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Duncan RS, Riordan SM, Gernon MC, Koulen P. Cannabinoids and endocannabinoids as therapeutics for nervous system disorders: preclinical models and clinical studies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:788-799. [PMID: 37843213 PMCID: PMC10664133 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids are lipophilic substances derived from Cannabis sativa that can exert a variety of effects in the human body. They have been studied in cellular and animal models as well as in human clinical trials for their therapeutic benefits in several human diseases. Some of these include central nervous system (CNS) diseases and dysfunctions such as forms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, pain and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, the endogenously produced cannabinoid lipids, endocannabinoids, are critical for normal CNS function, and if controlled or modified, may represent an additional therapeutic avenue for CNS diseases. This review discusses in vitro cellular, ex vivo tissue and in vivo animal model studies on cannabinoids and their utility as therapeutics in multiple CNS pathologies. In addition, the review provides an overview on the use of cannabinoids in human clinical trials for a variety of CNS diseases. Cannabinoids and endocannabinoids hold promise for use as disease modifiers and therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Scott Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas, MO, USA
| | - Sean M. Riordan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas, MO, USA
| | - Matthew C. Gernon
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas, MO, USA
| | - Peter Koulen
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Kansas, MO, USA
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2
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Merolla A, De Lorenzo R, Paolazzi G, Critelli S, Palladini M, Damanti S, Vitali G, Canti V, Cilla M, Martinenghi S, Falbo E, Ferrante M, Castellani J, Pacioni G, Magnaghi C, Fumagalli A, Mazza MG, Benedetti F, Rovere-Querini P. Micronized/ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide improves depression and fatigue in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2024:00004850-990000000-00130. [PMID: 38381905 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to neuropsychiatric sequelae. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective amide used in depressive syndromes. Here we investigate whether micronized/ultramicronized (m/um) PEA improves neuropsychiatric sequelae in COVID-19 survivors. Patients evaluated at our post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic between February and August 2021 and presenting neuropsychiatric manifestations (n = 98) were offered treatment with m/umPEA 600 mg twice daily for 3 months. Those accepting m/umPEA therapy (n = 57) were compared with those who did not (n = 41), in terms of depression, fatigue, chronic pain and subjective well-being, through validated scales administered pre- and posttreatment. The two groups did not differ in terms of demographics, comorbidities, psychiatric history, antidepressant therapy, acute COVID-19 severity and baseline neuropsychiatric status. Patients receiving m/umPEA showed a greater improvement in depression and fatigue (both P < 0.05). Conversely, no association was found with changes in chronic pain or subjective well-being. At multivariable logistic regression, m/umPEA predicted neuropsychiatric improvement independently of age, sex and baseline neuropsychiatric status. Worse pretreatment fatigue and subjective well-being identified those who most likely benefited from treatment. In conclusion, despite its retrospective nature, our study suggests that m/umPEA may improve depression and fatigue in COVID-19 survivors, justifying future research in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Merolla
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Rebecca De Lorenzo
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Giacomo Paolazzi
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Sara Critelli
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Mariagrazia Palladini
- Unit of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Sarah Damanti
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- Unit of General Medicine and Advanced Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Giordano Vitali
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Valentina Canti
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Marta Cilla
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | | | - Elisabetta Falbo
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Marica Ferrante
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Jacopo Castellani
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Giacomo Pacioni
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | | | - Anna Fumagalli
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
| | - Mario G Mazza
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
- Unit of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Francesco Benedetti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
- Unit of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Patrizia Rovere-Querini
- Post-COVID-19 Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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3
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Clayton P, Hill M, Bogoda N, Subah S, Venkatesh R. Palmitoylethanolamide: A Natural Compound for Health Management. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5305. [PMID: 34069940 PMCID: PMC8157570 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
All nations which have undergone a nutrition transition have experienced increased frequency and falling latency of chronic degenerative diseases, which are largely driven by chronic inflammatory stress. Dietary supplementation is a valid strategy to reduce the risk and severity of such disorders. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endocannabinoid-like lipid mediator with extensively documented anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects. It is well tolerated and devoid of side effects in animals and humans. PEA's actions on multiple molecular targets while modulating multiple inflammatory mediators provide therapeutic benefits in many applications, including immunity, brain health, allergy, pain modulation, joint health, sleep and recovery. PEA's poor oral bioavailability, a major obstacle in early research, has been overcome by advanced delivery systems now licensed as food supplements. This review summarizes the functionality of PEA, supporting its use as an important dietary supplement for lifestyle management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Clayton
- Institute of Food, Brain and Behaviour, Beaver House, 23-28 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2EP, UK
| | - Mariko Hill
- Gencor Pacific Limited, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (M.H.); (N.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Nathasha Bogoda
- Gencor Pacific Limited, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (M.H.); (N.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Silma Subah
- Gencor Pacific Limited, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; (M.H.); (N.B.); (S.S.)
