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Lingegowda H, Zutautas KB, Wei Y, Yolmo P, Sisnett DJ, McCallion A, Koti M, Tayade C. Endocannabinoids and their receptors modulate endometriosis pathogenesis and immune response. eLife 2024; 13:RP96523. [PMID: 39120997 PMCID: PMC11315450 DOI: 10.7554/elife.96523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis (EM), characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility in females of reproductive age. Despite its high prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying EM pathogenesis remain poorly understood. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is known to influence several cardinal features of this complex disease including pain, vascularization, and overall lesion survival, but the exact mechanisms are not known. Utilizing CNR1 knockout (k/o), CNR2 k/o, and wild-type (WT) mouse models of EM, we reveal contributions of ECS and these receptors in disease initiation, progression, and immune modulation. Particularly, we identified EM-specific T cell dysfunction in the CNR2 k/o mouse model of EM. We also demonstrate the impact of decidualization-induced changes on ECS components, and the unique disease-associated transcriptional landscape of ECS components in EM. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) analysis revealed distinct features of the microenvironment between CNR1, CNR2, and WT genotypes in the presence or absence of decidualization. This study, for the first time, provides an in-depth analysis of the involvement of the ECS in EM pathogenesis and lays the foundation for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of this debilitating condition.
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MESH Headings
- Endometriosis/genetics
- Endometriosis/metabolism
- Endometriosis/pathology
- Female
- Animals
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Mice
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Mice, Knockout
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine B Zutautas
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - Yuhong Wei
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Priyanka Yolmo
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - Danielle J Sisnett
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - Alison McCallion
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - Madhuri Koti
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
| | - Chandrakant Tayade
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s UniversityKingstonCanada
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2
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Podinic T, Limoges L, Monaco C, MacAndrew A, Minhas M, Nederveen J, Raha S. Cannabidiol Disrupts Mitochondrial Respiration and Metabolism and Dysregulates Trophoblast Cell Differentiation. Cells 2024; 13:486. [PMID: 38534330 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060486] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Trophoblast differentiation is a crucial process in the formation of the placenta where cytotrophoblasts (CTs) differentiate and fuse to form the syncytiotrophoblast (ST). The bioactive components of cannabis, such as Δ9-THC, are known to disrupt trophoblast differentiation and fusion, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and respiration. However, less is known about the impact of cannabidiol (CBD) on trophoblast differentiation. Due to the central role of mitochondria in stem cell differentiation, we evaluated the impact of CBD on trophoblast mitochondrial function and differentiation. Using BeWo b30 cells, we observed decreased levels of mRNA for markers of syncytialization (GCM1, ERVW1, hCG) following 20 µM CBD treatment during differentiation. In CTs, CBD elevated transcript levels for the mitochondrial and cellular stress markers HSP60 and HSP70, respectively. Furthermore, CBD treatment also increased the lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage marker 4-hydroxynonenal. Mitochondrial membrane potential, basal respiration and ATP production were diminished with the 20 µM CBD treatment in both sub-lineages. mRNA levels for endocannabinoid system (ECS) components (FAAH, NAPEPLD, TRPV1, CB1, CB2, PPARγ) were altered differentially by CBD in CTs and STs. Overall, we demonstrate that CBD impairs trophoblast differentiation and fusion, as well as mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Podinic
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Louise Limoges
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Cristina Monaco
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Andie MacAndrew
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Mahek Minhas
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Joshua Nederveen
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Sandeep Raha
- Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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3
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Aikawa S, Hirota Y. Roles of lipid mediators in early pregnancy events. Reprod Med Biol 2024; 23:e12597. [PMID: 39010880 PMCID: PMC11247399 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12597] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Early pregnancy events, including embryo implantation, are critical for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and facilitating childbirth. Despite numerous signaling pathways implicated in establishing early pregnancy, a comprehensive understanding of implantation remains elusive. Methods This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research on lipids in the context of early pregnancy, with a particular focus on feto-maternal communications. Main Findings Embryo implantation entails direct interaction between uterine tissues and embryos. Introducing embryos triggers significant changes in uterine epithelial morphology and stromal differentiation, facilitating embryo implantation through communication with uterine tissue. Studies employing genetic models and chemical compounds targeting enzymes and receptors have elucidated the crucial roles of lipid mediators-prostaglandins, lysophosphatidic acid, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and cannabinoids-in early pregnancy events. Conclusion Given the high conservation of lipid synthases and receptors across species, lipid mediators likely play pivotal roles in rodents and humans. Further investigations into lipids hold promise for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for infertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizu Aikawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Yasushi Hirota
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
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4
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Rokeby ACE, Natale BV, Natale DRC. Cannabinoids and the placenta: Receptors, signaling and outcomes. Placenta 2023; 135:51-61. [PMID: 36965349 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing. The improvement of pregnancy-related symptoms including morning sickness and management of mood and stress are among the most reported reasons for its use. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most abundant cannabinoids found within the cannabis flower. The concentration of these components has drastically increased in the past 20 years. Additionally, many edibles contain only one cannabinoid and are marketed to achieve a specific goal, meaning there are an increasing number of pregnancies that are exposed to isolated cannabinoids. Both Δ9-THC and CBD cross the placenta and can impact the fetus directly, but the receptors through which cannabinoids act are also expressed throughout the placenta, suggesting that the effects of in-utero cannabinoid exposure may include indirect effects from the placenta. In-utero cannabis research focuses on short and long-term fetal health and development; however, these studies include little to no placenta analysis. Prenatal cannabinoid exposure is linked to small for gestational age and fetal growth-restricted babies. Compromised placental development is also associated with fetal growth restriction and the few studies (clinical and animal models) that included placental analysis, identify changes in placental vasculature and function in these cannabinoid-exposed pregnancies. In vitro studies further support cannabinoid impact on cell function in the different populations that comprise the placenta. In this article, we aim to summarize how phytocannabinoids can impact placental development and function. Specifically, the cannabinoids and their actions at the different receptors are described, with receptor localization throughout the human and murine placenta discussed. Findings from studies that included placental analysis and how cannabinoid signaling may modulate critical developmental processing including cell proliferation, angiogenesis and migration are described. Considering the current research, prenatal cannabinoid exposure may significantly impact placental development, and, as such, identifying windows of placental vulnerability for each cannabinoid will be critical to elucidate the etiology of fetal outcome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbey C E Rokeby
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bryony V Natale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - David R C Natale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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5
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Emerging Roles of Endocannabinoids as Key Lipid Mediators for a Successful Pregnancy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065220. [PMID: 36982295 PMCID: PMC10048990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, Cannabis use/misuse for treating pregnancy-related symptoms and other chronic conditions has increased among pregnant women, favored by decriminalization and/or legalization of its recreational uses in addition to its easy accessibility. However, there is evidence that prenatal Cannabis exposure might have adverse consequences on pregnancy progression and a deleterious impact on proper neurodevelopmental trajectories in the offspring. Maternal Cannabis use could interfere with the complex and finely controlled role performed by the endocannabinoid system in reproductive physiology, impairing multiple gestational processes from blastocyst implantation to parturition, with long-lasting intergenerational effects. In this review, we discuss current clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of endocannabinoids in development, function, and immunity of the maternal–fetal interface, focusing on the impact of Cannabis constituents on each of these gestational processes. We also discuss the intrinsic limitations of the available studies and the future perspectives in this challenging research field.
