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Liu Y, Xing H, Zhang Y, Song Y. The Endocannabinoid System in Alzheimer's Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25380. [PMID: 39245959 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The findings concerning the association between endocannabinoid system (ECS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibited inconsistencies when examining the expression levels of endocannabinoids. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the studies regarding alterations of the ECS in AD. Six databases were thoroughly searched for literature to select relevant studies investigating the ECS in AD, including changes in cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R), endocannabinoids (2-AG and AEA), and their associated enzymes (FAAH and MAGL). Traditional meta-analysis evaluated the expression levels of the ECS in AD, and the results showed no significant differences in ECS components between healthy controls and AD patients. However, subgroup analysis revealed significantly lower expression levels of CB1R in AD than in controls, particularly in studies using western blot (SMD = -0.88, p < 0.01) and in studies testing CB1R of frontal cortex (SMD = -1.09, p < 0.01). For studies using HPLC, the subgroup analysis indicated significantly higher 2-AG levels in AD than in controls (SMD = 0.46, p = 0.02). Network meta-analysis examined the rank of ECS alterations in AD compared to controls, and the findings revealed that 2-AG and MAGL exhibited the largest increase and CB1R showed the largest decrease relative to the control group. Based on the findings of traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis, we proposed that AD patients may present decreased expression levels of CB1R and increased expression levels of 2-AG and its degrading enzyme MAGL. Our results may contribute to the growing body of research supporting the therapeutic potential of ECS modulation in the management of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hang Xing
- Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yi Song
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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2
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Vered S, Beiser AS, Sulimani L, Sznitman S, Gonzales MM, Aparicio HJ, DeCarli C, Scott MR, Ghosh S, Lewitus GM, Meiri D, Seshadri S, Weinstein G. The association of circulating endocannabinoids with neuroimaging and blood biomarkers of neuro-injury. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:154. [PMID: 37700370 PMCID: PMC10496329 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01301-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinical studies highlight the importance of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids; eCBs) in neurodegeneration. Yet, prior observational studies focused on limited outcome measures and assessed only few eCB compounds while largely ignoring the complexity of the eCB system. We examined the associations of multiple circulating eCBs and eCB-like molecules with early markers of neurodegeneration and neuro-injury and tested for effect modification by sex. METHODS This exploratory cross-sectional study included a random sample of 237 dementia-free older participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort who attended examination cycle 9 (2011-2014), were 65 years or older, and cognitively healthy. Forty-four eCB compounds were quantified in serum, via liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations of eCB levels with brain MRI measures (i.e., total cerebral brain volume, gray matter volume, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities volume) and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and neuro-injury (i.e., total tau, neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein and Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1). All models were adjusted for potential confounders and effect modification by sex was examined. RESULTS Participants mean age was 73.3 ± 6.2 years, and 40% were men. After adjustment for potential confounders and correction for multiple comparisons, no statistically significant associations were observed between eCB levels and the study outcomes. However, we identified multiple sex-specific associations between eCB levels and the various study outcomes. For example, high linoleoyl ethanolamide (LEA) levels were related to decreased hippocampal volume among men and to increased hippocampal volume among women (β ± SE = - 0.12 ± 0.06, p = 0.034 and β ± SE = 0.08 ± 0.04, p = 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Circulating eCBs may play a role in neuro-injury and may explain sex differences in susceptibility to accelerated brain aging. Particularly, our results highlight the possible involvement of eCBs from the N-acyl amino acids and fatty acid ethanolamide classes and suggest specific novel fatty acid compounds that may be implicated in brain aging. Furthermore, investigation of the eCBs contribution to neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease in humans is warranted, especially with prospective study designs and among diverse populations, including premenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Vered
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Alexa S Beiser
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Liron Sulimani
- The Kleifeld Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sharon Sznitman
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Mitzi M Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Hugo J Aparicio
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Charles DeCarli
- Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, 95816, USA
| | - Matthew R Scott
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Saptaparni Ghosh
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
| | - Gil M Lewitus
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - David Meiri
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- The Framingham Study, Framingham, MA, 01702, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Galit Weinstein
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave., Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
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3
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Chen C. Inhibiting degradation of 2-arachidonoylglycerol as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108394. [PMID: 36966972 PMCID: PMC10123871 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are endogenous lipid signaling mediators that participate in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is the most abundant endocannabinoid and is a full agonist of G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R), which are targets of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. While 2-AG has been well recognized as a retrograde messenger modulating synaptic transmission and plasticity at both inhibitory GABAergic and excitatory glutamatergic synapses in the brain, growing evidence suggests that 2-AG also functions as an endogenous terminator of neuroinflammation in response to harmful insults, thus maintaining brain homeostasis. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is the key enzyme that degrades 2-AG in the brain. The immediate metabolite of 2-AG is arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes. Several lines of evidence indicate that pharmacological or genetic inactivation of MAGL, which boosts 2-AG levels and reduces its hydrolytic metabolites, resolves neuroinflammation, mitigates neuropathology, and improves synaptic and cognitive functions in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced neurodegenerative disease. Thus, it has been proposed that MAGL is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. As the main enzyme hydrolyzing 2-AG, several MAGL inhibitors have been identified and developed. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which inactivation of MAGL produces neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases remains limited. A recent finding that inhibition of 2-AG metabolism in astrocytes, but not in neurons, protects the brain from TBI-induced neuropathology might shed some light on this unsolved issue. This review provides an overview of MAGL as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases and discusses possible mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of restraining degradation of 2-AG in the brain.
