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Cooper ME, Nørregaard PK, Högberg T, Andersson G, Receveur JM, Linget JM, Elling CE. Efficacy in diet-induced obese mice of the hepatotropic, peripheral cannabinoid 1 receptor inverse agonist TM38837. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:3926-3943. [PMID: 38886096 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cannabinoid CB1 receptor has a well-established role in appetite regulation. Drugs antagonizing central CB1 receptors, most notably rimonabant, induced weight loss and improved the metabolic profile in obese individuals but were discontinued due to psychiatric side effects. However, metabolic benefits were only partially attributable to weight loss, implying a role for peripheral receptors, and peripherally restricted CB1 receptor antagonists have since been of interest. Herein, we describe the evaluation of the peripherally restricted potent CB1 receptor inverse agonists TM38837 and TM39875, with acidic functionality, which were administered daily to diet-induced obese (DIO) mice for 5 weeks at doses for which CNS-mediated effects were minimal. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Compounds were tested in dose-response in acute studies to compare efficacy (gastric transport) and extent of CNS exposure (hypothermia and satiety sequence) to demonstrate peripheral restriction and select doses for the subsequent chronic DIO study. KEY RESULTS TM38837 but not TM39875 produced considerable (26%) weight loss, linked to a sustained reduction in food intake, together with improvements in plasma markers of inflammation and glucose homeostasis. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated high plasma and low brain levels for both compounds with high liver levels for TM38837 (but not TM39875) due to hepatic uptake. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Weight loss and metabolic benefits of TM38837 are likely not CNS-mediated but could be linked to enhanced liver exposure, which implicates intracellular CB1 receptors in hepatocytes as a possible driver of obesity and co-morbidities.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/agonists
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Obesity/drug therapy
- Obesity/metabolism
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Drug Inverse Agonism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects
- Liver/metabolism
- Liver/drug effects
- Eating/drug effects
- Mice, Obese
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2
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Tomaszewska-Zaremba D, Tomczyk M, Wojtulewicz K, Bochenek J, Pałatyńska K, Herman AP. Effect of central administration of indomethacin on anandamide-induced GnRH/LH secretion in the hypothalamus of anoestrous ewes. J Vet Res 2024; 68:451-459. [PMID: 39318510 PMCID: PMC11418386 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is suggested that cannabinoids (CBs) may disturb reproduction through action on hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons directly or indirectly through intermediates such as prostaglandins. The study aimed to determine the influence of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine - AEA), alone or with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (IND), on GnRH/luteinising hormone (LH) secretion. The purpose of the research was to clarify the role of endocannabinoids and their interaction with prostaglandins in the regulation of reproduction at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary in anoestrous sheep. Material and Methods The study was performed on 24 anoestrous ewes divided into four experimental groups: a control group receiving i.c.v. injection of Ringer-Locke solution, an AEA group that received i.c.v. injection of 30 μM of AEA, an IND group receiving i.c.v. injection of 5 μM of IND and an AEA + IND group that received i.c.v. injections of 30 μM of AEA and 5 μM of IND. Results Anandamide stimulated GnRH protein and gene expression in the median eminence and protein expression in the preoptic area without influencing GnRH messenger RNA (mRNA) in this structure. Indomethacin reversed the changes in GnRH secretion after AEA administration. It was also found that AEA stimulated LH mRNA in the pituitary without influencing LH release. Conclusion Our results support the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the regulation of reproductive processes at the central nervous system level. They may act directly on the hypothalamic GnRH neurons or indirectly through intermediates such as prostaglandins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Tomaszewska-Zaremba
- Department of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Monika Tomczyk
- Department of Genetic Engineering, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Karolina Wojtulewicz
- Department of Genetic Engineering, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Joanna Bochenek
- Department of Genetic Engineering, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Kinga Pałatyńska
- Department of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
| | - Andrzej Przemysław Herman
- Department of Genetic Engineering, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-110Jabłonna, Poland
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3
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Young AP, Szczesniak AM, Hsu K, Kelly ME, Denovan-Wright EM. Enantiomeric Agonists of the Type 2 Cannabinoid Receptor Reduce Retinal Damage during Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy and Inhibit Hyperactive Microglia In Vitro. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1348-1363. [PMID: 38751621 PMCID: PMC11091991 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00014] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and propagate inflammation following damage to the CNS, including the retina. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a condition that can emerge following retinal detachment and is characterized by severe inflammation and microglial proliferation. The type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2) is an emerging pharmacological target to suppress microglial-mediated inflammation when the eyes or brain are damaged. CB2-knockout mice have exacerbated inflammation and retinal pathology during experimental PVR. We aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of CB2 stimulation in the context of retinal damage and also explore the mechanistic roles of CB2 in microglia function. To target CB2, we used a highly selective agonist, HU-308, as well as its enantiomer, HU-433, which is a putative selective agonist. First, β-arrestin2 and Gαi recruitment was measured to compare activation of human CB2 in an in vitro heterologous expression system. Both agonists were then utilized in a mouse model of PVR, and the effects on retinal damage, inflammation, and cell death were assessed. Finally, we used an in vitro model of microglia to determine the effects of HU-308 and HU-433 on phagocytosis, cytokine release, migration, and intracellular signaling. We observed that HU-308 more strongly recruited both β-arrestin2 and Gαi compared to HU-433. Stimulation of CB2 with either drug effectively blunted LPS- and IFNγ-mediated signaling as well as NO and TNF release from microglia. Furthermore, both drugs reduced IL-6 accumulation, total caspase-3 cleavage, and retinal pathology following the induction of PVR. Ultimately, this work supports that CB2 is a valuable target for drugs to suppress inflammation and cell death associated with infection or sterile retinopathy, although the magnitude of effector recruitment may not be predictive of anti-inflammatory capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P. Young
- Department
of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Anna-Maria Szczesniak
- Department
of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Karolynn Hsu
- Department
of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Melanie E.M. Kelly
- Department
of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department
of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department
of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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4
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Padoan F, Colombrino C, Sciorio F, Piacentini G, Gaudino R, Pietrobelli A, Pecoraro L. Concerns Related to the Consequences of Pediatric Cannabis Use: A 360-Degree View. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1721. [PMID: 38002812 PMCID: PMC10670833 DOI: 10.3390/children10111721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis, a plant known for its recreational use, has gained global attention due to its widespread use and addiction potential. Derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, it contains a rich array of phytochemicals concentrated in resin-rich trichomes. The main cannabinoids, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors, influencing various physiological processes. Particularly concerning is its prevalence among adolescents, often driven by the need for social connection and anxiety alleviation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of cannabis use, its effects, and potential health risks, especially in adolescent consumption. It covers short-term and long-term effects on different body systems and mental health and highlights the need for informed decision making and public health initiatives, particularly regarding adolescent cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Luca Pecoraro