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6
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Shah S, Schwenk ES, Sondekoppam RV, Clarke H, Zakowski M, Rzasa-Lynn RS, Yeung B, Nicholson K, Schwartz G, Hooten WM, Wallace M, Viscusi ER, Narouze S. ASRA Pain Medicine consensus guidelines on the management of the perioperative patient on cannabis and cannabinoids. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2023; 48:97-117. [PMID: 36596580 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2022-104013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The past two decades have seen an increase in cannabis use due to both regulatory changes and an interest in potential therapeutic effects of the substance, yet many aspects of the substance and their health implications remain controversial or unclear. METHODS In November 2020, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine charged the Cannabis Working Group to develop guidelines for the perioperative use of cannabis. The Perioperative Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids Guidelines Committee was charged with drafting responses to the nine key questions using a modified Delphi method with the overall goal of producing a document focused on the safe management of surgical patients using cannabinoids. A consensus recommendation required ≥75% agreement. RESULTS Nine questions were selected, with 100% consensus achieved on third-round voting. Topics addressed included perioperative screening, postponement of elective surgery, concomitant use of opioid and cannabis perioperatively, implications for parturients, adjustment in anesthetic and analgesics intraoperatively, postoperative monitoring, cannabis use disorder, and postoperative concerns. Surgical patients using cannabinoids are at potential increased risk for negative perioperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Specific clinical recommendations for perioperative management of cannabis and cannabinoids were successfully created.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Shah
- Dept of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care, UC Irvine Health, Orange, California, USA
| | - Eric S Schwenk
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Hance Clarke
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Univ Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Zakowski
- Anesthesiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Brent Yeung
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Gary Schwartz
- AABP Integrative Pain Care, Melville, New York, USA.,Anesthesiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | | | - Mark Wallace
- Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Eugene R Viscusi
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Samer Narouze
- Center for Pain Medicine, Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
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7
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Cáceres D, Ochoa M, González-Ortiz M, Bravo K, Eugenín J. Effects of Prenatal Cannabinoids Exposure upon Placenta and Development of Respiratory Neural Circuits. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1428:199-232. [PMID: 37466775 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32554-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis use has risen dangerously during pregnancy in the face of incipient therapeutic use and a growing perception of safety. The main psychoactive compound of the Cannabis sativa plant is the phytocannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (A-9 THC), and its status as a teratogen is controversial. THC and its endogenous analogues, anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG, exert their actions through specific receptors (eCBr) that activate intracellular signaling pathways. CB1r and CB2r, also called classic cannabinoid receptors, together with their endogenous ligands and the enzymes that synthesize and degrade them, constitute the endocannabinoid system. This system is distributed ubiquitously in various central and peripheral tissues. Although the endocannabinoid system's most studied role is controlling the release of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, the study of long-term exposure to cannabinoids on fetal development is not well known and is vital for understanding environmental or pathological embryo-fetal or postnatal conditions. Prenatal exposure to cannabinoids in animal models has induced changes in placental and embryo-fetal organs. Particularly, cannabinoids could influence both neural and nonneural tissues and induce embryo-fetal pathological conditions in critical processes such as neural respiratory control. This review aims at the acute and chronic effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoids on placental function and the embryo-fetal neurodevelopment of the respiratory pattern. The information provided here will serve as a theoretical framework to critically evaluate the teratogen effects of the consumption of cannabis during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Sistemas Neurales, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martín Ochoa
- Laboratorio de Sistemas Neurales, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcelo González-Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Investigación Materno-Fetal (LIMaF), Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Karina Bravo
- Laboratorio de Sistemas Neurales, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia, Chile
| | - Jaime Eugenín
- Laboratorio de Sistemas Neurales, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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8
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Nishitani K, Hayakawa K, Minatomoto M, Tanaka K, Ogawa H, Kojima H, Tanaka S. N-Oleoyldopamine promotes the differentiation of mouse trophoblast stem cells into parietal trophoblast giant cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 636:205-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.10.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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BANERJEE SOHINI, DEACON ALYSSA, SUTER MELISSAA, AAGAARD KJERSTIM. Understanding the Placental Biology of Tobacco Smoke, Nicotine, and Marijuana (THC) Exposures During Pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022; 65:347-359. [PMID: 35125390 PMCID: PMC9042338 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Widespread public health campaigns have reduces the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine exposures during pregnancy in the United States. However, tobacco and nicotine exposures during pregnancy persist as a common modifiable perinatal risk exposure. Furthermore, declines in tobacco use have been accompanied by parallel rises in both the prevalence and incidence of marijuana use in pregnancy. This is worrisome, as the macromolecules which comprise tobacco and marijuana smoke affect placental function. In this chapter we summarize the decades of evidence contributing to our understanding of the placental molecular pathophysiology accompanying these chemical exposures, thereby rendering risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- SOHINI BANERJEE
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - MELISSA A. SUTER
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - KJERSTI M. AAGAARD
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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10
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Almeida MM, Dias-Rocha CP, Calviño C, Trevenzoli IH. Lipid endocannabinoids in energy metabolism, stress and developmental programming. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 542:111522. [PMID: 34843899 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates brain development and function, energy metabolism and stress in a sex-, age- and tissue-dependent manner. The ECS comprises mainly the bioactive lipid ligands anandamide (AEA) and 2-aracdonoylglycerol (2-AG), cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), and several metabolizing enzymes. The endocannabinoid tonus is increased in obesity, stimulating food intake and a preference for fat, reward, and lipid accumulation in peripheral tissues, as well as favoring a positive energy balance. Energy balance and stress responses share adaptive mechanisms regulated by the ECS that seem to underlie the complex relationship between feeding and emotional behavior. The ECS is also a key regulator of development. Environmental insults (diet, toxicants, and stress) in critical periods of developmental plasticity, such as gestation, lactation and adolescence, alter the ECS and may predispose individuals to the development of chronic diseases and behavioral changes in the long term. This review is focused on the ECS and the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Macedo Almeida
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Camila Calviño
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isis Hara Trevenzoli
- Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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11
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Gormley M, Oliverio O, Kapidzic M, Ona K, Hall S, Fisher SJ. RNA profiling of laser microdissected human trophoblast subtypes at mid-gestation reveals a role for cannabinoid signaling in invasion. Development 2021; 148:272518. [PMID: 34557907 PMCID: PMC8572005 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human placental architecture is complex. Its surface epithelium, specialized for transport, forms by fusion of cytotrophoblast progenitors into multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts. Near the uterine surface, these progenitors assume a different fate, becoming cancer-like cells that invade its lining and blood vessels. The latter process physically connects the placenta to the mother and shunts uterine blood to the syncytiotrophoblasts. Isolation of trophoblast subtypes is technically challenging. Upon removal, syncytiotrophoblasts disintegrate and invasive cytotrophoblasts are admixed with uterine cells. We used laser capture to circumvent these obstacles. This enabled isolation of syncytiotrophoblasts and two subpopulations of invasive cytotrophoblasts from cell columns and the endovascular compartment of spiral arteries. Transcriptional profiling revealed numerous genes, the placental or trophoblast expression of which was not known, including neurotensin and C4ORF36. Using mass spectrometry, discovery of differentially expressed mRNAs was extended to the protein level. We also found that invasive cytotrophoblasts expressed cannabinoid receptor 1. Unexpectedly, screening agonists and antagonists showed that signals from this receptor promote invasion. Together, these results revealed previously unseen gene expression patterns that translate to the protein level. Our data also suggested that endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids can affect human placental development. Summary: Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of laser captured human trophoblasts showed that placental cells lining uterine arteries express cannabinoid receptor 1. Functional analyses suggest that endogenous/exogenous cannabinoids could affect placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Gormley
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Oliver Oliverio
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mirhan Kapidzic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Katherine Ona
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Steven Hall
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Susan J Fisher
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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12
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Cannabinoid and planar cell polarity signaling converges to direct placentation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2108201118. [PMID: 34521753 PMCID: PMC8463896 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108201118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Directed trophoblast migration toward the maternal mesometrial pole is critical for placentation and pregnancy success. Trophoblasts replace maternal arterial endothelial cells to increase blood supply to the placenta. Inferior trophoblast invasion results in pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, miscarriage, and preterm delivery. The maternal chemotactic factors that direct trophoblast migration and the mechanism by which trophoblasts respond to these factors are not clearly understood. Here, we show that invasive trophoblasts deficient in Vangl2, a core planar cell polarity (PCP) component, fail to invade in maternal decidua, and this deficiency results in middle-gestational fetal demise. Previously, we have shown that tightly regulated endocannabinoids via G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor CB1 are critical to the invasion of trophoblasts called spiral artery trophoblast giant cells (SpA-TGCs). We find that CB1 directly interacts with VANGL2. Trophoblast stem cells devoid of Cnr1 and/or Vangl2 show compromised cell migration. To study roles of VANGL2 and CB1 in trophoblast invasion in vivo, we conditionally deleted Cnr1 (coding CB1) and Vangl2 in progenitors of SpA-TGCs using trophoblast-specific protein alpha (Tpbpa)-Cre. We observed that signaling mediated by VANGL2 and CB1 restrains trophoblasts from random migration by keeping small GTPases quiescent. Our results show that organized PCP in trophoblasts is indispensable for their directed movement and that CB1 exerts its function by direct interaction with membrane proteins other than its canonical G protein-coupled receptor role.
