Turku, Finland
| | - Marta Di Forti
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Federico Turkheimer
- Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jarmo Hietala
- Turku PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Centre, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Oliver Howes
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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42
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Bedse G, Centanni SW, Winder DG, Patel S. Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Central Amygdala and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis: Implications for the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:2014-2027. [PMID: 31373708 PMCID: PMC6779484 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
High rates of relapse are a chronic and debilitating obstacle to effective treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, no effective treatments are available to treat symptoms induced by protracted abstinence. In the first part of this 2-part review series, we examine the literature supporting the effects of alcohol exposure within the extended amygdala (EA) neural circuitry. In Part 2, we focus on a potential way to combat negative affect associated with AUD, by exploring the therapeutic potential of the endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) system. The eCB system is a potent modulator of neural activity in the brain, and its ability to mitigate stress and negative affect has long been an area of interest for developing novel therapeutics. This review details the recent advances in our understanding of eCB signaling in 2 key regions of the EA, the central nucleus of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and their role in regulating negative affect. Despite an established role for EA eCB signaling in reducing negative affect, few studies have examined the potential for eCB-based therapies to treat AUD-associated negative affect. In this review, we present an overview of studies focusing on eCB signaling in EA and cannabinoid modulation on EA synaptic activity. We further discuss studies suggesting dysregulation of eCB signaling in models of AUD and propose that pharmacological augmentation of eCB could be a novel approach to treat aspects of AUD. Lastly, future directions are proposed to advance our understanding of the relationship between AUD-associated negative affect and the EA eCB system that could yield new pharmacotherapies targeting negative affective symptoms associated with AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Bedse
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Samuel W. Centanni
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Nashville, TN, USA
- Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, the, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt J.F. Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danny G. Winder
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Nashville, TN, USA
- Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, the, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt J.F. Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Nashville, TN, USA
- Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, the, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt J.F. Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Nashville, TN, USA
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43
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Martín-Sánchez A, Warnault V, Montagud-Romero S, Pastor A, Mondragón N, De La Torre R, Valverde O. Alcohol-induced conditioned place preference is modulated by CB2 cannabinoid receptors and modifies levels of endocannabinoids in the mesocorticolimbic system. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2019; 183:22-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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44
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Palmer RHC, McGeary JE, Knopik VS, Bidwell LC, Metrik JM. CNR1 and FAAH variation and affective states induced by marijuana smoking. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 45:514-526. [PMID: 31184938 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1614596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Polymorphisms in cannabinoid receptor type 1 (encoded by CNR1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (encoded by FAAH) have been associated with cannabis dependence, but it remains unknown whether variation within these genes influences cannabis' acute effects on affect. Objective: Conduct a secondary data analysis study to determine whether previously observed acute effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on mood was dependent upon variation in CNR1 and FAAH. Methods: A balanced placebo design was used crossing marijuana administration (i.e., 0% THC vs. 2.8% THC) with stimulus expectancy. Participants (N = 118; 64% male) provided DNA and completed the Profile of Mood States questionnaire prior to and after smoking. Haplotypes were constructed from genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms for CNR1 (rs1049353 and rs806368) and FAAH (rs4141964, rs324420, and rs11576941); rs2023239 (CNR1) and rs6703669 (FAAH) were not part of a phased haplotype block. Analyses tested both main and interaction effects for genotype across CNR1 and FAAH, and drug, and expectancy effects. Results: THC increased levels of POMS Tension-Anxiety and Confusion-Bewilderment over and above the effects of variation in CNR1 and FAAH. Significant drug X genotype/haplotype and expectancy X genotype/haplotype interaction effects were observed for some but not all mood states [e.g., 'C' allele carriers of rs2023239 who received THC had higher levels of Anger-Hostility (β= 0.29 (0.12), p= .02) compared to those who received placebo]. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest individual differences in mood states after using marijuana depend on genetic variation. Such information might be useful in understanding either motivation for use of marijuana and/or risk for associated behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan H C Palmer
- a Department of Psychology at Emory University, Behavioral Genetics of Addiction Laboratory , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - John E McGeary
- b Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Providence , RI , USA.,c Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School, Brown University , Providence , RI , USA.,d Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health , Providence , RI , USA
| | - Valerie S Knopik
- e Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN , USA
| | - L Cinnamon Bidwell
- f Institute for Cognitive Science, University of Colorado at Boulder , Boulder , CO , USA
| | - Jane M Metrik
- b Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Providence , RI , USA.,d Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health , Providence , RI , USA
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45
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Sloan ME, Grant CW, Gowin JL, Ramchandani VA, Le Foll B. Endocannabinoid signaling in psychiatric disorders: a review of positron emission tomography studies. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:342-350. [PMID: 30166624 PMCID: PMC6460371 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-018-0081-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoid signaling is implicated in an array of psychopathologies ranging from anxiety to psychosis and addiction. In recent years, radiotracers targeting the endocannabinoid system have been used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies to determine whether individuals with psychiatric disorders display altered endocannabinoid signaling. We comprehensively reviewed PET studies examining differences in endocannabinoid signaling between individuals with psychiatric illness and healthy controls. Published studies evaluated individuals with five psychiatric disorders: cannabis use disorder, alcohol use disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders. Most studies employed radiotracers targeting cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). Cannabis users consistently demonstrated decreased CB1 binding compared to controls, with normalization following short periods of abstinence. Findings in those with alcohol use disorder and schizophrenia were less consistent, with some studies demonstrating increased CB1 binding and others demonstrating decreased CB1 binding. Evidence of aberrant CB1 binding was also found in individuals with anorexia nervosa and post-traumatic stress disorder, but limited data have been published to date. Thus, existing evidence suggests that alterations in endocannabinoid signaling are present in a range of psychiatric disorders. Although recent efforts have largely focused on evaluating CB1 binding, the synthesis of new radiotracers targeting enzymes involved in endocannabinoid degradation, such as fatty acid amide hydrolase, will allow for other facets of endocannabinoid signaling to be evaluated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Sloan
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Caroline W Grant
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Joshua L Gowin
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Vijay A Ramchandani
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Bernard Le Foll
- Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada.
