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Santos-García I, Rodríguez-Cueto C, Villegas P, Piscitelli F, Lauritano A, Shen CKJ, Di Marzo V, Fernández-Ruiz J, de Lago E. Preclinical investigation in FAAH inhibition as a neuroprotective therapy for frontotemporal dementia using TDP-43 transgenic male mice. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:108. [PMID: 37149645 PMCID: PMC10163746 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02792-z] [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: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous group of early onset and progressive neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by degeneration in the frontal and temporal lobes, which causes deterioration in cognition, personality, social behavior and language. Around 45% of the cases are characterized by the presence of aggregates of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43. METHODS In this study, we have used a murine model of FTD that overexpresses this protein exclusively in the forebrain (under the control of the CaMKIIα promoter) for several biochemical, histological and pharmacological studies focused on the endocannabinoid system. RESULTS These mice exhibited at postnatal day 90 (PND90) important cognitive deficits, signs of emotional impairment and disinhibited social behaviour, which were, in most of cases, maintained during the first year of life of these animals. Motor activity was apparently normal, but FTD mice exhibited higher mortality. Their MRI imaging analysis and their ex-vivo histopathological evaluation proved changes compatible with atrophy (loss of specific groups of pyramidal neurons: Ctip2- and NeuN-positive cells) and inflammatory events (astroglial and microglial reactivities) in both cortical (medial prefrontal cortex) and subcortical (hippocampus) structures at PND90 and also at PND365. The analysis of the endocannabinoid system in these mice proved a decrease in the hydrolysing enzyme FAAH in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, with an increase in the synthesizing enzyme NAPE-PLD only in the hippocampus, responses that were accompanied by modest elevations in anandamide and related N-acylethanolamines. The potentiation of these elevated levels of anandamide after the pharmacological inactivation of FAAH with URB597 resulted in a general improvement in behaviour, in particular in cognitive deterioration, associated with the preservation of pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex and the CA1 layer of the hippocampus, and with the reduction of gliosis in both structures. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirmed the potential of elevating the endocannabinoid tone as a therapy against TDP-43-induced neuropathology in FTD, limiting glial reactivity, preserving neuronal integrity and improving cognitive, emotional and social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Santos-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Rodríguez-Cueto
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Villegas
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabiana Piscitelli
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Lauritano
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Che-Kun J Shen
- The PhD Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy
- Canada Excellence Research Chair on the Microbiome-Endocannabinoidome Axis in Metabolic Health, CRIUCPQ and INAF, Centre NUTRISS, Faculties of Medicine and Agriculture and Food Sciences, Université Laval, Quebéc City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eva de Lago
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
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Deplano A, Karlsson J, Moraca F, Svensson M, Cristiano C, Morgillo CM, Fowler CJ, Russo R, Catalanotti B, Onnis V. Design, synthesis and in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of flurbiprofen amides as new fatty acid amide hydrolase/cyclooxygenase-2 dual inhibitory potential analgesic agents. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:940-953. [PMID: 33896320 PMCID: PMC8079065 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1875459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Compounds combining dual inhibitory action against FAAH and cyclooxygenase (COX) may be potentially useful analgesics. Here, we describe a novel flurbiprofen analogue, N-(3-bromopyridin-2-yl)-2-(2-fluoro-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4-yl)propanamide (Flu-AM4). The compound is a competitive, reversible inhibitor of FAAH with a Ki value of 13 nM and which inhibits COX activity in a substrate-selective manner. Molecular modelling suggested that Flu-AM4 optimally fits a hydrophobic pocket in the ACB region of FAAH, and binds to COX-2 similarly to flurbiprofen. In vivo studies indicated that at a dose of 10 mg/kg, Flu-AM4 was active in models of prolonged (formalin) and neuropathic (chronic constriction injury) pain and reduced the spinal expression of iNOS, COX-2, and NFκB in the neuropathic model. Thus, the present study identifies Flu-AM4 as a dual-action FAAH/substrate-selective COX inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in animal pain models. These findings underscore the potential usefulness of such dual-action compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Deplano
- Unit of Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Jessica Karlsson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Federica Moraca
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Net4Science srl, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Mona Svensson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Claudia Cristiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Marco Morgillo