- Pediatric Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy
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Young AP, Denovan-Wright EM. The microglial endocannabinoid system is similarly regulated by lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma. J Neuroimmunol 2022; 372:577971. [PMID: 36150252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577971] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Perturbation of the endocannabinoid system can have profound effects on immune function and synaptic plasticity. Microglia are one of few cell types with a self-contained endocannabinoid system and are positioned at the interface between the immune system and the central nervous system. Past work has produced conflicting results with respect to the effects of pro-inflammatory conditions on the microglial endocannabinoid system. Thus, we systematically investigated the relationship between the concentration of two distinct pro-inflammatory stimuli, lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma, on the abundance of components of the endocannabinoid system within microglia. Here we show that lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma influence messenger RNA abundances of the microglial endocannabinoid system in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the efficacy of different synthetic cannabinoid treatments with respect to inhibition of microglia nitric oxide release is dependent on the concentration and type of pro-inflammatory stimuli presented to the microglia. This indicates that different pro-inflammatory stimuli influence the capacity of microglia to synthesize, degrade, and respond to cannabinoids which has implications for the development of cannabinoid-based treatments for neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Young
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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6
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Kim HJJ, Zagzoog A, Black T, Baccetto SL, Ezeaka UC, Laprairie RB. Impact of the mouse estrus cycle on cannabinoid receptor agonist-induced molecular and behavioral outcomes. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00950. [PMID: 35466560 PMCID: PMC9035509 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphisms are observed in cannabinoid pharmacology. It is widely reported that female animals are more sensitive to the cataleptic, hypothermic, antinociceptive, and anti‐locomotive effects of cannabinoid receptor agonists such as CP55,940. Despite awareness of these sex differences, there is little consideration for the pharmacodynamic differences within females. The mouse estrus cycle spans 4–5 days and consists of four sex hormone‐mediated phases: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus. The endocannabinoid system interacts with female sex hormones including β‐estradiol, which may influence receptor expression throughout the estrus cycle. In the current study, sexually mature female C57BL/6 mice in either proestrus or metestrus were administered either 1 mg/kg i.p. of the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55,940 or vehicle. Mice then underwent the tetrad battery of behavioral assays measuring catalepsy, internal body temperature, thermal nociception, and locomotion. Compared with female mice in metestrus, those in proestrus were more sensitive to the anti‐nociceptive effects of CP55,940. A similar trend was observed in CP55,940‐induced catalepsy; however, this difference was not significant. As for cannabinoid receptor expression in brain regions underlying antinociception, the spine tissue of proestrus mice that received CP55,940 exhibited increased expression of cannabinoid receptor type 1 relative to treatment‐matched mice in metestrus. These results affirm the importance of testing cannabinoid effects in the context of the female estrus cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Ji J Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Ayat Zagzoog
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Tallan Black
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sarah L Baccetto
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Udoka C Ezeaka
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Robert B Laprairie
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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7
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Jergova S, Perez C, Imperial JS, Gajavelli S, Jain A, Abin A, Olivera BM, Sagen J. Cannabinoid receptor agonists from Conus venoms alleviate pain-related behavior in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 205:173182. [PMID: 33774007 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoid (CB) receptor agonists show robust antinociceptive effects in various pain models. However, most of the clinically potent CB1 receptor-active drugs derived from cannabis are considered concerning due to psychotomimetic side effects. Selective CB receptor ligands that do not induce CNS side effects are of clinical interest. The venoms of marine snail Conus are a natural source of various potent analgesic peptides, some of which are already FDA approved. In this study we evaluated the ability of several Conus venom extracts to interact with CB1 receptor. HEK293 cells expressing CB1 receptors were treated with venom extracts and CB1 receptor internalization was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Results showed C. textile (C. Tex) and C. miles (C. Mil) samples as the most potent. These were serially subfractionated by HPLC for subsequent analysis by internalization assays and for analgesic potency evaluated in the formalin test and after peripheral nerve injury. Intrathecal injection of C. Tex and C. Mil subfractions reduced flinching/licking behavior during the second phase of formalin test and attenuated thermal and mechanical allodynia in nerve injury model. Treatment with proteolytic enzymes reduced CB1 internalization of subfractions, indicating the peptidergic nature of CB1 active component. Further HPLC purification revealed two potent antinociceptive subfractions within C. Tex with CB1 and possible CB2 activity, with mild to no side effects in the CB tetrad assessment. CB conopeptides can be isolated from these active Conus venom-derived samples and further developed as novel analgesic agents for the treatment of chronic pain using cell based or gene therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislava Jergova
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Cecilia Perez
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Julita S Imperial
- University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Shyam Gajavelli
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Aakangsha Jain
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Adam Abin
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Baldomero M Olivera
- University of Utah, School of Biological Sciences, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jacqueline Sagen
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Project, 1095 NW 14(th) terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Poole EI, Rust VA, Crosby KM. Nitric Oxide Acts in the Rat Dorsomedial Hypothalamus to Increase High Fat Food Intake and Glutamate Transmission. Neuroscience 2020; 440:277-289. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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DeVuono MV, Parker LA. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: A Review of Potential Mechanisms. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2020; 5:132-144. [PMID: 32656345 PMCID: PMC7347072 DOI: 10.1089/can.2019.0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabinoids have long been known for their ability to treat nausea and vomiting. Recent reports, however, have highlighted the paradoxical proemetic effects of cannabinoids. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is characterized by cyclical episodes of nausea and vomiting, accompanied by abdominal pain following prolonged, high-dose cannabis use, which is alleviated by hot baths and showers. Little is known about the cause of this syndrome. Discussion: Cannabinoids produce a biphasic effect on nausea and vomiting, with low doses having an antiemetic effect and high doses producing emesis. Presentation and treatment of CHS are similar to cyclical vomiting syndrome as well as chemotherapy-related anticipatory nausea and vomiting, suggesting that these phenomena may share mechanisms. The prevalence of CHS is not known because of the symptomatic overlap with other disorders and the lack of knowledge of the syndrome by the public and physicians. Treatment with typical antiemetic drugs is ineffective for CHS, but anxiolytic and sedative drugs, along with hot showers, seem to be consistently effective at reducing symptoms. The only known way to permanently end CHS, however, is abstinence from cannabinoids. Case studies and limited pre-clinical data on CHS indicate that prolonged high doses of the main psychotropic compound in cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), result in changes to the endocannabinoid system by acting on the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor. These endocannabinoid system changes can dysregulate stress and anxiety responses, thermoregulation, the transient receptor potential vanilloid system, and several neurotransmitters systems, and are thus potential candidates for mediating the pathophysiology of CHS. Conclusions: Excessive cannabinoid administration disrupts the normal functioning of the endocannabinoid system, which may cause CHS. More clinical and pre-clinical research is needed to fully understand the underlying pathophysiology of this disorder and the negative consequences of prolonged high-dose cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieka V. DeVuono