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13
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Lee K, Hardy DB. Metabolic Consequences of Gestational Cannabinoid Exposure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9528. [PMID: 34502436 PMCID: PMC8430813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 20% of pregnant women ages 18-24 consume cannabis during pregnancy. Moreover, clinical studies indicate that cannabis consumption during pregnancy leads to fetal growth restriction (FGR), which is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type II diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease in the offspring. This is of great concern considering that the concentration of Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), a major psychoactive component of cannabis, has doubled over the last decade and can readily cross the placenta and enter fetal circulation, with the potential to negatively impact fetal development via the endocannabinoid (eCB) system. Cannabis exposure in utero could also lead to FGR via placental insufficiency. In this review, we aim to examine current pre-clinical and clinical findings on the direct effects of exposure to cannabis and its constituents on fetal development as well as indirect effects, namely placental insufficiency, on postnatal metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendrick Lee
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Daniel B. Hardy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada;
- The Children’s Health Research Institute, The Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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14
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In situ imaging reveals disparity between prostaglandin localization and abundance of prostaglandin synthases. Commun Biol 2021; 4:966. [PMID: 34389796 PMCID: PMC8363604 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostaglandins are important lipids involved in mediating many physiological processes, such as allergic responses, inflammation, and pregnancy. However, technical limitations of in-situ prostaglandin detection in tissue have led researchers to infer prostaglandin tissue distributions from localization of regulatory synthases, such as COX1 and COX2. Herein, we apply a novel mass spectrometry imaging method for direct in situ tissue localization of prostaglandins, and combine it with techniques for protein expression and RNA localization. We report that prostaglandin D2, its precursors, and downstream synthases co-localize with the highest expression of COX1, and not COX2. Further, we study tissue with a conditional deletion of transformation-related protein 53 where pregnancy success is low and confirm that PG levels are altered, although localization is conserved. Our studies reveal that the abundance of COX and prostaglandin D2 synthases in cellular regions does not mirror the regional abundance of prostaglandins. Thus, we deduce that prostaglandins tissue localization and abundance may not be inferred by COX or prostaglandin synthases in uterine tissue, and must be resolved by an in situ prostaglandin imaging. Duncan et al. use a mass spectrometry imaging method to assess the localization and concentration of prostaglandins (PGs) in mouse tissues during pregnancy. This study brings new biological insights into the spatial evaluation of PGs in tissues, which could reveal the functional significance of each PGs during different stages of embryo development/pregnancy.
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15
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The Impact of Early Life Exposure to Cannabis: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168576. [PMID: 34445282 PMCID: PMC8395329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis use during pregnancy has continued to rise, particularly in developed countries, as a result of the trend towards legalization and lack of consistent, evidence-based knowledge on the matter. While there is conflicting data regarding whether cannabis use during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, or increased admission to neonatal intensive care units, investigations into long-term effects on the offspring’s health are limited. Historically, studies have focused on the neurobehavioral effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on the offspring. The effects of cannabis on other physiological aspects of the developing fetus have received less attention. Importantly, our knowledge about cannabinoid signaling in the placenta is also limited. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present at early stages of development and represents a potential target for exogenous cannabinoids in utero. The ECS is expressed in a broad range of tissues and influences a spectrum of cellular functions. The aim of this review is to explore the current evidence surrounding the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoids and the role of the ECS in the placenta and the developing fetus.
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16
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Almada M, Costa L, Fonseca B, Alves P, Braga J, Gonçalves D, Teixeira N, Correia-da-Silva G. The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress in placental cells. Reproduction 2021; 160:171-180. [PMID: 32357311 PMCID: PMC7354702 DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of trophoblast cells are required for normal placental development. Impairment of those processes may lead to pregnancy-related diseases. Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis has been associated with several reproductive pathologies including recurrent pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. In the unfolded protein response (UPR), specific ER-stress signalling pathways are activated to restore ER homeostasis, but if the adaptive response fails, apoptosis is triggered. Protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) and Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) are central players in UPR and in ER-stress-induced apoptosis, as well as downstream transcription factors, as C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). Our previous studies have shown that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) modulates trophoblast cell turnover. Nevertheless, the role of ER-stress on 2-AG induced apoptosis and cannabinoid signalling in trophoblast has never been addressed. In this work, we used BeWo cells and human primary cytotrophoblasts isolated from term-placenta. The expression of ER-stress markers was analysed by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. ROS generation was assessed by fluorometric methods, while apoptosis was detected by the evaluation of caspase -3/-7 activities and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Our findings indicate that 2-AG is able to induce ER-stress and apoptosis. Moreover, the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α)/CHOP pathway involved in ER-stress-induced apoptosis is triggered through a mechanism dependent on cannabinoid receptor CB2 activation. The results bring novel insights on the importance of ER-stress and cannabinoid signalling on 2-AG mechanisms of action in placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Almada
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lia Costa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Fonseca
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Alves
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Braga
- Departamento da Mulher e da Medicina Reprodutiva, Serviço de Obstetrícia, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte Dr Albino Aroso, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Gonçalves
- Departamento da Mulher e da Medicina Reprodutiva, Serviço de Obstetrícia, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte Dr Albino Aroso, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natércia Teixeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Georgina Correia-da-Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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17
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Maia J, Fonseca BM, Cunha SC, Braga J, Gonçalves D, Teixeira N, Correia-da-Silva G. Impact of tetrahydrocannabinol on the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol metabolism: ABHD6 and ABHD12 as novel players in human placenta. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158807. [PMID: 32829065 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis use has been increasing worldwide for recreational and medical purposes. Consumption by pregnant women is associated with disturbances in pregnancy outcome, such as low birth weight, prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation, though the underlying biochemical mechanisms are unknown. The endocannabinoid system is involved in several reproductive events and the disruption of its homeostasis by ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive cannabinoid, may lead to a negative gestational outcome. In human placenta, THC impairs the levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA). The other major endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) also plays an important role on proper placentation and pregnancy success. However, THC impact on 2-AG homeostasis has never been addressed. Hence, the effects of THC in 2-AG levels and metabolic enzymes expression were explored. Long-term treatment impairs the expression of the main 2-AG synthetic and degradative enzymes. Curiously, with the highest concentration, despite the maintenance of diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) and the decrease in monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) expression, 2-AG levels remain constant. Given the endocannabinoid signalling local tight regulation, we hypothesize the involvement of other 2-AG degradative enzymes. Indeed, THC increases the expression of the hydrolyzing enzymes alpha beta hydrolase domain-6 (ABHD6) and -12 (ABHD12), that we firstly describe in human placental tissues. The results show that THC, depending on time of exposure, induces alterations in 2-AG metabolic enzymes expression in placental explants, highlighting the importance of 2-AG regulation and endocannabinoid signalling in placental development. Alterations in this homeostasis may explain the negative pregnancy outcome related to cannabis consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Maia
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno M Fonseca
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara C Cunha
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Laboratório de Bromatologia e Hidrologia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Braga
- Departamento da Mulher e da Medicina Reprodutiva, Serviço de Obstetrícia, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte-Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Gonçalves
- Departamento da Mulher e da Medicina Reprodutiva, Serviço de Obstetrícia, Centro Materno-Infantil do Norte-Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natércia Teixeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Georgina Correia-da-Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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18
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Maia J, Fonseca BM, Teixeira N, Correia-da-Silva G. The fundamental role of the endocannabinoid system in endometrium and placenta: implications in pathophysiological aspects of uterine and pregnancy disorders. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:586-602. [PMID: 32347309 PMCID: PMC7317288 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, the main endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and their metabolic enzymes N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D, fatty acid amide hydrolase, diacylglycerol lipase and monoacylglycerol lipase. This system is involved in the modulation of essential physiological processes. Its role in the reproductive system has become significantly important in recent years, given its major role in events such as gametogenesis, decidualisation, implantation and placentation. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In this paper, we review the literature and summarize the role of the ECS elements in reproduction and their potential as early markers for diagnosis of reproductive disorders or as pharmacological targets for treatment. SEARCH METHODS Original research and review papers published from 1964 to June 2019 were selected in terms of relevance, reliability and quality by searching PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science, using the following search terms: endocannabinoid system and endometriosis; endocannabinoid system and ectopic pregnancy; endocannabinoid system and miscarriage; endocannabinoid system and pre-eclampsia; endocannabinoid system and endometrial cancer; endocannabinoid system and reproduction; endocannabinoid, endometrium; placenta; N-acylethanolamines; anandamide; 2-arachidonoylglycerol; and cannabinoids. OUTCOMES This review demonstrates relevant information concerning ECS alterations in endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and endometrial cancer. We highlight the importance of the endocannabinoids in endometrial and placental physiology and pathophysiology, from studies in vitro and in vivo and in clinical observations. The most studied of the endogenous cannabinoids is AEA. The levels of AEA were increased in plasma of patients with endometriosis and miscarriage, as well as in the fallopian tube of women with ectopic pregnancy and in endometrial biopsies of endometrial cancer. Changes in the pattern of expression of the cannabinoid receptor CB1 were also observed in endometrial biopsies of endometriosis, fallopian tube and decidua of patients with ectopic pregnancy and pre-eclamptic placenta. Moreover, alterations in CB2 expression have been reported in association with endometrial cancer. In general, studies on the cannabinoid signalling through CB2 and on the biological activities of the other major endocannabinoid, namely 2-AG, as well as its metabolic enzymes are scarce and avidly required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the described endometrial and placental pathologies are still unclear and lack the means for an early diagnosis. Based on current evidence, though alterations in ECS are demonstrated at tissue level, it is difficult to associate plasmatic changes in AEA with specific endometrial and placental diseases. Thus, pairing alterations in AEA levels with 2-AG and/or other endocannabinoid-like molecules may provide more accurate and early diagnoses. In addition, patients may benefit from new therapies that target the ECS and endocannabinoid signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Maia
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - BM Fonseca