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Roberto Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Catalanotti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Onnis
- Unit of Pharmaceutical, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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3
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Abstract
In this review, the state of the art for compounds affecting the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is described with a focus on the treatment of pain. Amongst directly acting CB receptor ligands, clinical experience with ∆9 -tetrahydracannabinol and medical cannabis in chronic non-cancer pain indicates that there are differences between the benefits perceived by patients and the at best modest effect seen in meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. The reason for this difference is not known but may involve differences in the type of patients that are recruited, the study conditions that are chosen and the degree to which biases such as reporting bias are operative. Other directly acting CB receptor ligands such as biased agonists and allosteric receptor modulators have not yet reached the clinic. Amongst indirectly acting compounds targeting the enzymes responsible for the synthesis and catabolism of the eCBs anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors have been investigated clinically but were per se not useful for the treatment of pain, although they may be useful for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and cannabis use disorder. Dual-acting compounds targeting this enzyme and other targets such as cyclooxygenase-2 or transient potential vanilloid receptor 1 may be a way forward for the treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Fowler
- From the, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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4
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Amalraj A, Jacob J, Varma K, Gopi S. Preparation and Characterization of Liposomal β-Caryophyllene (Rephyll) by Nanofiber Weaving Technology and Its Effects on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Crossover-Designed, and Placebo-Controlled Study. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:24045-24056. [PMID: 32984726 PMCID: PMC7513359 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a complex spreading out, which is related to swelling of muscles, tenderness, rigidity, pain, disruption of muscle fiber, alteration in the kinematics of joint, acute tissue damage, and reduction in power and strength. β-Caryophyllene (BCP), a potent phytocannabinoid, could play an important role in managing DOMS because of its wide diversity of biological activities, particularly its anti-inflammatory activity; however, its poor stability in light, temperature, high volatility, and insolubility can restrict the medical practices. In this study, liposomal β-caryophyllene (Rephyll) was designed and established in powder form constructed by the nanofiber weaving technology to improve the bioavailability of BCP with improved stability. Rephyll was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry studies. Encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and in vitro release studies revealed that Rephyll can be an auspicious drug delivery arrangement for BCP. The effects of Rephyll were evaluated by a randomized, double-blinded, crossover-designed, placebo-controlled study. The oral consumption of Rephyll significantly reduced the pain visual assessment score, revealing that Rephyll effectively reduced DOMS with improved recovery without any side effects due to the bioavailable form of the phytocannabinoid BCP in the liposomal powder formulation.
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5
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Buisseret B, Alhouayek M, Guillemot-Legris O, Muccioli GG. Endocannabinoid and Prostanoid Crosstalk in Pain. Trends Mol Med 2019; 25:882-896. [PMID: 31160168 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Interfering with endocannabinoid (eCB) metabolism to increase their levels is a proven anti-nociception strategy. However, because the eCB and prostanoid systems are intertwined, interfering with eCB metabolism will affect the prostanoid system and inversely. Key to this connection is the production of the cyclooxygenase (COX) substrate arachidonic acid upon eCB hydrolysis as well as the ability of COX to metabolize the eCBs anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) into prostaglandin-ethanolamides (PG-EA) and prostaglandin-glycerol esters (PG-G), respectively. Recent studies shed light on the role of PG-Gs and PG-EAs in nociception and inflammation. Here, we discuss the role of these complex systems in nociception and new opportunities to alleviate pain by interacting with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Buisseret
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Mireille Alhouayek
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Owein Guillemot-Legris
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Giulio G Muccioli
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
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6
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Di Marzo V. New approaches and challenges to targeting the endocannabinoid system. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2018; 17:623-639. [DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2018.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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7