- Department of Psychology and Collabortive Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Linda A. Parker
- Department of Psychology and Collabortive Neuroscience Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
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10
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Gewehr MCF, Silverio R, Rosa-Neto JC, Lira FS, Reckziegel P, Ferro ES. Peptides from Natural or Rationally Designed Sources Can Be Used in Overweight, Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes Therapies. Molecules 2020; 25:E1093. [PMID: 32121443 PMCID: PMC7179135 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25051093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Overweight and obesity are among the most prominent health problems in the modern world, mostly because they are either associated with or increase the risk of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and/or cancer. Most professional organizations define overweight and obesity according to individual body-mass index (BMI, weight in kilograms divided by height squared in meters). Overweight is defined as individuals with BMI from 25 to 29, and obesity as individuals with BMI ≥30. Obesity is the result of genetic, behavioral, environmental, physiological, social, and cultural factors that result in energy imbalance and promote excessive fat deposition. Despite all the knowledge concerning the pathophysiology of obesity, which is considered a disease, none of the existing treatments alone or in combination can normalize blood glucose concentration and prevent debilitating complications from obesity. This review discusses some new perspectives for overweight and obesity treatments, including the use of the new orally active cannabinoid peptide Pep19, the advantage of which is the absence of undesired central nervous system effects usually experienced with other cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara C. F. Gewehr
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Renata Silverio
- Department of Pharmacology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil;
| | - José Cesar Rosa-Neto
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Fabio S. Lira
- Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-900, Brazil;
| | - Patrícia Reckziegel
- Department of Pharmacology, National Institute of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology (INFAR), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Emer S. Ferro
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
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Richards JR, Lapoint JM, Burillo-Putze G. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: potential mechanisms for the benefit of capsaicin and hot water hydrotherapy in treatment. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017; 56:15-24. [DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1349910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John R. Richards
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jeff M. Lapoint
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Guillermo Burillo-Putze
- Área de Toxicología Clínica, Servicio de Urgencias, Universidad Europea de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain
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12
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Mallipeddi S, Janero DR, Zvonok N, Makriyannis A. Functional selectivity at G-protein coupled receptors: Advancing cannabinoid receptors as drug targets. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 128:1-11. [PMID: 27890725 PMCID: PMC5470118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The phenomenon of functional selectivity, whereby a ligand preferentially directs the information output of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) along (a) particular effector pathway(s) and away from others, has redefined traditional GPCR signaling paradigms to provide a new approach to structure-based drug design. The two principal cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) 1 and 2 belong to the class-A GPCR subfamily and are considered tenable therapeutic targets for several indications. Yet conventional orthosteric ligands (agonists, antagonists/inverse agonists) for these receptors have had very limited clinical utility due to their propensity to incite on-target adverse events. Chemically distinct classes of cannabinergic ligands exhibit signaling bias at CBRs towards individual subsets of signal transduction pathways. In this review, we discuss the known signaling pathways regulated by CBRs and examine the current evidence for functional selectivity at CBRs in response to endogenous and exogenous cannabinergic ligands as biased agonists. We further discuss the receptor and ligand structural features allowing for selective activation of CBR-dependent functional responses. The design and development of biased ligands may offer a pathway to therapeutic success for novel CBR-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikrishnan Mallipeddi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - David R Janero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Nikolai Zvonok
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Alexandros Makriyannis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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13
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Cobellis G, Meccariello R, Chianese R, Chioccarelli T, Fasano S, Pierantoni R. Effects of Neuroendocrine CB1 Activity on Adult Leydig Cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016; 7:47. [PMID: 27375550 PMCID: PMC4891325 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids control male reproduction acting at central and local level via cannabinoid receptors. The cannabinoid receptor CB1 has been characterized in the testis, in somatic and germ cells of mammalian and non-mammalian animal models, and its activity related to Leydig cell differentiation, steroidogenesis, spermiogenesis, sperm quality, and maturation. In this short review, we provide a summary of the insights concerning neuroendocrine CB1 activity in male reproduction focusing on adult Leydig cell ontogenesis and steroid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Cobellis
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosaria Meccariello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Silvia Fasano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pierantoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
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Mazidi M, Baghban Taraghdari S, Rezaee P, Kamgar M, Jomezadeh MR, Akbarieh Hasani O, Soukhtanloo M, Hosseini M, Gholamnezhad Z, Rakhshandeh H, Norouzy A, Esmaily H, Patterson M, Nematy M. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Cannabis Sativa on appetite hormone in rat. JOURNAL OF COMPLEMENTARY & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2015; 11:253-7. [PMID: 25324458 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2014-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide which is secreted from stomach. Cannabis sativa is known as an orexigenic herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Little evidence is published about its effect on energy intake and its mechanism. In the current study, the possible effect of hydroalcoholic extract of C. sativa on appetite and ghrelin is evaluated. METHODS Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Two control groups were selected, the first group received 0.5 mL water per day (vehicle group) and another group did not receive anything (control group). The other three groups were treated daily with 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of C. sativa for 7 days, respectively. Daily energy intake of the rats was calculated for 10 days prior to the> intervention and for the 7 day intervention. To investigate changes in plasma ghrelin as a potential mechanism, an orexigenic dose (150 mg/kg) of C. sativa or distilled water (vehicle) was fed to two separate groups of six rats by gavage. Total ghrelin levels in plasma were measured for 3 h post-gavage. RESULTS There was no significant difference in energy intake between control and vehicle groups. Treatment with 100 and 150 mg/kg of the extract significantly increased energy intake vs the other groups (p<0.05). Total ghrelin levels were significantly elevated in the C. sativa group vs vehicle 30 and 60 min post-gavage. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that C. sativa had both positive and dose-related effects on appetite of rats. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the orexigenic effect of this plant in human.