- Addiction Medicine Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
- Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada.
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
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46
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Stampanoni Bassi M, Gilio L, Maffei P, Dolcetti E, Bruno A, Buttari F, Centonze D, Iezzi E. Exploiting the Multifaceted Effects of Cannabinoids on Mood to Boost Their Therapeutic Use Against Anxiety and Depression. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:424. [PMID: 30515077 PMCID: PMC6256035 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been recently recognized as a prominent promoter of the emotional homeostasis, mediating the effects of different environmental signals including rewarding and stressing stimuli. The ECS modulates the rewarding effects of environmental stimuli, influencing synaptic transmission in the dopaminergic projections to the limbic system, and mediates the neurophysiological and behavioral consequences of stress. Notably, the individual psychosocial context is another key element modulating the activity of the ECS. Finally, inflammation represents an additional factor that could alter the cannabinoid signaling in the CNS inducing a "sickness behavior," characterized by anxiety, anhedonia, and depressive symptoms. The complex influences of the ECS on both the environmental and internal stimuli processing, make the cannabinoid-based drugs an appealing option to treat different psychiatric conditions. Although ample experimental evidence shows beneficial effects of ECS modulation on mood, scarce clinical indication limits the use of cannabis-based treatments. To better define the possible clinical indications of cannabinoid-based drugs in psychiatry, a number of issues should be better addressed, including genetic variability and psychosocial factors possibly affecting the individual response. In particular, better knowledge of the multifaceted effects of cannabinoids could help to understand how to boost their therapeutic use in anxiety and depression treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luana Gilio
- Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.,Laboratory of Synaptic Immunopathology, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Maffei
- Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Ettore Dolcetti
- Laboratory of Synaptic Immunopathology, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Bruno
- Laboratory of Synaptic Immunopathology, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Buttari
- Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Diego Centonze
- Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.,Laboratory of Synaptic Immunopathology, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Ennio Iezzi
- Unit of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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Hillmer AT. The Importance of Drug and Sex Effects in Psychiatric Research. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:e71-e72. [PMID: 30360777 PMCID: PMC6793934 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ansel T. Hillmer
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Yale University School of
Medicine,Dept. of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University
School of Medicine,Dept. of Yale PET Center, Yale University School of
Medicine
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48
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Hirvonen J, Zanotti-Fregonara P, Gorelick DA, Lyoo CH, Rallis-Frutos D, Morse C, Zoghbi SS, Pike VW, Volkow ND, Huestis MA, Innis RB. Decreased Cannabinoid CB 1 Receptors in Male Tobacco Smokers Examined With Positron Emission Tomography. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:715-721. [PMID: 30121138 PMCID: PMC6388688 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies showed reduction of brain cannabinoid CB1 receptors in adults with cannabis and alcohol use disorders. Preclinical data suggest that these receptors also contribute to nicotine reward and dependence. Tobacco smoking may confound clinical studies of psychiatric disorders because many patients with such disorders smoke tobacco. Whether human subjects who smoke tobacco but are otherwise healthy have altered CB1 receptor binding in brain is unknown. METHODS We measured CB1 receptors in brains of 18 healthy men who smoke tobacco (frequent chronic cigarette smokers), and 28 healthy men who do not smoke tobacco, using positron emission tomography and [18F]FMPEP-d2, a radioligand for CB1 receptors. We collected arterial blood samples during scanning to calculate the distribution volume (VT), which is nearly proportional to CB1 receptor density. Repeated-measures analysis of variance compared VT between groups in various brain regions. RESULTS Brain CB1 receptor VT was about 20% lower in subjects who smoke tobacco than in subjects who do not. Decreased VT was found in all brain regions, but reduction did not correlate with years of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, or measures of nicotine dependence. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco-smoking healthy men have a widespread reduction of CB1 receptor density in brain. Reduction of CB1 receptors appears to be a common feature of substance use disorders. Future clinical studies on the CB1 receptor should control for tobacco smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Hirvonen
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Radiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Paolo Zanotti-Fregonara
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - David A. Gorelick
- Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Chul Hyoung Lyoo
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Denise Rallis-Frutos
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Cheryl Morse
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Sami S. Zoghbi
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Victor W. Pike
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
| | - Nora D. Volkow
- Office of the Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
| | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health,,Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert B. Innis
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
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49
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Laurikainen H, Tuominen L, Tikka M, Merisaari H, Armio RL, Sormunen E, Borgan F, Veronese M, Howes O, Haaparanta-Solin M, Solin O, Hietala J. Sex difference in brain CB1 receptor availability in man. Neuroimage 2018; 184:834-842. [PMID: 30296558 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has a widespread neuromodulatory function in the central nervous system and is involved in important aspects of brain function including brain development, cortical rhythms, plasticity, reward, and stress sensitivity. Many of these effects are mediated via the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) subtype. Animal studies convincingly show an interaction between the ECS and sex hormones, as well as a sex difference of higher brain CB1R in males. Human in vivo studies of sex difference have yielded discrepant findings. Gender differences in CB1R availability were investigated in vivo in 11 male and 11 female healthy volunteers using a specific CB1R tracer [18F]FMPEP-d2 and positron emission tomography (PET). Regional [18F]FMPEP-d2 distribution volume was used as a proxy for CB1R availability. In addition, we explored whether CB1R availability is linked to neuropsychological functioning. Relative to females, CB1R availability was on average 41% higher in males (p = 0.002) with a regionally specific effect larger in the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortices (p = 0.001). Inter-subject variability in CB1R availability was similar in both groups. Voxel-based analyses revealed an inverse association between CB1R availability and visuospatial working memory task performance in both groups (p < 0.001). A CB1R sex difference with a large effect size was observed and should be considered in the design of CB1R-related studies on neuropsychiatric disorders. The behavioural correlates and clinical significance of this difference remain to be further elucidated, but our studies suggest an association between CB1R availability and working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Laurikainen
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Lauri Tuominen
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland; Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Tikka
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | | | - Reetta-Liina Armio
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Elina Sormunen
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Faith Borgan
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Mattia Veronese
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Oliver Howes
- Psychosis Studies Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | | | - Olof Solin
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Jarmo Hietala
- Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland.
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50
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Luby JL, Agrawal A, Belden A, Whalen D, Tillman R, Barch D. Developmental Trajectories of the Orbitofrontal Cortex and Anhedonia in Middle Childhood and Risk for Substance Use in Adolescence in a Longitudinal Sample of Depressed and Healthy Preschoolers. Am J Psychiatry 2018; 175:1010-1021. [PMID: 29558817 PMCID: PMC6150861 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17070777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Deficits in reward processing are established in mood and substance use disorders and are known risk factors for these disorders. Volume reductions of the orbitofrontal cortex and the striatum, regions that subserve neural response to reward, have been shown to be related to anhedonia in depressive and substance use disorders. The authors sought to investigate how structural maturation of these regions in childhood varies with level of anhedonia and predicts later substance use. METHOD The study employed data from a sample of depressed and healthy preschoolers studied longitudinally that included three waves of neuroimaging from school age to adolescence. Three years after scan 3, at ages 13-18, participants underwent a comprehensive behavioral and substance use assessment. Multilevel modeling was used to investigate the relationship between anhedonia and the growth trajectories of the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex. Zero-inflated Poisson regression models were then used to determine whether the intercepts and slopes of these trajectories predicted later alcohol and marijuana use frequency in adolescence. RESULTS The anhedonia-by-age interaction was significant in the multilevel modeling of orbitofrontal cortical but not striatal volume. Higher anhedonia ratings were significantly associated with steeper decline in orbitofrontal cortical volume with age. Orbitofrontal cortical volume and thickness at age 12 and trajectory over time significantly and negatively predicted subsequent alcohol and marijuana use frequency but not depression during adolescence. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the development of the orbitofrontal cortex during childhood is strongly linked to experiences of anhedonia and that these growth trajectories predict substance use during a developmentally critical period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan L. Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA,Corresponding Author: Joan L. Luby, M.D.; Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Box 8511, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO, 63110; phone 314-286-2730; fax 314-286-2732;
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Andy Belden
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Diana Whalen
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Rebecca Tillman
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Deanna Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Dr., St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
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