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Enhanced endocannabinoid tone as a potential target of pharmacotherapy. Life Sci 2018; 204:20-45. [PMID: 29729263 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is up-regulated in numerous pathophysiological states such as inflammatory, neurodegenerative, gastrointestinal, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, pain, and cancer. It has been suggested that this phenomenon primarily serves an autoprotective role in inhibiting disease progression and/or diminishing signs and symptoms. Accordingly, enhancement of endogenous endocannabinoid tone by inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation represents a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of many diseases. Importantly, this allows for the avoidance of unwanted psychotropic side effects that accompany exogenously administered cannabinoids. The effects of endocannabinoid metabolic pathway modulation are complex, as endocannabinoids can exert their actions directly or via numerous metabolites. The two main strategies for blocking endocannabinoid degradation are inhibition of endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes and inhibition of endocannabinoid cellular uptake. To date, the most investigated compounds are inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme that degrades the endocannabinoid anandamide. However, application of FAAH inhibitors (and consequently other endocannabinoid degradation inhibitors) in medicine became questionable due to a lack of therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials and serious adverse effects evoked by one specific compound. In this paper, we discuss multiple pathways of endocannabinoid metabolism, changes in endocannabinoid levels across numerous human diseases and corresponding experimental models, pharmacological strategies for enhancing endocannabinoid tone and potential therapeutic applications including multi-target drugs with additional targets outside of the endocannabinoid system (cyclooxygenase-2, cholinesterase, TRPV1, and PGF2α-EA receptors), and currently used medicines or medicinal herbs that additionally enhance endocannabinoid levels. Ultimately, further clinical and preclinical studies are warranted to develop medicines for enhancing endocannabinoid tone.
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8
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van Esbroeck ACM, Janssen APA, Cognetta AB, Ogasawara D, Shpak G, van der Kroeg M, Kantae V, Baggelaar MP, de Vrij FMS, Deng H, Allarà M, Fezza F, Lin Z, van der Wel T, Soethoudt M, Mock ED, den Dulk H, Baak IL, Florea BI, Hendriks G, De Petrocellis L, Overkleeft HS, Hankemeier T, De Zeeuw CI, Di Marzo V, Maccarrone M, Cravatt BF, Kushner SA, van der Stelt M. Activity-based protein profiling reveals off-target proteins of the FAAH inhibitor BIA 10-2474. Science 2018; 356:1084-1087. [PMID: 28596366 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf7497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A recent phase 1 trial of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor BIA 10-2474 led to the death of one volunteer and produced mild-to-severe neurological symptoms in four others. Although the cause of the clinical neurotoxicity is unknown, it has been postulated, given the clinical safety profile of other tested FAAH inhibitors, that off-target activities of BIA 10-2474 may have played a role. Here we use activity-based proteomic methods to determine the protein interaction landscape of BIA 10-2474 in human cells and tissues. This analysis revealed that the drug inhibits several lipases that are not targeted by PF04457845, a highly selective and clinically tested FAAH inhibitor. BIA 10-2474, but not PF04457845, produced substantial alterations in lipid networks in human cortical neurons, suggesting that promiscuous lipase inhibitors have the potential to cause metabolic dysregulation in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelot C M van Esbroeck
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Antonius P A Janssen
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Armand B Cognetta
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Daisuke Ogasawara
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Guy Shpak
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark van der Kroeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vasudev Kantae
- Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marc P Baggelaar
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Femke M S de Vrij
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hui Deng
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marco Allarà
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Filomena Fezza
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Zhanmin Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tom van der Wel
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Soethoudt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Elliot D Mock
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Hans den Dulk
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ilse L Baak
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Bogdan I Florea
- Department of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Giel Hendriks
- Toxys B.V., Robert Boyleweg 4, 2333 CG, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Luciano De Petrocellis
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Herman S Overkleeft
- Department of Bio-organic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vincenzo Di Marzo
- Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Campi Flegrei 34, Comprensorio Olivetti, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Centre for Brain Research-Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso del Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy.,Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steven A Kushner
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, Netherlands.