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Karamikheirabad M, Behzadi G, Faghihi M, Raoofian R, Ejtemaei Mehr S, Zuure WA, Sadeghipour HR. A role for endocannabinoids in acute stress-induced suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in male rats. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2013; 40:155-62. [PMID: 24505561 PMCID: PMC3913894 DOI: 10.5653/cerm.2013.40.4.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2013] [Revised: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stress is known to be an inhibitor of the reproductive hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. However, the neural and molecular connections between stress and reproduction are not yet understood. It is well established that in both humans and rodents, kisspeptin (encoded by the kiss1 gene) is a strong stimulator of the HPG axis. In the present study we hypothesized that endocannabinoids, an important neuromodulatory system in the brain, can act on the HPG axis at the level of kiss1 expression to inhibit reproductive function under stress. METHODS Adult male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with an intracerebroventricular cannula. Afterwards, the animals were exposed to immobilization stress, with or without the presence of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1 µg/rat). Blood samples were collected through a retro-orbital plexus puncture before and after stress. Five hours after the stress, brain tissue was collected for reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements of kiss1 mRNA. RESULTS Immobilization stress (1 hour) resulted in a decrease in the serum luteinizing hormone concentration. Additionally, kiss1 gene expression was decreased in key hypothalamic nuclei that regulate gonadotrophin secretion, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), and to some extent the arcuate nucleus (ARC). A single central administration of AM251 was effective in blocking these inhibitory responses. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that endocannabinoids mediate, at least in part, immobilization stress-induced inhibition of the reproductive system. Our data suggest that the connection between immobilization stress and the HPG axis is kiss1 expression in the mPOA rather than the ARC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Karamikheirabad
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gila Behzadi
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Faghihi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Raoofian
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahram Ejtemaei Mehr
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Wieteke Ameliek Zuure
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago School of Medical Sciences, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Hamid Reza Sadeghipour
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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Lile JA, Kelly TH, Hays LR. Separate and combined effects of the GABA(B) agonist baclofen and Δ9-THC in humans discriminating Δ9-THC. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 126:216-23. [PMID: 22699093 PMCID: PMC3478434 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Revised: 05/14/2012] [Accepted: 05/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous research with the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine suggested the involvement GABA in the interoceptive effects of Δ9-THC. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential involvement of the GABA(B) receptor subtype by assessing the separate and combined effects of the GABA(B)-selective agonist baclofen and Δ9-THC using pharmacologically specific drug-discrimination procedures. METHODS Eight cannabis users learned to discriminate 30 mg oral Δ9-THC from placebo and then received baclofen (25 and 50mg), Δ9-THC (5, 15 and 30 mg) and placebo, alone and in combination. Self-report, task performance and physiological measures were also collected. RESULTS Δ9-THC functioned as a discriminative stimulus, produced subjective effects typically associated with cannabinoids (e.g., High, Stoned, Like Drug), elevated heart rate and impaired rate and accuracy on a psychomotor performance task. Baclofen alone (50 mg) substituted for the Δ9-THC discriminative stimulus, and both baclofen doses shifted the discriminative-stimulus effects of Δ9-THC leftward/upward. Similar results were observed on other cannabinoid-sensitive outcomes, although baclofen generally did not engender Δ9-THC-like subjective responses when administered alone. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the GABA(B) receptor subtype is involved in the abuse-related effects of Δ9-THC, and that GABA(B) receptors were responsible, at least in part, for the effects of tiagabine-induced elevated GABA on cannabinoid-related behaviors in our previous study. Future research should test GABAergic compounds selective for other GABA receptor subtypes (i.e., GABA(A)) to determine the contribution of the different GABA receptors in the effects of Δ9-THC, and by extension cannabis, in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Lile
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, College of Medicine Office Building, Lexington, KY 40536-0086, To whom correspondence should be addressed: Department of Behavioral Science College of Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40536-0086 phone: 1-859-323-6034 fax: 1-859-323-5350
| | - Thomas H. Kelly
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, College of Medicine Office Building, Lexington, KY 40536-0086,Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, 106-B Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0044,Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 3470 Blazer Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40509-1810
| | - Lon R. Hays
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 3470 Blazer Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40509-1810,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 740 South Limestone St., J525 Kentucky Clinic, Lexington, KY 40536-0284
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Spiro AS, Wong A, Boucher AA, Arnold JC. Enhanced brain disposition and effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein knockout mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35937. [PMID: 22536451 PMCID: PMC3335007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp, Abcb1) and breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp, Abcg2) regulate the CNS disposition of many drugs. The main psychoactive constituent of cannabis Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has affinity for P-gp and Bcrp, however it is unknown whether these transporters modulate the brain accumulation of THC and its functional effects on the CNS. Here we aim to show that mice devoid of Abcb1 and Abcg2 retain higher brain THC levels and are more sensitive to cannabinoid-induced hypothermia than wild-type (WT) mice. Abcb1a/b (-/-), Abcg2 (-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with THC before brain and blood were collected and THC concentrations determined. Another cohort of mice was examined for THC-induced hypothermia by measuring rectal body temperature. Brain THC concentrations were higher in both Abcb1a/b (-/-) and Abcg2 (-/-) mice than WT mice. ABC transporter knockout mice exhibited delayed elimination of THC from the brain with the effect being more prominent in Abcg2 (-/-) mice. ABC transporter knockout mice were more sensitive to THC-induced hypothermia compared to WT mice. These results show P-gp and Bcrp prolong the brain disposition and hypothermic effects of THC and offer a novel mechanism for both genetic vulnerability to the psychoactive effects of cannabis and drug interactions between CNS therapies and cannabis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adena S. Spiro
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexander Wong
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Jonathon C. Arnold
- Discipline of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Lile JA, Kelly TH, Hays LR. Separate and combined effects of the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and Δ9-THC in humans discriminating Δ9-THC. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 122:61-9. [PMID: 21975195 PMCID: PMC3307819 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The involvement of non-cannabinoid neurotransmitter systems in the abuse-related behavioral effects of cannabis has not been well characterized in humans. GABAergic drugs have overlapping effects with cannabis and Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) on certain behavioral measures, but those measures lack the specificity to draw conclusions regarding the involvement of GABA in cannabinoid effects. The aim of this study was to assess the separate and combined effects of the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and Δ(9)-THC using more pharmacologically specific drug-discrimination procedures. METHODS Eight cannabis users learned to discriminate 30 mg oral Δ(9)-THC from placebo and then received tiagabine (6 and 12 mg), Δ(9)-THC (5, 15 and 30 mg) and placebo, alone and in combination. Self-report, task performance and physiological measures were also collected. RESULTS Δ(9)-THC produced subjective effects typically associated with cannabinoids (e.g., High, Stoned, Like Drug), elevated heart rate and impaired rate and accuracy on psychomotor performance tasks. The higher tiagabine dose substituted for the Δ(9)-THC discriminative stimulus and engendered subjective and performance-impairing effects that overlapped with those of Δ(9)-THC when administered alone. In combination, tiagabine shifted the discriminative-stimulus effects of Δ(9)-THC leftward/upward and enhanced Δ(9)-THC effects on other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that GABA is involved in the clinical effects of Δ(9)-THC, and by extension, cannabis. Future studies should test selective GABAergic compounds to determine which receptor subtype(s) are responsible for the effects observed when combined with cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Lile