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Richter F, Eitner A, Leuchtweis J, Bauer R, Ebersberger A, Lehmenkühler A, Schaible HG. The potential of substance P to initiate and perpetuate cortical spreading depression (CSD) in rat in vivo. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17656. [PMID: 30518958 PMCID: PMC6281573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tachykinin substance P (SP) increases neuronal excitability, participates in homeostatic control, but induces brain oedema after stroke or trauma. We asked whether SP is able to induce cortical spreading depression (CSD) which often aggravates stroke-induced pathology. In anesthetized rats we applied SP (10−5, 10−6, 10−7, or 10−8 mol/L) to a restricted cortical area and recorded CSDs there and in remote non-treated areas using microelectrodes. SP was either applied in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF), or in aqua to perform a preconditioning. Plasma extravasation in cortical grey matter was assessed with Evans Blue. Only SP dissolved in aqua induced self-regenerating CSDs. SP dissolved in ACSF did not ignite CSDs even when excitability was increased by acetate-preconditioning. Aqua alone elicited as few CSDs as the lowest concentration of SP. Local pretreatment with 250 nmol/L of a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist prevented the SP-induced plasma extravasation, the initiation of CSDs by 10−5 mol/L SP diluted in aqua, and the initiation of CSDs by aqua alone, but did not suppress KCl-induced CSD. Thus neurokinin 1 receptor antagonists may be used to explore the involvement of SP in CSDs in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Richter
- Institute of Physiology I/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
| | - Annett Eitner
- Institute of Physiology I/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes Leuchtweis
- Institute of Physiology I/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Reinhard Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Ebersberger
- Institute of Physiology I/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Georg Schaible
- Institute of Physiology I/Neurophysiology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Ohara M, Ohnishi S, Hosono H, Yamamoto K, Fu Q, Maehara O, Suda G, Sakamoto N. Palmitoylethanolamide Ameliorates Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:709. [PMID: 30057547 PMCID: PMC6053486 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver fibrosis is a complex inflammatory and fibrogenic process, and the progression of fibrosis leads to cirrhosis. The only therapeutic approaches are the removal of injurious stimuli and liver transplantation. Therefore, the development of anti-fibrotic therapies is desired. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide belonging to the N-acylethanolamines family and contained in foods such as egg yolks and peanuts. PEA has therapeutic anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective effects. However, the effects and roles of PEA in liver fibrosis remain unknown. Here we investigated the therapeutic effects of PEA in rats with liver fibrosis. Methods: We conducted in vitro experiments to investigate the effects of PEA on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs, LX-2). Liver fibrosis was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 1.5 mL/kg of 50% carbon tetrachloride twice a week for 4 weeks. Beginning at 3 weeks, PEA (20 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected thrice a week for 2 weeks. Then rats were sacrificed and we performed histological and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results: The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in HSCs was significantly downregulated by PEA. PEA treatment inhibited the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of SMAD2 in a dose-dependent manner, and upregulated the expression of SMAD7. The reporter gene assay demonstrated that PEA downregulated the transcriptional activity of the SMAD complex upregulated by TGF-β1. Administration of PEA significantly reduced the fibrotic area, deposition of type I collagen, and activation of HSCs and Kupffer cells in rats with liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Activation of HSCs was significantly decreased by PEA through suppression of the TGF-β1/SMAD signaling pathway. Administration of PEA produced significant improvement in a rat model of liver fibrosis, possibly by inhibiting the activation of HSCs and Kupffer cells. PEA may be a potential new treatment for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatsugu Ohara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Ohnishi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Hosono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Koji Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Qingjie Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Osamu Maehara
- Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Goki Suda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Klass A, Sánchez-Porras R, Santos E. Systematic review of the pharmacological agents that have been tested against spreading depolarizations. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2018; 38:1149-1179. [PMID: 29673289 PMCID: PMC6434447 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x18771440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Spreading depolarization (SD) occurs alongside brain injuries and it can lead to neuronal damage. Therefore, pharmacological modulation of SD can constitute a therapeutic approach to reduce its detrimental effects and to improve the clinical outcome of patients. The major objective of this article was to produce a systematic review of all the drugs that have been tested against SD. Of the substances that have been examined, most have been shown to modulate certain SD characteristics. Only a few have succeeded in significantly inhibiting SD. We present a variety of strategies that have been proposed to overcome the notorious harmfulness and pharmacoresistance of SD. Information on clinically used anesthetic, sedative, hypnotic agents, anti-migraine drugs, anticonvulsants and various other substances have been compiled and reviewed with respect to the efficacy against SD, in order to answer the question of whether a drug at safe doses could be of therapeutic use against SD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Klass
- Neurosurgery Department, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Edgar Santos
- Neurosurgery Department, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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