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Mhillaj E, Morgese MG, Tucci P, Furiano A, Luongo L, Bove M, Maione S, Cuomo V, Schiavone S, Trabace L. Celecoxib Prevents Cognitive Impairment and Neuroinflammation in Soluble Amyloid β-treated Rats. Neuroscience 2018; 372:58-73. [PMID: 29306052 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that soluble forms of amyloid-β (sAβ) peptide contribute to synaptic and cognitive dysfunctions in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). On the other hand, neuroinflammation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme have gained increased interest as key factors involved early in AD, although the signaling pathways and pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying a link between sAβ-induced neurotoxicity and inflammation are still unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of selective COX-2 enzyme inhibition on neuropathological alterations induced by sAβ administration in rats. To this purpose, animals received an intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of predominantly monomeric forms of sAβ and, 7 days after, behavioral as well as biochemical parameters and neurotransmitter alterations were evaluated. During this period, rats also received a sub-chronic treatment with celecoxib. Biochemical results demonstrated that icv sAβ injection significantly increased both COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in the hippocampus (Hipp) of treated rats. In addition, the number of hypertrophic microglial cells and astrocytes were upregulated in sAβ-treated group. Interestingly, rats treated with sAβ showed long-term memory deficits, as confirmed by a significant reduction of discrimination index in the novel object recognition test, along with reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and increased noradrenaline levels in the Hipp. Systemic administration of celecoxib prevented behavioral dysfunctions, as well as biochemical and neurotransmitter alterations. In conclusion, our results suggest that sAβ neurotoxicity might be associated to COX-2-mediated inflammatory pathways and that early treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitor might provide potential remedies to counterbalance the sAβ-induced effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Mhillaj
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Morgese
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Paolo Tucci
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Anna Furiano
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, The Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Livio Luongo
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, The Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Bove
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, The Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cuomo
- Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Schiavone
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Luigia Trabace
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
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10
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Starowicz K, Finn DP. Cannabinoids and Pain: Sites and Mechanisms of Action. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2017; 80:437-475. [PMID: 28826543 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system, consisting of the cannabinoid1 receptor (CB1R) and cannabinoid2 receptor (CB2R), endogenous cannabinoid ligands (endocannabinoids), and metabolizing enzymes, is present throughout the pain pathways. Endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists have antinociceptive effects in animal models of acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic pain. CB1R and CB2R located at peripheral, spinal, or supraspinal sites are important targets mediating these antinociceptive effects. The mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of cannabinoids likely include inhibition of presynaptic neurotransmitter and neuropeptide release, modulation of postsynaptic neuronal excitability, activation of the descending inhibitory pain pathway, and reductions in neuroinflammatory signaling. Strategies to dissociate the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids from their analgesic effects have focused on peripherally restricted CB1R agonists, CB2R agonists, inhibitors of endocannabinoid catabolism or uptake, and modulation of other non-CB1R/non-CB2R targets of cannabinoids including TRPV1, GPR55, and PPARs. The large body of preclinical evidence in support of cannabinoids as potential analgesic agents is supported by clinical studies demonstrating their efficacy across a variety of pain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Starowicz
- Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Pain Pathophysiology, Krakow, Poland
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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11