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine,To whom correspondence should be addressed: Joshua A. Lile, Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0086, phone: 1-859-323-6034, , fax: 1-859-323-5350
| | - Thomas H. Kelly
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine,Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences,Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
| | - Lon R. Hays
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
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Simonetto DA, Oxentenko AS, Herman ML, Szostek JH. Cannabinoid hyperemesis: a case series of 98 patients. Mayo Clin Proc 2012; 87:114-9. [PMID: 22305024 PMCID: PMC3538402 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2011.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To promote wider recognition and further understanding of cannabinoid hyperemesis (CH). PATIENTS AND METHODS We constructed a case series, the largest to date, of patients diagnosed with CH at our institution. Inclusion criteria were determined by reviewing all PubMed indexed journals with case reports and case series on CH. The institution's electronic medical record was searched from January 1, 2005, through June 15, 2010. Patients were included if there was a history of recurrent vomiting with no other explanation for symptoms and if cannabis use preceded symptom onset. Of 1571 patients identified, 98 patients (6%) met inclusion criteria. RESULTS All 98 patients were younger than 50 years of age. Among the 37 patients in whom duration of cannabis use was available, most (25 [68%]) reported using cannabis for more than 2 years before symptom onset, and 71 of 75 patients (95%) in whom frequency of use was available used cannabis more than once weekly. Eighty-four patients (86%) reported abdominal pain. The effect of hot water bathing was documented in 57 patients (58%), and 52 (91%) of these patients reported relief of symptoms with hot showers or baths. Follow-up was available in only 10 patients (10%). Of those 10, 7 (70%) stopped using cannabis and 6 of these 7 (86%) noted complete resolution of their symptoms. CONCLUSION Cannabinoid hyperemesis should be considered in younger patients with long-term cannabis use and recurrent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. On the basis of our findings in this large series of patients, we propose major and supportive criteria for the diagnosis of CH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy S. Oxentenko
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - Jason H. Szostek
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Correspondence: Address to Jason H. Szostek, MD, Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905
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Abstract
Since the first endocannabinoid anandamide was identified in 1992, extensive research has been conducted to characterize the elements of the tightly controlled endocannabinoid signaling system. While it was established that the activity of endocannabinoids are terminated by a two-step process that includes cellular uptake and degradation, there is still a continuing debate about the mechanistic role of these processes in inactivating anandamide signals.
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Gibson CD, Carnell S, Ochner CN, Geliebter A. Neuroimaging, gut peptides and obesity: novel studies of the neurobiology of appetite. J Neuroendocrinol 2010; 22:833-45. [PMID: 20553371 PMCID: PMC3121301 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02025.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Two major biological players in the regulation of body weight are the gut and the brain. Peptides released from the gut convey information about energy needs to areas of the brain involved in homeostatic control of food intake. There is emerging evidence that human food intake is also under the control of cortical and subcortical areas related to reward and cognition. The extent to which gut hormones influence these brain areas is not fully understood. Novel methods combining the study of neural activity and hormonal signalling promise to advance our understanding of gut-brain interactions. Here, we review a growing number of animal and human studies using neuroimaging methods (functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography) to measure brain activation in relation to nutrient loads and infusion of gut peptides. Implications for current and future pharmacological treatments for obesity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Gibson
- New York Obesity Research Center, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
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Rettori V, De Laurentiis A, Fernandez-Solari J. Alcohol and endocannabinoids: Neuroendocrine interactions in the reproductive axis. Exp Neurol 2010; 224:15-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 03/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Cannabinoid-dopamine interaction in the pathophysiology and treatment of CNS disorders. CNS Neurosci Ther 2010; 16:e72-91. [PMID: 20406253 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00144.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids and their receptors, mainly the CB(1) receptor type, function as a retrograde signaling system in many synapses within the CNS, particularly in GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses. They also play a modulatory function on dopamine (DA) transmission, although CB(1) receptors do not appear to be located in dopaminergic terminals, at least in the major brain regions receiving dopaminergic innervation, e.g., the caudate-putamen and the nucleus accumbens/prefrontal cortex. Therefore, the effects of cannabinoids on DA transmission and DA-related behaviors are generally indirect and exerted through the modulation of GABA and glutamate inputs received by dopaminergic neurons. Recent evidence suggest, however, that certain eicosanoid-derived cannabinoids may directly activate TRPV(1) receptors, which have been found in some dopaminergic pathways, thus allowing a direct regulation of DA function. Through this direct mechanism or through indirect mechanisms involving GABA or glutamate neurons, cannabinoids may interact with DA transmission in the CNS and this has an important influence in various DA-related neurobiological processes (e.g., control of movement, motivation/reward) and, particularly, on different pathologies affecting these processes like basal ganglia disorders, schizophrenia, and drug addiction. The present review will address the current literature supporting these cannabinoid-DA interactions, with emphasis in aspects dealing with the neurochemical, physiological, and pharmacological/therapeutic bases of these interactions.
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Anandamide prior to sensitization increases cell-mediated immunity in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2010; 10:431-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2009.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2009] [Revised: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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The hypothalamic endocannabinoid system participates in the secretion of oxytocin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced by lipopolysaccharide. J Neuroimmunol 2010; 221:32-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 02/04/2010] [Accepted: 02/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Fasano S, Meccariello R, Cobellis G, Chianese R, Cacciola G, Chioccarelli T, Pierantoni R. The Endocannabinoid System: An Ancient Signaling Involved in the Control of Male Fertility. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009; 1163:112-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04437.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Effects of rimonabant on behavior maintained by progressive ratio schedules of sucrose reinforcement in obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats. Behav Pharmacol 2008; 19:735-42. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e3283123cc2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Herrera RA, Oved JH, Reiss CS. Disruption of IFN-gamma- mediated antiviral activity in neurons: the role of cannabinoids. Viral Immunol 2008; 21:141-52. [PMID: 18570588 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2007.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has potent antiviral activity in neurons which is affected by the production of nitric oxide (NO). This study examines the interactions between cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB(1)), IFNgamma-induced pathways, and inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication in neuronal cells. CB(1) is abundantly expressed in neurons of the CNS and the NB41A3 neuroblastoma cell line. CB(1) activation of NB41A3 cells by the synthetic cannabinoid, WIN55,212-2, is associated with an inhibition of Ca(2+) mobilization, leading to diminished nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-1 activity and the production of NO, in vitro. This ultimately results in antagonism of IFN-gamma-mediated antiviral activity and enhanced viral replication. Therefore, activation of cells expressing CB(1) by endogenous (or exogenous) ligands may contribute to decreased inflammation and to increased viral replication in neurons and disease in the CNS.