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - N Teixeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - G Correia-da-Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Chen J, Liu X, Zhang S, Chen J, Sun H, Zhang L, Zhang Q. Molecular mechanism with regard to the binding selectivity of inhibitors toward FABP5 and FABP7 explored by multiple short molecular dynamics simulations and free energy analyses. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:2262-2275. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp05704h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recently, fatty acid binding proteins 5 and 7 (FABP5 and FABP7) have been regarded as the prospective targets for clinically treating multiple diseases related to FABPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Chen
- School of Science
- Shandong Jiaotong University
- Jinan 250357
- People's Republic of China
| | - Xinguo Liu
- School of Physics and Electronics
- Shandong Normal University
- Jinan
- People's Republic of China
| | - Shaolong Zhang
- School of Physics and Electronics
- Shandong Normal University
- Jinan
- People's Republic of China
| | - Junxiao Chen
- School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering
- Qilu University of Technology
- Jinan
- People's Republic of China
| | - Haibo Sun
- School of Science
- Shandong Jiaotong University
- Jinan 250357
- People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhang
- School of Construction Machinery
- Shandong Jiaotong University
- Jinan 250357
- People's Republic of China
| | - Qinggang Zhang
- School of Physics and Electronics
- Shandong Normal University
- Jinan
- People's Republic of China
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20
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Cecconi S, Rapino C, Di Nisio V, Rossi G, Maccarrone M. The (endo)cannabinoid signaling in female reproduction: What are the latest advances? Prog Lipid Res 2019; 77:101019. [PMID: 31862482 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2019.101019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis extracts like marijuana have the highest consumption rate worldwide. Yet, their societal acceptance as recreational and therapeutic drugs could represent a serious hazard to female human reproduction, because cannabis ingredients [termed (phyto)cannabinoids] can perturb an endogenous system of lipid signals known as endocannabinoids. Accumulated evidence on animal models and humans has demonstrated a crucial role of these endogenous signals on different aspects of female reproduction, where they act through an ensamble of proteins that synthesize, transport, degrade and traffic them. Several reports have recently evidenced the potential role of endocannabinoids as biomarkers of female infertility for disease treatment and prevention, as well as their possible epigenetic effects on pregnancy. The purpose of this review is to provide an update of data collected in the last decade on the effects of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids on female reproductive events, from development and maturation of follicles and oocytes, to fertilization, oviductal transport, implantation and labor. In this context, a particular attention has been devoted to the ovary and the production of fertilizable oocytes, because recent studies have addressed this hot topic with conflicting results among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Cecconi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Rapino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
| | - Valentina Di Nisio
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Gianna Rossi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64 - 00143 Rome, Italy.
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21
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Zhang M, Shi X, Wu J, Wang Y, Lin J, Zhao Y, Li H, Ren M, Hu R, Liu F, Deng H. CoCl 2 induced hypoxia enhances osteogenesis of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through cannabinoid receptor 2. Arch Oral Biol 2019; 108:104525. [PMID: 31472278 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.104525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the role of Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) on osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS BMSCs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in the presence of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to induce intracellular hypoxia. Cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were applied to evaluate the mRNA and protein expressions of CB2 and osteogenic indicators including osteocalcin, RUNX2, collagen-1 and osterix (SP7). The osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was further examined by ALP assay and alizarin red S (ARS) staining. Moreover, the activation of MAPKs signaling pathways was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS CoCl2 dose-dependently increased hypoxia inducible factor while higher concentrations (200 and 400 μM) of CoCl2 markedly inhibited cell proliferation. CoCl2 induced hypoxia significantly increased the protein and mRNA expressions of osteocalcin, RUNX2, collagen-1 and osterix, along with enhanced ALP and ARS staining. Interestingly, such effects can be inhibited by the addition of CB2 inhibitor AM630. Moreover, AM630 partially inhibited hypoxia-induced p38 and ERK pathways, which may lead to a decrease in the osteogenic transcripts of RUNX2, collagen-1 and osterix. CONCLUSIONS CoCl2 induced hypoxia could promote osteogenesis of rat BMSCs possibly through CB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghan Zhang
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinlian Shi
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingxiang Wu
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Wang
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Lin
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ya Zhao
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huimin Li
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Manman Ren
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rongdang Hu
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Fen Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Hui Deng
- School of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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22
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Szilagyi JT, Composto-Wahler GM, Joseph LB, Wang B, Rosen T, Laskin JD, Aleksunes LM. Anandamide down-regulates placental transporter expression through CB2 receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP synthesis. Pharmacol Res 2019; 141:331-342. [PMID: 30610963 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The BCRP/ABCG2 efflux transporter is expressed on the membrane of placental syncytiotrophoblasts and protects the fetus from toxicant exposure. Syncytiotrophoblasts arise from the fusion of cytotrophoblasts, a process negatively regulated by the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA). It is unknown whether AEA can influence fetal concentrations of xenobiotics by modulating the expression of transporters in syncytiotrophoblasts. Here, we sought to characterize and identify the mechanism(s) responsible for AEA-mediated down-regulation of the BCRP transporter in human placental explants and BeWo trophoblasts. Treatment of human placental explants with AEA (1 μM, 24 h) reduced hCGα, syncytin-1, and BCRP mRNAs by ˜30%. Similarly, treatment of BeWo trophoblasts with AEA (0-10 μM, 3-24 h) coordinately down-regulated mRNAs for hCGß, syncytin-2, and BCRP. In turn, AEA increased the sensitivity of trophoblasts to the cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone, a known BCRP substrate, and environmental and dietary contaminants including mycoestrogens and perfluorinated chemicals. AEA-treated trophoblasts also demonstrated reduced BCRP transport of the mycoestrogen zearalenone and the diabetes drug glyburide, labeled with BODIPY. The AEA-mediated reduction of BCRP mRNA was abrogated when placental cells were co-treated with AM630, a CB2 receptor inhibitor, or 8-Br-cAMP, a cAMP analog. AEA reduced intracellular cAMP levels in trophoblasts by 75% at 1 h, and completely inhibited forskolin-induced phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). AEA also decreased p-CREB binding to the BCRP promoter. Taken together, our data indicate that AEA down-regulates placental transporter expression and activity via CB2-cAMP signaling. This novel mechanism may explain the repression of placental BCRP expression observed during diseases of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Szilagyi
- Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, Rutgers University, School of Graduate Studies, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Gabriella M Composto-Wahler
- Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, Rutgers University, School of Graduate Studies, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Laurie B Joseph
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| | - Bingbing Wang
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| | - Todd Rosen
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| | - Jeffrey D Laskin
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Lauren M Aleksunes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA; Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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23
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Bukiya AN. Physiology of the Endocannabinoid System During Development. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1162:13-37. [PMID: 31332732 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-21737-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (eCB) system comprises endogenously produced cannabinoids (CBs), enzymes of their production and degradation, and CB-sensing receptors and transporters. The eCB system plays a critical role in virtually all stages of animal development. Studies on eCB system components and their physiological role have gained increasing attention with the rising legalization and medical use of marijuana products. The latter represent exogenous interventions that target the eCB system. This chapter summarizes knowledge in the field of CB contribution to gametogenesis, fertilization, embryo implantation, fetal development, birth, and adolescence-equivalent periods of ontogenesis. The material is complemented by the overview of data from our laboratory documenting the functional presence of the eCB system within cerebral arteries of baboons at different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Bukiya
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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24
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Abán CE, Accialini PL, Etcheverry T, Leguizamón GF, Martinez NA, Farina MG. Crosstalk Between Nitric Oxide and Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways in Normal and Pathological Placentation. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1699. [PMID: 30564135 PMCID: PMC6288445 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are a group of endogenous lipid mediators that act as ligands of cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors, activating multiple signal transduction pathways. Together with enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation, these compounds constitute the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in different physiological processes in reproduction. The placenta, which is essential for the success of gestation and optimal fetal growth, undergoes constant tissue remodeling. ECS members are expressed in trophoblast cells, and current evidence suggests that this system is involved in placental development, apoptosis, and syncytialization. Impairment of endocannabinoid signaling has been associated with several pathological conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. Both clinical entities are characterized by dysregulation on vascular perfusion where nitrergic system performs a pivotal role. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent local vasodepressor that exerts a critical role in the regulation of hemodynamic flow, contributing to the maintenance of low vascular resistance in the feto-placental circulation. NO production could be affected by different factors and growing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid mediators may regulate nitrergic signaling. Herein, we review emerging knowledge supporting ECS-mediated regulation of NO production in normal placentation. Finally, we discuss how alterations in these systems could affect homoeostasis and contribute to the occurrence of placental-mediated pregnancy complications. Given the impact on women and perinatal heath, we will focus on current knowledge regarding the effects of ECS on nitrergic system in normal and pathological placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia E Abán
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada a las Neurociencias (LIAN), FLENI - CONICET, Belén de Escobar, Argentina
| | - Paula L Accialini
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Etcheverry
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Nora A Martinez
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción, IFIBIO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Red Iberoamericana de Alteraciones Vasculares Asociadas a Trastornos del Embarazo (RIVA-TREM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana G Farina
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología Placentaria, CEFyBO-UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Red Iberoamericana de Alteraciones Vasculares Asociadas a Trastornos del Embarazo (RIVA-TREM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Isoform-Specific Compensation of Cyclooxygenase (Ptgs) Genes during Implantation and Late-Stage Pregnancy. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12097. [PMID: 30108257 PMCID: PMC6092371 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The participation of cyclooxygenase (COX) in embryo implantation and parturition has been studied extensively. However, the distinct role of the two COX isoforms in these processes still remains unclear. Using three characterized mouse lines where the Ptgs1 and Ptgs2 genes substitute for one another, this study focused on the reproductive significance of their distinct roles and potential biological substitution. In both non-gravid and gravid uteri, the knock-in COX-2 is expressed constitutively, whereas the knock-in COX-1 is slightly induced in early implantation. The delayed onset of parturition previously found in COX-1 null mice was corrected by COX-2 exchange in COX-2>COX-1 mice, with normal term pregnancy, gestation length and litter size. In contrast, loss of native COX-2 in COX-1>COX-2 mice resulted in severely impaired reproductive functions. Knock-in COX-1 failed to substitute for the loss of COX-2 in COX-1>COX-2 mice during implantation, indicating that COX-1 may be replaced by COX-2, but not vice versa. A panel of prostaglandins detected in uterus and ovary demonstrates that prostaglandin biosynthesis preferentially depends on native COX-1, but not COX-2. More interestingly, preferential compensations by the COX isoforms were sustained despite weak dependency on their role in prostaglandin biosynthesis in the uterus and ovary.