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TRPV1-FAAH-COX: TheCouples Gamein Pain Treatment. ChemMedChem 2016; 11:1686-94. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201600111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Gamble-George JC, Baldi R, Halladay L, Kocharian A, Hartley N, Silva CG, Roberts H, Haymer A, Marnett LJ, Holmes A, Patel S. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition reduces stress-induced affective pathology. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27162170 PMCID: PMC4862754 DOI: 10.7554/elife.14137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mood and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions and are exacerbated by stress. Recent studies have suggested cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition could represent a novel treatment approach or augmentation strategy for affective disorders including anxiety disorders and major depression. We show that traditional COX-2 inhibitors and a newly developed substrate-selective COX-2 inhibitor (SSCI) reduce a variety of stress-induced behavioral pathologies in mice. We found that these behavioral effects were associated with a dampening of neuronal excitability in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) ex vivo and in vivo, and were mediated by small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel and CB1 cannabinoid receptor activation. Taken together, these data provide further support for the potential utility of SSCIs, as well as traditional COX-2 inhibitors, as novel treatment approaches for stress-related psychiatric disorders. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14137.001 People may experience a stressful or traumatic event that can cause anxiety in their day-to-day lives. For some people, this anxiety can persist and develop into a disorder, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or acute stress disorder. Millions of people worldwide suffer from these disorders, but there are few classes of drug treatments currently available. Some preliminary studies in mice have suggested that anti-inflammatory drugs called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors may relieve symptoms of anxiety. COX-2 inhibitors target an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2, which is produced in many tissues throughout the body and brain. Some COX-2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex, are already widely used to treat arthritis. Studies in people have also suggested these drugs given in combination with antidepressants might also help people with depression, while a recently developed COX-2 inhibitor, called LM-4131, stops the breakdown of chemicals produced in the brain that interact with the same brain receptors that marijuana does. In animal studies, this new drug reduced anxious behaviors. However, scientists didn’t know if the drug would also reduce anxious behaviors after animals were exposed to a traumatic or stressful experience. Now, Gamble-George et al. – including some of the same scientists that created LM-4131 – show this drug does reduce anxious behavior in mice after a traumatic or stressful experience. In the experiments, mice were stressed with an electric shock to their feet and then treated with LM-4131, Celebrex, another COX-2 inhibitor sometimes used in humans, or an inactive control. The mice were then placed in new environments or mazes high off the ground that usually trigger anxious behavior. The mice treated with any of the three COX-2 inhibitors were less likely to act like they were anxious than the mice treated with the control solution. Gamble-George et al. then showed that LM-4131 changes how cells in the brain become excited in both isolated mouse brain cells and live mice. Short-term stress in humans is known to excite cells in an area of the brain called the amygdala, which controls how we respond to stress or trauma. The experiments showed that LM-4131 decreases this activity and decreases anxiety in stressed mice. Future animal and human studies are needed to confirm that COX-2 inhibitors are a useful treatment for stress disorders, and learn more about how they work. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.14137.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyonna Carrie Gamble-George
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Rita Baldi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
| | - Lindsay Halladay
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Bethesda, United States
| | - Adrina Kocharian
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Bethesda, United States
| | - Nolan Hartley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Carolyn Grace Silva
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
| | - Holly Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
| | - Andre Haymer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
| | - Lawrence J Marnett
- A.B. Hancock Jr. Memorial Laboratory for Cancer Research, Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Center in Molecular Toxicology, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, United States
| | - Andrew Holmes
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Bethesda, United States
| | - Sachin Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Human Development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