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Gerstner JR, Bremer QZ, Vander Heyden WM, LaVaute TM, Yin JC, Landry CF. Brain fatty acid binding protein (Fabp7) is diurnally regulated in astrocytes and hippocampal granule cell precursors in adult rodent brain. PLoS One 2008; 3:e1631. [PMID: 18286188 PMCID: PMC2238817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2007] [Accepted: 01/20/2008] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain fatty acid binding protein (Fabp7), which is important in early nervous system development, is expressed in astrocytes and neuronal cell precursors in mature brain. We report here that levels of Fabp7 mRNA in adult murine brain change over a 24 hour period. Unlike Fabp5, a fatty acid binding protein that is expressed widely in various cell types within brain, RNA analysis revealed that Fabp7 mRNA levels were elevated during the light period and lower during dark in brain regions involved in sleep and activity mechanisms. This pattern of Fabp7 mRNA expression was confirmed using in situ hybridization and found to occur throughout the entire brain. Changes in the intracellular distribution of Fabp7 mRNA were also evident over a 24 hour period. Diurnal changes in Fabp7, however, were not found in postnatal day 6 brain, when astrocytes are not yet mature. In contrast, granule cell precursors of the subgranular zone of adult hippocampus did undergo diurnal changes in Fabp7 expression. These changes paralleled oscillations in Fabp7 mRNA throughout the brain suggesting that cell-coordinated signals likely control brain-wide Fabp7 mRNA expression. Immunoblots revealed that Fabp7 protein levels also underwent diurnal changes in abundance, with peak levels occurring in the dark period. Of clock or clock-regulated genes, the synchronized, global cycling pattern of Fabp7 expression is unique and implicates glial cells in the response or modulation of activity and/or circadian rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Gerstner
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Quentin Z. Bremer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - William M. Vander Heyden
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Timothy M. LaVaute
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jerry C. Yin
- Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Charles F. Landry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Arora S. Role of neuropeptides in appetite regulation and obesity--a review. Neuropeptides 2006; 40:375-401. [PMID: 16935329 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2006.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2006] [Revised: 06/17/2006] [Accepted: 07/07/2006] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Obesity represents the most prevalent nutritional problem worldwide which in the long run predisposes to development of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, endometrial carcinoma, osteoarthritis, gall stones and cardiovascular diseases. Despite significant reductions in dietary fat consumption, the prevalence of obesity is on a rise and is taking on pandemic proportions. Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure over time. Recently, a close evolutionary relationship between the peripheral and hypothalamic neuropeptides has become apparent. The hypothalamus being the central feeding organ mediates regulation of short-term and long-term dietary intake via synthesis of various orexigenic and anorectic neuropeptides. The structure and function of many hypothalamic peptides (neuropeptide Y (NPY), melanocortins, agouti-related peptide (AGRP), cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), melanin concentrating hormone (MCH), orexins have been characterized in rodent models The peripheral neuropeptides such as cholecystokinin (CCK), ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY3-36), amylin, bombesin regulate important gastrointestinal functions such as motility, secretion, absorption, provide feedback to the central nervous system on availability of nutrients and may play a part in regulating food intake. The pharmacological potential of several endogenous peripheral peptides released prior to, during and/or after feeding are being explored. Long-term regulation is provided by the main circulating hormones leptin and insulin. These systems implicated in hypothalamic appetite regulation provide potential targets for treatment of obesity which could potentially pass into clinical development in the next 5 years. This review summarizes various effects and interrelationship of these central and peripheral neuropeptides in metabolism, obesity and their potential role as targets for treatment of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110 001, India.
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Drug residues store in the body following cessation of use: impacts on neuroendocrine balance and behavior--use of the Hubbard sauna regimen to remove toxins and restore health. Med Hypotheses 2006; 68:868-79. [PMID: 17045758 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2006.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2006] [Accepted: 08/21/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
For decades, scientists have investigated the environmental and human health effects of synthetic chemicals. A growing body of research has illuminated the spectrum of consequences deriving from our reliance these substances and their proliferation in air, water, soil and the food chain. Of particular concern is the fact that residues of many man-made chemicals are now detectible in virtually every person. A key to a chemical's tendency to persist in tissues once it has entered the body is its lipophilicity. Substances that are poorly soluble in water and quite soluble in fat have relatively free access, via lipid-rich cellular membranes, to the cells of all organs including the ability to cross the blood-brain and placental barriers. Substantial data exist demonstrating that in addition to pollutants, drugs and their metabolites dispose to tissues high in fat content, including brain and adipose. While their characteristic lipophilicity permits drugs and medications to reach target tissues, thereby producing therapeutic effects in the present, current perceptions of risk may be ignoring the possibility that adipose accumulations of illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals may lead to future patterns of ill health similar to those associated with exposure to other categories of xenobiotic chemicals. Empirical data are beginning to characterize the myriad regulatory functions of adipose hormones, including roles in cravings, cognitive function, energy level, and inflammation as well as changes in adipose hormone levels associated with drug use. Included in this data are the observation that a rehabilitative treatment intervention introduced by L. Ron Hubbard in 1978 to aid in the broad elimination of chemicals from body stores improves symptoms common to both chemical exposure and drug addiction. The regimen, which includes exercise, sauna bathing, and vitamin and mineral supplementation, is utilized by nearly 70 drug rehabilitation and medical practices in over 20 countries. At present, much more is unknown than is known regarding long-term drug retention and effects. This subject deserves careful evaluation given its potential implications for health and chronic illnesses of poorly defined etiology (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), as well as drug abuse prevention, drug rehabilitation, forensic and legal areas.