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26
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Implantation loss induced by ethanolamine in the rat is ameliorated by a choline-supplemented diet. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 78:102-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Correa F, Wolfson ML, Valchi P, Aisemberg J, Franchi AM. Endocannabinoid system and pregnancy. Reproduction 2017; 152:R191-R200. [PMID: 27798285 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (eCS), is a complex system, comprising the main endogenous ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and the biosynthetic and degrading enzymes. Cumulative evidence shows that the eCS plays an important role in reproduction, from egg fertilization to parturition. Therefore, alterations in this system, either by recreation/therapeutic use of cannabis or deregulation of the endogenous cannabinoids, might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including retardation in embryo development, poor blastocyst implantation, inhibition of decidualization, miscarriage and compromised placentation. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which the eCS participates in different stages of pregnancy remain poorly understood. In this review, we will examine the evidence from animal and human studies to support the role of the eCS in implantation, early-to-late pregnancy and placentation as well as the difficulties of targeting this system for treatment of female infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Correa
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel L Wolfson
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Valchi
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Aisemberg
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Center for Pharmacological and Botanical StudiesNational Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ligresti A, De Petrocellis L, Di Marzo V. From Phytocannabinoids to Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids: Pleiotropic Physiological and Pathological Roles Through Complex Pharmacology. Physiol Rev 2016; 96:1593-659. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00002.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apart from having been used and misused for at least four millennia for, among others, recreational and medicinal purposes, the cannabis plant and its most peculiar chemical components, the plant cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids), have the merit to have led humanity to discover one of the most intriguing and pleiotropic endogenous signaling systems, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This review article aims to describe and critically discuss, in the most comprehensive possible manner, the multifaceted aspects of 1) the pharmacology and potential impact on mammalian physiology of all major phytocannabinoids, and not only of the most famous one Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and 2) the adaptive pro-homeostatic physiological, or maladaptive pathological, roles of the ECS in mammalian cells, tissues, and organs. In doing so, we have respected the chronological order of the milestones of the millennial route from medicinal/recreational cannabis to the ECS and beyond, as it is now clear that some of the early steps in this long path, which were originally neglected, are becoming important again. The emerging picture is rather complex, but still supports the belief that more important discoveries on human physiology, and new therapies, might come in the future from new knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Ligresti
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Comprensorio Olivetti, Pozzuoli, Italy
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Wang X, Khatri S, Broaddus R, Wang Z, Hawkins SM. Deletion of Arid1a in Reproductive Tract Mesenchymal Cells Reduces Fertility in Female Mice. Biol Reprod 2016; 94:93. [PMID: 26962117 PMCID: PMC4861168 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.133637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Women with endometriosis can suffer from decreased fecundity or complete infertility via abnormal oocyte function or impaired placental-uterine interactions required for normal pregnancy establishment and maintenance. Although AT-rich interactive domain 1A (SWI-like) (ARID1A) is a putative tumor suppressor in human endometrial cancers and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers, little is known about its role in normal uterine function. To study the potential function of ARID1A in the female reproductive tract, we generated mice with a conditional knockout of Arid1a using anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2-Cre. Female Arid1a conditional knockout mice exhibited a progressive decrease in number of pups per litter, with a precipitous decline after the second litter. We observed no tumors in virgin mice, although one knockout mouse developed a uterine tumor after pregnancy. Unstimulated virgin female knockout mice showed normal oviductal, ovarian, and uterine histology. Uteri of Arid1a knockout mice showed a normal decidualization response and appropriate responses to estradiol and progesterone stimulation. In vitro studies using primary cultures of human endometrial stromal fibroblasts revealed that small interfering RNA knockdown of ARID1A did not affect decidualization in vitro. Timed pregnancy studies revealed the significant resorption of embryos at Embryonic Day 16.5 in knockout mice in the third pregnancy. In addition to evidence of implantation site hemorrhage, pregnant Arid1a knockout mice showed abnormal placental morphology. These results suggest that Arid1a supports successful pregnancy through its role in placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyin Wang
- Indiana University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Shikha Khatri
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston, Texas
| | - Russell Broaddus
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Houston, Texas
| | - Zhong Wang
- University of Michigan, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shannon M Hawkins
- Indiana University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indianapolis, Indiana
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The endocannabinoid system: A novel player in human placentation. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 61:58-67. [PMID: 26965993 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is the most consumed illegal drug around the world. Its consumption during pregnancy is associated with gestational complications, particularly with fetal growth restriction. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid molecules that act by activating the G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors, which are also target of the phytocannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The endocannabinoid system (ECS) participates in distinct biological processes, including pain, inflammation, neuroprotection, and several reproductive events. In addition, an abnormal expression of ECS is associated with infertility and miscarriages. This manuscript will review and discuss the expression of ECS in normal and pathological human placentas, and the role of eCBs and THC in trophoblast proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and function. The current evidence points towards a role of ECS in human placentation, shedding light on the contribution of the eCBs in the coordination of human placentation, and in the cellular mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of cannabis consumption during pregnancy.