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Chicca A, Gachet MS, Petrucci V, Schuehly W, Charles RP, Gertsch J. 4'-O-methylhonokiol increases levels of 2-arachidonoyl glycerol in mouse brain via selective inhibition of its COX-2-mediated oxygenation. J Neuroinflammation 2015; 12:89. [PMID: 25962384 PMCID: PMC4490613 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0307-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 4'-O-methylhonokiol (MH) is a natural product showing anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoclastogenic, and neuroprotective effects. MH was reported to modulate cannabinoid CB2 receptors as an inverse agonist for cAMP production and an agonist for intracellular [Ca2+]. It was recently shown that MH inhibits cAMP formation via CB2 receptors. In this study, the exact modulation of MH on CB2 receptor activity was elucidated and its endocannabinoid substrate-specific inhibition (SSI) of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and CNS bioavailability are described for the first time. METHODS CB2 receptor modulation ([35S]GTPγS, cAMP, and β-arrestin) by MH was measured in hCB2-transfected CHO-K1 cells and native conditions (HL60 cells and mouse spleen). The COX-2 SSI was investigated in RAW264.7 cells and in Swiss albino mice by targeted metabolomics using LC-MS/MS. RESULTS MH is a CB2 receptor agonist and a potent COX-2 SSI. It induced partial agonism in both the [35S]GTPγS binding and β-arrestin recruitment assays while being a full agonist in the cAMP pathway. MH selectively inhibited PGE2 glycerol ester formation (over PGE2) in RAW264.7 cells and significantly increased the levels of 2-AG in mouse brain in a dose-dependent manner (3 to 20 mg kg(-1)) without affecting other metabolites. After 7 h from intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, MH was quantified in significant amounts in the brain (corresponding to 200 to 300 nM). CONCLUSIONS LC-MS/MS quantification shows that MH is bioavailable to the brain and under condition of inflammation exerts significant indirect effects on 2-AG levels. The biphenyl scaffold might serve as valuable source of dual CB2 receptor modulators and COX-2 SSIs as demonstrated by additional MH analogs that show similar effects. The combination of CB2 agonism and COX-2 SSI offers a yet unexplored polypharmacology with expected synergistic effects in neuroinflammatory diseases, thus providing a rationale for the diverse neuroprotective effects reported for MH in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Chicca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Maria Salomé Gachet
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Vanessa Petrucci
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Wolfgang Schuehly
- Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Roch-Philippe Charles
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Jürg Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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The Potential of Inhibitors of Endocannabinoid Metabolism for Drug Development: A Critical Review. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2015; 231:95-128. [PMID: 26408159 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-20825-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol are metabolised by both hydrolytic enzymes (primarily fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL)) and oxygenating enzymes (e.g. cyclooxygenase-2, COX-2). In the present article, the in vivo data for compounds inhibiting endocannabinoid metabolism have been reviewed, focussing on inflammation and pain. Potential reasons for the failure of an FAAH inhibitor in a clinical trial in patients with osteoarthritic pain are discussed. It is concluded that there is a continued potential for compounds inhibiting endocannabinoid metabolism in terms of drug development, but that it is wise not to be unrealistic in terms of expectations of success.
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Krustev E, Reid A, McDougall JJ. Tapping into the endocannabinoid system to ameliorate acute inflammatory flares and associated pain in mouse knee joints. Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16:437. [PMID: 25260980 PMCID: PMC4201700 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-014-0437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are frequent but intermittent flares in which the joint becomes acutely inflamed and painful. Although a number of drug therapies are currently used to treat RA, their effectiveness is variable and side effects are common. Endocannabinoids have the potential to ameliorate joint pain and inflammation, but these beneficial effects are limited by their rapid degradation. One enzyme responsible for endocannabinoid breakdown is fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The present study examined whether URB597, a potent and selective FAAH inhibitor, could alter inflammation and pain in a mouse model of acute synovitis. Methods Acute joint inflammation was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by intra-articular injection of 2% kaolin/2% carrageenan. After 24 hr, articular leukocyte kinetics and blood flow were used as measures of inflammation, while hindlimb weight bearing and von Frey hair algesiometry were used as measures of joint pain. The effects of local URB597 administration were then determined in the presence or absence of either the cannabinoid (CB)1 receptor antagonist AM251, or the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630. Results URB597 decreased leukocyte rolling and adhesion, as well as inflammation-induced hyperaemia. However, these effects were only apparent at low doses and the effects of URB597 were absent at higher doses. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects of URB597, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibition improved both hindlimb weight bearing and von Frey hair withdrawal thresholds. The anti-inflammatory effects of URB597 on leukocyte rolling and vascular perfusion were blocked by both CB1 and CB2 antagonism, while the effect on leukocyte adherence was independent of cannabinoid receptor activation. The analgesic effects of URB597 were CB1 mediated. Conclusions These results suggest that the endocannabinoid system of the joint can be harnessed to decrease acute inflammatory reactions and the concomitant pain associated with these episodes.