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Bonfils PK, Reith J, Hasseldam H, Johansen FF. Estimation of the hypothermic component in neuroprotection provided by cannabinoids following cerebral ischemia. Neurochem Int 2006; 49:508-18. [PMID: 16730099 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2006.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2006] [Revised: 03/26/2006] [Accepted: 03/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids have neuroprotective potentials, and the expression of endocannabinoids as well as cannabinoid receptors is induced after cerebral ischemia. They also induce hypothermia by lowering the hypothalamic set point. We have estimated the significance of such hypothermia in ischemic neuroprotection following systemic administration of WIN 55,212-2, a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist. Results showed that WIN 55,212-2 significantly reduced infarct volumes of rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia (middle cerebral artery occlusion) and significantly decreased ischemic CA1 damage in rats subjected to global cerebral ischemia (two-vessel occlusion). A significant (approximately 50%) part of this neuroprotection was provided by WIN 55,212-2 induced hypothermia (33.7+/-1.1 degrees C/34.9+/-1.6 degrees C), because prevention of hypothermia by maintaining body core temperatures between 37.0 and 38.0 degrees C dissolved the neuroprotective effect into a hypothermic component and an unidentified component. Finally, the ability of WIN 55,212-2 to reduce levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IFNgamma in the infarcted hemisphere of rats subjected to focal cerebral ischemia required hypothermia. For the cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2, we have isolated and directly demonstrated that hypothermia is only part of, although significant, cannabinoid mediated neuroprotection in both global and focal cerebral ischemia. We conclude that cannabinoids are reliable candidates for drug-induced hypothermia and neuroprotection. These neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids could provide the basis for potential therapeutic uses of cannabinoids and/or endocannabinoids in stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Bonfils
- Molecular Neuropathology Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology, University of Copenhagen, 11 Frederik V vej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Di S, Boudaba C, Popescu IR, Weng FJ, Harris C, Marcheselli VL, Bazan NG, Tasker JG. Activity-dependent release and actions of endocannabinoids in the rat hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. J Physiol 2005; 569:751-60. [PMID: 16239276 PMCID: PMC1464259 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.097477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous cannabinoids have been shown to significantly alter neuroendocrine output, presaging the emergence of endogenous cannabinoids as important signalling molecules in the neuroendocrine control of homeostatic and reproductive functions, including the stress response, energy metabolism and gonadal regulation. We showed recently that magnocellular and parvocellular neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus (SON) respond to glucocorticoids by releasing endocannabinoids as retrograde messengers to modulate the synaptic release of glutamate. Here we show directly for the first time that both of the main endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), are released in an activity-dependent fashion from the soma/dendrites of SON magnocellular neurones and suppress synaptic glutamate release and postsynaptic spiking. Cannabinoid reuptake blockade increases activity-dependent endocannabinoid levels in the region of the SON, and results in the inhibition of synaptically driven spiking activity in magnocellular neurones. Together, these findings demonstrate an activity-dependent release of AEA and 2-AG that leads to the suppression of glutamate release and that is capable of shaping spiking activity in magnocellular neurones. This activity-dependent regulation of excitatory synaptic input by endocannabinoids may play a role in determining spiking patterns characteristic of magnocellular neurones under stimulated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Di
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 2000 Percival Stern Hall, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118-5698, USA
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Adami M, Zamfirova R, Sotirov E, Tashev R, Dobrinova Y, Todorov S, Coruzzi G. Gastric antisecretory effects of synthetic cannabinoids after central or peripheral administration in the rat. Brain Res Bull 2005; 64:357-61. [PMID: 15561471 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2004.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2004] [Revised: 09/07/2004] [Accepted: 09/10/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have revealed that cannabinoid (CB)-receptor agonists inhibit gastric acid secretion stimulated by indirectly acting agents, but not by histamine. Aiming to investigate whether central or peripheral mechanisms are involved, the effects of the synthetic CB-receptor agonists WIN55,212-2 and HU-210, administered either intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) or intravenously (i.v.) to the anaesthetized rat with lumen-perfused stomach, against gastric acid secretion induced by pentagastrin were tested. Injected i.c.v., both WIN55,212-2 (50 and 100 microg/kg) and HU-210 (25, 50 and 100 microg/kg) were ineffective on either basal secretion or acid output induced by pentagastrin (7.7 microg/kg, i.v.). By contrast, i.v. injections of WIN55,212-2 (100 and 1000 microg/kg) or HU-210 (10-100 microg/kg) significantly inhibited pentagastrin-induced acid secretion, maximal reductions being 75.70 and 82.24% for WIN55,212-2 and HU-210, respectively. The gastric antisecretory effect of HU-210 was prevented by administration of the selective CB(1)-receptor antagonist SR141716A (1000 microg/kg, i.v.). These results show that CB(1)-receptors mediating inhibition of gastric acid secretion in the rat are mainly peripherally located.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maristella Adami
- Department of Human Anatomy, Pharmacology and Forensic Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, I-43100 Parma, Italy
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Singh ME, Verty ANA, Price I, McGregor IS, Mallet PE. Modulation of morphine-induced Fos-immunoreactivity by the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716. Neuropharmacology 2004; 47:1157-69. [PMID: 15567425 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2004.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2003] [Revised: 07/19/2004] [Accepted: 08/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests the existence of a functional interaction between opioid and cannabinoid systems. The present study further investigated this functional interaction by examining the combined effects of morphine and the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716 on Fos-immunoreactivity (Fos-IR), a marker for neural activation. Male albino Wistar rats were treated with SR 141716 (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), morphine HCl (10 mg/kg, subcutaneously), vehicle, or SR 141716 and morphine combined (n = 6 per group). Rats were injected with morphine or its vehicle 30-min after administration of SR 141716 or its vehicle and perfused 3 h later. Locomotor activity and body temperature were both increased in the morphine-treated group and SR 141716 significantly inhibited these effects. Morphine increased Fos-IR in several brain regions including the caudate-putamen (CPu), cortex (cingulate, insular and piriform), nucleus accumbens (NAS) shell, lateral septum (LS), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), medial preoptic nucleus (MPO), hypothalamus (paraventricular, dorsomedial and ventromedial), paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PV), amygdala (central and basolateral nuclei), dorsolateral periaqueductal gray, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. SR 141716 alone increased Fos-IR in the cortex (cingulate, insular and piriform), NAS (shell), LS, BNST, hypothalamus (paraventricular, dorsomedial and ventromedial), PV, amygdala (central, basolateral and medial nuclei), VTA, and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. SR 141716 attenuated morphine-induced Fos-IR in several regions including the CPu, cortex, NAS (shell), LS, MnPO, MPO, paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamus, PV, basolateral amygdala, VTA, and Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW). These results provide further support for functional interplay between the cannabinoid and opioid systems. Possible behavioural and physiological implications of the interactive effects of SR 141716 on morphine-induced Fos-IR are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Singh
- School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
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Di Marzo V, Bifulco M, De Petrocellis L. The endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic exploitation. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2004; 3:771-84. [PMID: 15340387 DOI: 10.1038/nrd1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 723] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The term 'endocannabinoid' - originally coined in the mid-1990s after the discovery of membrane receptors for the psychoactive principle in Cannabis, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and their endogenous ligands - now indicates a whole signalling system that comprises cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands and enzymes for ligand biosynthesis and inactivation. This system seems to be involved in an ever-increasing number of pathological conditions. With novel products already being aimed at the pharmaceutical market little more than a decade since the discovery of cannabinoid receptors, the endocannabinoid system seems to hold even more promise for the future development of therapeutic drugs. We explore the conditions under which the potential of targeting the endocannabinoid system might be realized in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy.