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31
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Sun X, Deng W, Li Y, Tang S, Leishman E, Bradshaw HB, Dey SK. Sustained Endocannabinoid Signaling Compromises Decidual Function and Promotes Inflammation-induced Preterm Birth. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:8231-40. [PMID: 26900150 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.707836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies provide evidence that premature maternal decidual senescence resulting from heightened mTORC1 signaling is a cause of preterm birth (PTB). We show here that mice devoid of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) with elevated levels ofN-arachidonyl ethanolamide (anandamide), a major endocannabinoid lipid mediator, were more susceptible to PTB upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Anandamide is degraded by FAAH and primarily works by activating two G-protein-coupled receptors CB1 and CB2, encoded by Cnr1 and Cnr2, respectively. We found thatFaah(-/-)decidual cells progressively underwent premature senescence as marked by increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining and γH2AX-positive decidual cells. Interestingly, increased endocannabinoid signaling activated MAPK p38, but not p42/44 or mTORC1 signaling, inFaah(-/-)deciduae, and inhibition of p38 halted premature decidual senescence. We further showed that treatment of a long-acting anandamide in wild-type mice at midgestation triggered premature decidual senescence utilizing CB1, since administration of a CB1 antagonist greatly reduced the rate of PTB inFaah(-/-)females exposed to LPS. These results provide evidence that endocannabinoid signaling is critical in regulating decidual senescence and parturition timing. This study identifies a previously unidentified pathway in decidual senescence, which is independent of mTORC1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Sun
- From the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and
| | - Wenbo Deng
- From the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and
| | - Yingju Li
- From the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and
| | - Shuang Tang
- From the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and
| | - Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
| | - Sudhansu K Dey
- From the Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 and
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32
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Liu LY, Alexa K, Cortes M, Schatzman-Bone S, Kim AJ, Mukhopadhyay B, Cinar R, Kunos G, North TE, Goessling W. Cannabinoid receptor signaling regulates liver development and metabolism. Development 2016; 143:609-22. [PMID: 26884397 PMCID: PMC4760316 DOI: 10.1242/dev.121731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoid (EC) signaling mediates psychotropic effects and regulates appetite. By contrast, potential roles in organ development and embryonic energy consumption remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that genetic or chemical inhibition of cannabinoid receptor (Cnr) activity disrupts liver development and metabolic function in zebrafish (Danio rerio), impacting hepatic differentiation, but not endodermal specification: loss of cannabinoid receptor 1 (cnr1) and cnr2 activity leads to smaller livers with fewer hepatocytes, reduced liver-specific gene expression and proliferation. Functional assays reveal abnormal biliary anatomy and lipid handling. Adult cnr2 mutants are susceptible to hepatic steatosis. Metabolomic analysis reveals reduced methionine content in Cnr mutants. Methionine supplementation rescues developmental and metabolic defects in Cnr mutant livers, suggesting a causal relationship between EC signaling, methionine deficiency and impaired liver development. The effect of Cnr on methionine metabolism is regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factors (Srebfs), as their overexpression rescues Cnr mutant liver phenotypes in a methionine-dependent manner. Our work describes a novel developmental role for EC signaling, whereby Cnr-mediated regulation of Srebfs and methionine metabolism impacts liver development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Y Liu
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kristen Alexa
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mauricio Cortes
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Kim
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bani Mukhopadhyay
- Laboratory of Physiological Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Resat Cinar
- Laboratory of Physiological Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - George Kunos
- Laboratory of Physiological Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Trista E North
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Wolfram Goessling
- Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Gastroenterology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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33
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Wolfson ML, Correa F, Leishman E, Vercelli C, Cymeryng C, Blanco J, Bradshaw HB, Franchi AM. Lipopolysaccharide-induced murine embryonic resorption involves changes in endocannabinoid profiling and alters progesterone secretion and inflammatory response by a CB1-mediated fashion. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 411:214-22. [PMID: 25958042 PMCID: PMC4458170 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genital tract infections are a common complication of human pregnancy that can result in miscarriage. We have previously shown that a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces embryonic resorption in a murine model of inflammatory miscarriage. This is accompanied by a dramatic decrease in systemic progesterone levels associated with a robust pro-inflammatory response that results in embryo resorption. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the endogenous cannabinoid system (eCS), through cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), plays a role in regulating progesterone levels and, therefore, the pro-inflammatory response. We show that LPS treatment in pregnant mice causes significant changes in the eCS ligands, which are reversed by progesterone treatment. We further show the CB1-KO mice maintain higher plasma progesterone levels after LPS treatment, which is associated with a feebler uterine inflammatory response and a significant drop in embryo resorption. These data suggest that manipulation of CB1 receptors and/or ligands is a potential therapeutic avenue to decrease infection-induced miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel L Wolfson
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Fernando Correa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Claudia Vercelli
- Biomedicine Research Institute of Buenos Aires, Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society (MPSP), National Research Council, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cora Cymeryng
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Blanco
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Ana María Franchi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Costa MA, Fonseca BM, Marques F, Teixeira NA, Correia-da-Silva G. The psychoactive compound of Cannabis sativa, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhibits the human trophoblast cell turnover. Toxicology 2015; 334:94-103. [PMID: 26070387 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The noxious effects of cannabis consumption for fertility and pregnancy outcome are recognized for years. Its consumption during gestation is associated with alterations in foetal growth, low birth weight and preterm labor. The main psychoactive molecule of cannabis, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs the production of reproductive hormones and is also able to cross the placenta barrier. However, its effect on the main placental cells, the trophoblasts, are unknown. Actually, the role of THC in cell survival/death of primary human cytotrophoblasts (CTs) and syncytiotrophoblasts (STs) and in the syncytialization process remains to be explored. Here, we show that THC has a dual effect, enhancing MTT metabolism at low concentrations, whereas higher doses decreased cell viability, on both trophoblast phenotypes, though the effects on STs were more evident. THC also diminished the generation of oxidative and nitrative stress and the oxidized form of glutathione, whereas the reduced form of this tripeptide was increased, suggesting that THC prevents ST cell death due to an antioxidant effect. Moreover, this compound enhanced the mitochondrial function of STs, as observed by the increased MTT metabolism and intracellular ATP levels. These effects were independent of cannabinoid receptors activation. Besides, THC impaired CT differentiation into STs, since it decreased the expression of biochemical and morphological biomarkers of syncytialization, through a cannabinoid receptor-dependent mechanism. Together, these results suggest that THC interferes with trophoblast turnover, preventing trophoblast cell death and differentiation, and contribute to disclose the cellular mechanisms that lead to pregnancy complications in women that consume cannabis-derived drugs during gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Costa
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - B M Fonseca
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE Laboratório de Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - F Marques
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE Laboratório de Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - N A Teixeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE Laboratório de Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - G Correia-da-Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE Laboratório de Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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35
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Entosis allows timely elimination of the luminal epithelial barrier for embryo implantation. Cell Rep 2015; 11:358-65. [PMID: 25865893 PMCID: PMC5089169 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
During implantation, uterine luminal epithelial (LE) cells first interact with the blastocyst trophectoderm. Within 30 hr after the initiation of attachment, LE cells surrounding the blastocyst in the implantation chamber (crypt) disappear, allowing trophoblast cells to make direct physical contact with the underneath stroma for successful implantation. The mechanism for the extraction of LE cells was thought to be mediated by apoptosis. Here, we show that LE cells in direct contact with the blastocyst are endocytosed by trophoblast cells by adopting the nonapoptotic cell-in-cell invasion process (entosis) in the absence of caspase 3 activation. Our in vivo observations were reinforced by the results of co-culture experiments with primary uterine epithelial cells with trophoblast stem cells or blastocysts showing internalization of epithelial cells by trophoblasts. We have identified entosis as a mechanism to remove LE cells by trophoblast cells in implantation, conferring a role for entosis in an important physiological process.
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36
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Maccarrone M, Bab I, Bíró T, Cabral GA, Dey SK, Di Marzo V, Konje JC, Kunos G, Mechoulam R, Pacher P, Sharkey KA, Zimmer A. Endocannabinoid signaling at the periphery: 50 years after THC. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2015; 36:277-96. [PMID: 25796370 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 434] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In 1964, the psychoactive ingredient of Cannabis sativa, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was isolated. Nearly 30 years later the endogenous counterparts of THC, collectively termed endocannabinoids (eCBs), were discovered: N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) (AEA) in 1992 and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in 1995. Since then, considerable research has shed light on the impact of eCBs on human health and disease, identifying an ensemble of proteins that bind, synthesize, and degrade them and that together form the eCB system (ECS). eCBs control basic biological processes including cell choice between survival and death and progenitor/stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Unsurprisingly, in the past two decades eCBs have been recognized as key mediators of several aspects of human pathophysiology and thus have emerged to be among the most widespread and versatile signaling molecules ever discovered. Here some of the pioneers of this research field review the state of the art of critical eCB functions in peripheral organs. Our community effort is aimed at establishing consensus views on the relevance of the peripheral ECS for human health and disease pathogenesis, as well as highlighting emerging challenges and therapeutic hopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Maccarrone
- Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy; Center for Brain Research, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Itai Bab
- Bone Laboratory, Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Jerusalem, Israel; Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tamás Bíró
- DE-MTA 'Lendület' Cellular Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Guy A Cabral
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sudhansu K Dey
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Council of Research, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Justin C Konje
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - George Kunos
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Raphael Mechoulam
- Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Pal Pacher