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Alterations in the anandamide metabolism in the development of neuropathic pain. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:686908. [PMID: 25276812 PMCID: PMC4167645 DOI: 10.1155/2014/686908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids (EC), particularly anandamide (AEA), released constitutively in pain pathways might be accountable for the inhibitory effect on nociceptors. Pathogenesis of neuropathic pain may reflect complex remodeling of the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord EC system. Multiple pathways involved both in the biosynthesis and degradation of AEA have been suggested. We investigated the local synthesis and degradation features of AEA in DRGs and spinal cord during the development and maintenance of pain in a model of chronic constriction injury (CCI). All AEA synthesis and degradation enzymes are present on the mRNA level in DRGs and lumbar spinal cord of intact as well as CCI-treated animals. Deregulation of EC system components was consistent with development of pain phenotype at days 3, 7, and 14 after CCI. The expression levels of enzymes involved in AEA degradation was significantly upregulated ipsilateral in DRGs and spinal cord at different time points. Expression of enzymes of the alternative, sPLA2-dependent and PLC-dependent, AEA synthesis pathways was elevated in both of the analyzed structures at all time points. Our data have shown an alteration of alternative AEA synthesis and degradation pathways, which might contribute to the variation of AEA levels and neuropathic pain development.
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17
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Grim TW, Ghosh S, Hsu KL, Cravatt BF, Kinsey SG, Lichtman AH. Combined inhibition of FAAH and COX produces enhanced anti-allodynic effects in mouse neuropathic and inflammatory pain models. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2014; 124:405-11. [PMID: 25058512 PMCID: PMC4206939 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Common pharmacological treatments of neuropathic and chronic inflammatory pain conditions generally lack efficacy and/or are associated with significant untoward side effects. However, recent preclinical data indicate that combined inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary catabolic enzyme of the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA), produces enhanced antinociceptive effects in a variety of murine models of pain. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present study was to investigate the consequences of co-administration of the COX inhibitor diclofenac and the highly selective FAAH inhibitor PF-3845 in models of neuropathic pain (i.e., chronic constrictive injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI)) and inflammatory pain induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan. Here, we report that combined administration of subthreshold doses of these drugs produced enhanced antinociceptive effects in CCI and carrageenan pain models, the latter of which was demonstrated to require both CB1 and CB2 receptors. The combined administration of subthreshold doses of these drugs also increased AEA levels and decreased prostaglandin levels in whole brain. Together, these data add to the growing research that dual blockade of FAAH and COX represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain states. PERSPECTIVE Tandem inhibition of FAAH and COX attenuates inflammatory and neuropathic pain states, which may avoid potentially harmful side effects of other therapeutic options, such as NSAIDs or opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis W Grim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA.
| | - Sudeshna Ghosh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Ku-Lung Hsu
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Benjamin F Cravatt
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Steven G Kinsey
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Aron H Lichtman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
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18
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Alhouayek M, Muccioli GG. COX-2-derived endocannabinoid metabolites as novel inflammatory mediators. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:284-92. [PMID: 24684963 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that plays a key role in inflammatory processes. Classically, this enzyme is upregulated in inflammatory situations and is responsible for the generation of prostaglandins (PGs) from arachidonic acid (AA). One lesser-known property of COX-2 is its ability to metabolize the endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Endocannabinoid metabolism by COX-2 is not merely a means to terminate their actions. On the contrary, it generates PG analogs, namely PG-glycerol esters (PG-G) for 2-AG and PG-ethanolamides (PG-EA or prostamides) for AEA. Although the formation of these COX-2-derived metabolites of the endocannabinoids has been known for a while, their biological effects remain to be fully elucidated. Recently, several studies have focused on the role of these PG-G or PG-EA in vivo. In this review we take a closer look at the literature concerning these novel bioactive lipids and their role in inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Alhouayek
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 72 (B1.72.01), 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Giulio G Muccioli
- Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 72 (B1.72.01), 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
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19
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Downer EJ, Finn DP. Cannabinoids: clearing the smoke on pain, inflammation and neurodegeneration. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:1341-4. [DOI: 10.1111/bph.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- E J Downer
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; Western Gateway Building; University College Cork; Cork Ireland
| | - D P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics; School of Medicine; Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research; NCBES; National University of Ireland Galway; University Road Galway Ireland
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