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Scorticati C, Fernández-Solari J, De Laurentiis A, Mohn C, Prestifilippo JP, Lasaga M, Seilicovich A, Billi S, Franchi A, McCann SM, Rettori V. The inhibitory effect of anandamide on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion is reversed by estrogen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:11891-6. [PMID: 15280536 PMCID: PMC511070 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0404366101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Because Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhibited luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in male rats, we hypothesized that the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA), would act similarly. AEA microinjected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) decreased plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) at 30 min in comparison to values in controls (P < 0.001). The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1-r)-specific antagonist, [N-(piperidin-1-yl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide] (AM251), produced a significant elevation in plasma LH (P < 0.01). AEA (10(-9) M) decreased LHRH release from medial basal hypothalami incubated in vitro. These results support the concept that endogenous AEA inhibits LHRH followed by decreased LH release in male rats. In ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, AEA i.c.v. also inhibited LH release, but in this case AM251 had an even greater inhibitory effect than AEA. In vitro, AEA had no effect on LHRH in OVX rats. It seems that endogenous AEA inhibits LHRH followed by decreased LH release in OVX rats but that AM251 has an inhibitory action in this case. In striking contrast, in OVX, estrogen-primed (OVX-E) rats, AEA i.c.v. instead of decreasing LH, increased its release. This effect was completely blocked by previous injection of AM251. When medial basal hypothalami of OVX-E rats were incubated, AEA increased LHRH release. The synthesized AEA was higher in OVX-E rats than in OVX and males, indicating that estrogen modifies endocannabinoid levels and effects. The results are interpreted to mean that sex steroids have profound effects to modify the response to AEA. It inhibits LHRH and consequently diminishes LH release in males and OVX females, but stimulates LHRH followed by increased LH release in OVX-E-primed rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Scorticati
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Serrano 669, 1414 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Newton CA, Lu T, Nazian SJ, Perkins I, Friedman H, Klein TW. The THC-induced suppression of Th1 polarization in response to Legionella pneumophila infection is not mediated by increases in corticosterone and PGE2. J Leukoc Biol 2004; 76:854-61. [PMID: 15258190 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0304184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
T helper cell type 1 (Th1)-polarizing cytokines are induced by Legionella pneumophila infection and are suppressed by pretreatment with marijuana cannabinoids (CB). Glucocorticoids and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) are also reported to suppress Th1 polarization and are induced by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), so their role in the suppression of polarizing cytokines was examined. Injection of L. pneumophila or THC alone into BALB/c mice induced a rapid and transient rise in serum corticosterone (CS), and the injection of both agents significantly augmented the CS response, demonstrating that THC increased CS in Legionella-infected mice. Pretreatment with the CB receptor 1 (CB1) antagonist SR141716A had no effect on the THC-induced CS response, but CB2 antagonist (SR144528) treatment increased the CS response. To see if increased CS contributed to the down-regulation of Th1 cytokines, mice were pretreated with the steroid antagonist RU486 before THC injection and Legionella infection. The results showed that RU486 did not attenuate the THC-induced suppression of serum interleukin (IL)-12 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). In addition to CS, THC injection increased urinary PGE2 metabolites, and the CB1 antagonist attenuated this increase. Although L. pneumophila infection increased urinary PGE2, THC pretreatment did not enhance this response; in addition, treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, did not block the THC-induced suppression of IL-12 and IFN-gamma. These results suggest that the elevation of CS and PGE2 does not account for the THC-induced attenuation of the Th1 cytokine response, and it is concluded that other suppressive mediators are induced by THC or that the drug acts directly on immune cells to suppress cytokine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Newton
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa 33612, USA
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Davis MP, Dreicer R, Walsh D, Lagman R, LeGrand SB. Appetite and Cancer-Associated Anorexia: A Review. J Clin Oncol 2004; 22:1510-7. [PMID: 15084624 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2004.03.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Appetite is governed by peripheral hormones and central neurotransmitters that act on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and nucleus tactus solitarius of the brainstem. Cancer anorexia appears to be the result of an imbalance between neuropeptide-Y and pro-opiomelanocortin signals favoring pro-opiomelanocortin. Many of the appetite stimulants redress this imbalance. Most of our understanding of appetite neurophysiology and tumor-associated anorexia is derived from animals and has not been verified in humans. There have been few clinical trials and very little translational research on anorexia despite its prevalence in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mellar P Davis
- Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, FCCP, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, R35, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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Ruiz-Llorente L, Ortega-Gutiérrez S, Viso A, Sánchez MG, Sánchez AM, Fernández C, Ramos JA, Hillard C, Lasunción MA, López-Rodríguez ML, Díaz-Laviada I. Characterization of an anandamide degradation system in prostate epithelial PC-3 cells: synthesis of new transporter inhibitors as tools for this study. Br J Pharmacol 2004; 141:457-67. [PMID: 14718261 PMCID: PMC1574211 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The response of anandamide is terminated by a carrier-mediated transport followed by degradation catalyzed by the cloned enzyme fatty acid amidohydrolase (FAAH). In this study, we provide biochemical data showing an anandamide uptake process and the expression of FAAH in human prostate. Anandamide was accumulated in PC-3 cells by a saturable and temperature-dependent process. Kinetic studies of anandamide uptake, determined in the presence of cannabinoid and vanilloid antagonists, revealed apparent parameters of KM=4.7+/-0.2 microm and Vmax=3.3+/-0.3 pmol min-1 (10(6) cells)-1. The accumulation of anandamide was moderately inhibited by previously characterized anandamide transporter inhibitors (AM404, UCM707 and VDM11) but was unaffected by inhibitors of other lipid transport systems (phloretin or verapamil) and moderately affected by the FAAH inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate. The presence of FAAH in human prostate epithelial PC-3 cells was confirmed by analyzing its expression by Western blot and measuring FAAH activity. To further study the structural requirements of the putative carrier, we synthesized a series of structurally different compounds 1-8 and evaluated their capacity as uptake inhibitors. They showed different inhibitory capacity in PC-3 cells, with (9Z,12Z)-N-(fur-3-ylmethyl)octadeca-9,12-dienamide (4, UCM119) being the most efficacious, with maximal inhibition and IC50 values of 49% and 11.3+/-0.5 microM, respectively. In conclusion, PC-3 cells possess a complete inactivation system for anandamide formed by an uptake process and the enzyme FAAH. These results suggest a possible physiological function of anandamide in the prostate, reinforcing the role of endocannabinoid system as a neuroendocrine modulator. British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 141, 457-467. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705628
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Ruiz-Llorente
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Ortega-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alma Viso
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María G Sánchez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana M Sánchez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Fernández
- Servicio de Bioquímica-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular III, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Hillard
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509, U.S.A
| | - Miguel A Lasunción
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Bioquímica-Investigación, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - María L López-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Díaz-Laviada
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
- Author for correspondence:
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