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Keith A Sharkey
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Brosnihan KB, Pulgar VM, Gallagher PE, Neves LAA, Yamaleyeva LM. Local uterine Ang-(1-7) infusion augments the expression of cannabinoid receptors and differentially alters endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes in the decidualized uterus of pseudopregnant rats. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:5. [PMID: 25596750 PMCID: PMC4325957 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-13-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocannabinoids (ECs) are important contributors to implantation and decidualization and are suppressed in early pregnancy. Elevated levels of anandamide (AEA), the endogenous ligand for the CB1 and CB2 receptors (R), interfere with receptivity of the blastocyst. Ang-(1-7) is down-regulated in the implantation site (IS) in normal pregnancy at day 7 of gestation. We determined the effects of intra-uterine angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] (24 microg/kg/h) or vehicle given into the left uterine horn on the ECs in the decidualized uterus. METHODS Ovariectomized rats were sensitized for the decidual cell reaction by steroid treatment and decidualization was induced by a bolus of oil injected into the left horn; the right horn served as a control. RESULTS Decidualization increased endometrial permeability (3.1+/-0.2 vs. 7.1+/-0.5 uterus/muscle of cpm of (125)I-BSA, p < 0.0001). VEGF mRNA was increased by the decidualization (1.4-fold, p < 0.05) and by Ang-(1-7) (2.0-fold, p < 0.001). CB1R mRNA was reduced by decidualization (2.7-fold, p < 0.001), but increased by Ang-(1-7) (1.9-fold, p < 0.05). CB2R mRNA was increased by decidualization (4-fold, p < 0.05) and by Ang-(1-7) (2.4-fold, p < 0.001). The enzyme metabolizing AEA, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), was reduced by decidualization (7.8 fold, p < 0.001) and unchanged by Ang-(1-7) (p > 0.05), whereas the enzyme metabolizing 2-arachidonoylglycerol, monoacyl glycerol lipase (MAGL), was unchanged by decidualization (p > 0.05) and increased by Ang-(1-7) (1.7 fold, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings report for the first time that Ang-(1-7) augments the expression of CB1R, CB2R and MAGL in the decidualized uterus and thus may interfere with the early events of decidualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bridget Brosnihan
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
| | - Victor M Pulgar
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
- Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC USA
| | - Patricia E Gallagher
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
| | - Liomar AA Neves
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
| | - Liliya M Yamaleyeva
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
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Abstract
The lasting research on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has now provided solid and convincing evidence that proves the detrimental effects of recreational drug abuse (a growing habit among teenagers) on fertility. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) affect reproductive events from gametogenesis to fertilization, from embryo implantation to the final outcome of pregnancy and, thus, they have been proposed as suitable biomarkers to predict the reproductive potential of male and female gametes in clinical practice. Novel tools for reproductive medicine are highly sought after, and here we report the latest findings on the impact of the ECS on fertility, demonstrating how basic research can be translated into new medical strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Battista
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Monica Bari
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
- School of Medicine and Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
The physiological and pathophysiological functions of the endocannabinoid system have been studied extensively using transgenic and targeted knockout mouse models. The first gene deletions of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor were described in the late 1990s, soon followed by CB(2) and FAAH mutations in early 2000. These mouse models helped to elucidate the fundamental role of endocannabinoids as retrograde transmitters in the CNS and in the discovery of many unexpected endocannabinoid functions, for example, in the skin, bone and liver. We now have knockout mouse models for almost every receptor and enzyme of the endocannabinoid system. Conditional mutant mice were mostly developed for the CB(1) receptor, which is widely expressed on many different neurons, astrocytes and microglia, as well as on many cells outside the CNS. These mouse strains include "floxed" CB(1) alleles and mice with a conditional re-expression of CB(1). The availability of these mice made it possible to decipher the function of CB(1) in specific neuronal circuits and cell populations or to discriminate between central and peripheral effects. Many of the genetic mouse models were also used in combination with viral expression systems. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing genetic models and to summarize some of the most important discoveries that were made with these animals.
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MESH Headings
- Amidohydrolases/genetics
- Amidohydrolases/metabolism
- Animals
- Endocannabinoids/genetics
- Endocannabinoids/metabolism
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genotype
- Humans
- Hydrolysis
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/genetics
- Monoacylglycerol Lipases/metabolism
- Mutation
- Phenotype
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Fügedi G, Molnár M, Rigó J, Schönléber J, Kovalszky I, Molvarec A. Increased placental expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 in preeclampsia: an observational study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2014; 14:395. [PMID: 25444073 PMCID: PMC4264532 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-014-0395-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in female reproduction, including implantation, decidualization and placentation. In the present study, we aimed to analyze cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), CB2 and fatty acid amid hydrolase (FAAH) expressions and localization in normal and preeclamptic placenta, in order to determine whether placental endocannabinoid expression pattern differs between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. METHODS Eighteen preeclamptic patients and 18 normotensive, healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies were involved in our case-control study. We determined CB1, CB2 and FAAH expressions by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in placental samples collected directly after Cesarean section. RESULTS CB1 expression semi-quantified by Western blotting was significantly higher in preeclamptic placenta, and these findings were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. CB1 immunoreactivity was markedly stronger in syncytiotrophoblasts, the mesenchymal core, decidua, villous capillary endothelial and smooth muscle cells, as well as in the amnion in preeclamptic samples compared to normal pregnancies. However, we did not find significant differences between preeclamptic and normal placenta in terms of CB2 and FAAH expressions and immunoreactivity. CONCLUSIONS We observed markedly higher expression of CB1 protein in preeclamptic placental tissue. Increased CB1 expression might cause abnormal decidualization and impair trophoblast invasion, thus being involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, we did not find significant differences between preeclamptic and normal placental tissue regarding CB2 and FAAH expressions. While the detailed pathogenesis of preeclampsia is still unclear, the endocannabinoid system could play a role in the development of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Fügedi
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Baross utca 27, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary.
| | - Miklós Molnár
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - János Rigó
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Baross utca 27, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary.
| | - Júlia Schönléber
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Baross utca 27, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary.
| | - Ilona Kovalszky
- First Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Attila Molvarec
- First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Baross utca 27, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary.
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Warner TD, Roussos-Ross D, Behnke M. It's not your mother's marijuana: effects on maternal-fetal health and the developing child. Clin Perinatol 2014; 41:877-94. [PMID: 25459779 PMCID: PMC4254522 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2014.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Pro-marijuana advocacy efforts exemplified by the "medical" marijuana movement, coupled with the absence of conspicuous public health messages about the potential dangers of marijuana use during pregnancy, could lead to greater use of today's more potent marijuana, which could have significant short- and long-term consequences. This article reviews the current literature regarding the effects of prenatal marijuana use on the pregnant woman and her offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara D. Warner
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 100296, Gainesville, FL 32610-0296, (352) 273-8985
| | - Dikea Roussos-Ross
- University of Florida, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.O. Box 100294, Gainesville, FL 32610-0294, (352) 273-7660
| | - Marylou Behnke
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, P.O. Box 100296, Gainesville, FL 32610-0296, (352) 273-8985
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42
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Chen Y, Kong S, Tang X, Fu Y, Wang B, Zhang S, Wang H. Preimplantation Mouse Embryo Is a Target for Opioid Ligand-Receptor Signaling1. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:4. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.118083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Pulgar VM, Yamaleyeva LM, Varagic J, McGee CM, Bader M, Dechend R, Howlett AC, Brosnihan KB. Increased angiotensin II contraction of the uterine artery at early gestation in a transgenic model of hypertensive pregnancy is reduced by inhibition of endocannabinoid hydrolysis. Hypertension 2014; 64:619-25. [PMID: 24935942 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.114.03633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Increased vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II (Ang II) is a marker of a hypertensive human pregnancy. Recent evidence of interactions between the renin-angiotensin system and the endocannabinoid system suggests that anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol may modulate Ang II contraction. We hypothesized that these interactions may contribute to the enhanced vascular responses in hypertensive pregnancy. We studied Ang II contraction in isolated uterine artery (UA) at early gestation in a rat model that mimics many features of preeclampsia, the transgenic human angiotensinogen×human renin (TgA), and control Sprague-Dawley rats. We determined the role of the cannabinoid receptor 1 by blockade with SR171416A, and the contribution of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol degradation to Ang II contraction by inhibiting their hydrolyzing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (with URB597) or monoacylglycerol lipase (with JZL184), respectively. TgA UA showed increased maximal contraction and sensitivity to Ang II that was inhibited by indomethacin. Fatty acid amide hydrolase blockade decreased Ang IIMAX in Sprague-Dawley UA, and decreased both Ang IIMAX and sensitivity in TgA UA. Monoacylglycerol lipase blockade had no effect on Sprague-Dawley UA and decreased Ang IIMAX and sensitivity in TgA UA. Blockade of the cannabinoid receptor 1 in TgA UA had no effect. Immunolocalization of fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase showed a similar pattern between groups; fatty acid amide hydrolase predominantly localized in endothelium and monoacylglycerol lipase in smooth muscle cells. We demonstrated an increased Ang II contraction in TgA UA before initiation of the hypertensive phenotype. Anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol reduced Ang II contraction in a cannabinoid receptor 1-independent manner. These renin-angiotensin system-endocannabinoid system interactions may contribute to the enhanced vascular reactivity in early stages of hypertensive pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Pulgar
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.).
| | - Liliya M Yamaleyeva
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - Jasmina Varagic
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - Carolynne M McGee
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - Michael Bader
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - Ralf Dechend
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - Allyn C Howlett
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
| | - K Bridget Brosnihan
- From Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.), Surgical Sciences (L.M.Y., J.V., C.M.M., K.B.B.), and Physiology and Pharmacology (K.B.B.), Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (V.M.P.) and Physiology and Pharmacology (A.C.H.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Infrastructure Center, Winston-Salem State University, NC (V.M.P.); Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany (M.B.); and Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany (M.B., R.D.)
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44
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Ruan YC, Chen H, Chan HC. Ion channels in the endometrium: regulation of endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 20:517-29. [PMID: 24591147 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although embryo implantation is a prerequisite for human reproduction, it remains a poorly understood process. The molecular mechanisms regulating endometrial receptivity and/or embryo implantation are still largely unclear. METHODS Pubmed and Medline literature databases were searched for articles in English published up to December 2013 with relevant keywords including 'endometrium', 'Na(+), Cl(-), K(+), or Ca(2+) channels', 'ion channels', 'endometrial receptivity', 'blastocyst implantation' and 'embryo implantation'. RESULTS At the time of writing, more than 14 types of ion channels, including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, epithelial sodium channel and various Ca(2+) and K(+) channels, had been reported to be expressed in the endometrium or cells of endometrial origin. In vitro and/or in vivo studies conducted on different species, including rodents, pigs and humans, demonstrated the involvement of various ion channels in the process of embryo implantation by regulating: (i) uterine luminal fluid volume; (ii) decidualization; and (iii) the expression of the genes associated with implantation. Importantly, abnormal ion channel expression was found to be associated with implantation failure in IVF patients. CONCLUSIONS Ion channels in the endometrium are emerging as important players in regulating endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Abnormal expression or function of ion channels in the endometrium may lead to impaired endometrial receptivity and/or implantation failure. Further investigation into the roles of endometrial ion channels may provide a better understanding of the complex process of embryo implantation and thus reveal novel targets for diagnosis and treatment of implantation failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Chun Ruan
- Sichuan University - The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
| | - Hui Chen
- Sichuan University - The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
| | - Hsiao Chang Chan
- Sichuan University - The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
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45
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Sun X, Dey SK. Synthetic cannabinoids and potential reproductive consequences. Life Sci 2014; 97:72-7. [PMID: 23827241 PMCID: PMC3823745 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Revised: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Increases in emergency room visits due to abuse of designer drugs, popularly known by the street names "K2" and "Spice," are a cause for social, judicial, and clinical concerns. The psychoactive components in these herbal drugs mainly consist of different synthetic cannabinoids, and users of these street drugs are primarily within the age group of 12 to 20years old. The abusive use of synthetic cannabinoids results in anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, hallucinations, and paranoid behavior, but the effects of maternal use of synthetic cannabinoids during pregnancy are ambiguous due to limited studies in humans and a relative short history of the drugs. In this review, we discuss the known and potential adverse effects of synthetic cannabinoids on human pregnancy using knowledge gathered from studies in mice and limited studies in humans. In mice, multiple sites and stages of pregnancy are potential targets of synthetic cannabinoids, including preimplantation embryo development, oviductal embryo transport, implantation, placentation, and parturition. It is anticipated that maternal use of synthetic cannabinoids would result in severely compromised female fertility and pregnancy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Sun
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Sudhansu K Dey
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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Rapino C, Battista N, Bari M, Maccarrone M. Endocannabinoids as biomarkers of human reproduction. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 20:501-16. [PMID: 24516083 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that affects ∼10-15% of couples attempting to conceive a baby. More than half of all cases of infertility are a result of female conditions, while the remaining cases can be attributed to male factors, or to a combination of both. The search for suitable biomarkers of pregnancy outcome is a challenging issue in human reproduction, aimed at identifying molecules with predictive significance of the reproductive potential of male and female gametes. Among the various candidates, endocannabinoids (eCBs), and in particular anandamide (AEA), represent potential biomarkers of human fertility disturbances. Any perturbation of the balance between synthesis and degradation of eCBs will result in local changes of their tone in human female and male reproductive tracts, which in turn regulates various pathophysiological processes, oocyte and sperm maturation included. METHODS PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for papers using relevant keywords like 'biomarker', 'endocannabinoid', 'infertility', 'pregnancy' and 'reproduction'. RESULTS In this review, we discuss different studies on the measurements of AEA and related eCBs in human reproductive cells, tissues and fluids, where the local contribution of these bioactive lipids could be critical in ensuring normal sperm fertilizing ability and pregnancy. CONCLUSION Based on the available data, we suggest that the AEA tone has the potential to be exploited as a novel diagnostic biomarker of infertility, to be used in association with assays of conventional hormones (e.g. progesterone, β-chorionic gonadotrophin) and semen analysis. However further quantitative research of its predictive capacity is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Rapino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy StemTeCh Group, Chieti, Italy
| | - Natalia Battista
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Bari
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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47
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Meccariello R, Battista N, Bradshaw HB, Wang H. Updates in reproduction coming from the endocannabinoid system. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014:412354. [PMID: 24550985 PMCID: PMC3914453 DOI: 10.1155/2014/412354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an evolutionarily conserved master system deeply involved in the central and local control of reproductive functions in both sexes. The tone of these lipid mediators-deeply modulated by the activity of biosynthetic and hydrolyzing machineries-regulates reproductive functions from gonadotropin discharge and steroid biosynthesis to the formation of high quality gametes and successful pregnancy. This review provides an overview on ECS and reproduction and focuses on the insights in the regulation of endocannabinoid production by steroids, in the regulation of male reproductive activity, and in placentation and parturition. Taken all together, evidences emerge that the activity of the ECS is crucial for procreation and may represent a target for the therapeutic exploitation of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Meccariello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Motorie e del Benessere, Università di Napoli Parthenope, via Medina 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- *Rosaria Meccariello:
| | - Natalia Battista
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Santa Lucia Foundation, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Heather B. Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Haibin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Melford SE, Taylor AH, Konje JC. Of mice and (wo)men: factors influencing successful implantation including endocannabinoids. Hum Reprod Update 2013; 20:415-28. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmt060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Role of FAAH-like anandamide transporter in anandamide inactivation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79355. [PMID: 24223930 PMCID: PMC3817039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system modulates numerous physiological processes including nociception and reproduction. Anandamide (AEA) is an endocannabinoid that is inactivated by cellular uptake followed by intracellular hydrolysis by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Recently, FAAH-like anandamide transporter (FLAT), a truncated and catalytically-inactive variant of FAAH, was proposed to function as an intracellular AEA carrier and mediate its delivery to FAAH for hydrolysis. Pharmacological inhibition of FLAT potentiated AEA signaling and produced antinociceptive effects. Given that endocannabinoids produce analgesia through central and peripheral mechanisms, the goal of the current work was to examine the expression of FLAT in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In contrast to the original report characterizing FLAT, expression of FLAT was not observed in any of the tissues examined. To investigate the role of FLAT as a putative AEA binding protein, FLAT was generated from FAAH using polymerase chain reaction and further analyzed. Despite its low cellular expression, FLAT displayed residual catalytic activity that was sensitive to FAAH inhibitors and abolished following mutation of its catalytic serine. Overexpression of FLAT potentiated AEA cellular uptake and this appeared to be dependent upon its catalytic activity. Immunofluorescence revealed that FLAT localizes primarily to intracellular membranes and does not contact the plasma membrane, suggesting that its capability to potentiate AEA uptake may stem from its enzymatic rather than transport activity. Collectively, our data demonstrate that FLAT does not serve as a global intracellular AEA carrier, although a role in mediating localized AEA inactivation in mammalian tissues cannot be ruled out.
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Galve-Roperh I, Chiurchiù V, Díaz-Alonso J, Bari M, Guzmán M, Maccarrone M. Cannabinoid receptor signaling in progenitor/stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Prog Lipid Res 2013; 52:633-50. [PMID: 24076098 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids, the active components of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) extracts, have attracted the attention of human civilizations for centuries, much earlier than the discovery and characterization of their substrate of action, the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The latter is an ensemble of endogenous lipids, their receptors [in particular type-1 (CB1) and type-2 (CB2) cannabinoid receptors] and metabolic enzymes. Cannabinoid signaling regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, with different outcomes depending on the molecular targets and cellular context involved. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed and functional from the very early developmental stages, when they regulate embryonic and trophoblast stem cell survival and differentiation, and thus may affect the formation of manifold adult specialized tissues derived from the three different germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm). In the ectoderm-derived nervous system, both CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in neural progenitor/stem cells and control their self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. CB1 and CB2 show opposite patterns of expression, the former increasing and the latter decreasing along neuronal differentiation. Recently, endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling has also been shown to regulate proliferation and differentiation of mesoderm-derived hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, with a key role in determining the formation of several cell types in peripheral tissues, including blood cells, adipocytes, osteoblasts/osteoclasts and epithelial cells. Here, we will review these new findings, which unveil the involvement of eCB signaling in the regulation of progenitor/stem cell fate in the nervous system and in the periphery. The developmental regulation of cannabinoid receptor expression and cellular/subcellular localization, together with their role in progenitor/stem cell biology, may have important implications in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Galve-Roperh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, IUIN, CIBERNED and IRYCIS, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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