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Ferreira PC, Bellaver B, Povala G, Brum WS, Tissot C, Badji A, Sloan ME, Benedet AL, Rosa-Neto P, Ashton NJ, Pascoal TA, Leuzy A, Zimmer ER. Endocannabinoid System Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:77-91. [PMID: 36394442 PMCID: PMC10081722 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0151] [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: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Alterations in the endocannabinoid system (ES) have been described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. In the past years, multiple ES biomarkers have been developed, promising to advance our understanding of ES changes in AD. Discussion: ES biomarkers, including positron emission tomography with cannabinoid receptors tracers and biofluid-based endocannabinoids, are associated with AD disease progression and pathological features. Conclusion: Although not specific enough for AD diagnosis, ES biomarkers hold promise for prognosis, drug-target engagement, and a better understanding of the disease. Here, we summarize currently available ES biomarker findings and discuss their potential applications in the AD research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pâmela C.L. Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bruna Bellaver
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Guilherme Povala
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wagner S. Brum
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Cécile Tissot
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Atef Badji
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Karolinska University Hospital, Theme Aging, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Matthew E. Sloan
- Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurosciences and Clinical Translation, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychological Clinical Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andréa L. Benedet
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Nicholas J. Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Institute Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health and Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tharick A. Pascoal
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Antoine Leuzy
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eduardo R. Zimmer
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit, Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Abd-Nikfarjam B, Dolati-Somarin A, Baradaran Rahimi V, Askari VR. Cannabinoids in neuroinflammatory disorders: Focusing on multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, and Alzheimers diseases. Biofactors 2023. [PMID: 36637897 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The medicinal properties of cannabis and cannabinoid-derivative are entirely investigated and known. In addition, the identification of psychotropic plant cannabinoids has led to more studies regarding the cannabinoid system and its therapeutic features in the treatment and management of clinical symptoms of neuroinflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinsons disease (PD), and Alzheimers disease (AD). In fact, cannabinoid agonists are able to control and regulate inflammatory responses. In contrast to the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and its unwanted adverse effects, the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) and its ligands hold promise for new and effective therapeutic approaches. So far, some successes have been achieved in this field. This review will discuss an outline of the endocannabinoid system's involvement in neuroinflammatory disorders. Moreover, the pharmacological efficacy of different natural and synthetic preparations of phytocannabinoids acting on cannabinoid receptors, particularly in MS, PD, and AD, will be updated. Also, the reasons for targeting CB2 for neurodegeneration will be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahareh Abd-Nikfarjam
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | | | - Vafa Baradaran Rahimi
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Vahid Reza Askari
- International UNESCO Center for Health-Related Basic Sciences and Human Nutrition, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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6
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Forte N, Fernández-Rilo AC, Palomba L, Marfella B, Piscitelli F, De Girolamo P, Di Costanzo A, Di Marzo V, Cristino L. Positive association between plasmatic levels of orexin A and the endocannabinoid-derived 2-arachidonoyl lysophosphatidic acid in Alzheimer’s disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1004002. [DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1004002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A regular sleep-wake cycle plays a positive function that preserves synaptic plasticity and brain activity from neuropathological injuries. The hypothalamic neuropeptide orexin-A (OX-A) is central in sleep-wake regulation and has been found to be over-expressed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffering from sleep disturbances. OX-A promotes the biosynthesis of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), which, in turn, could be phosphorylated to 2-arachidonoyl lysophosphatidic acid (2-AGP). The reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton during neurite retraction is one of the best-characterized effects of lysophosphatidic acids. However, less information is available regarding the reorganization of the neuronal microtubule network in response to OX-A-induced 2-AG and, possibly consequent, 2-AGP production in AD patients. This is of special relevance also considering that higher 2-AG levels are reported in the CSF of AD patients. Here, we found a positive correlation between OX-A and 2-AGP concentrations in the plasma, and an increase of 2-AGP levels in the CSF of AD patients. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the plasmatic 2-AGP levels and the mini-mental state examination score is also revealed in AD patients. By moving from the human patients to in vitro and in vivo models of AD we investigated the molecular pathway linking OX-A, 2-AG and 2-AGP to the phosphorylation of pT231-Tau, which is a specific early plasma biomarker of this disorder. By LC-MS analysis we show that OX-A, via OX-1R, induces 2-AG biosynthesis via DAGLα, and in turn 2-AG is converted to 2-AGP in primary hippocampal neurons. By confocal microscopy and western blotting assay we found an OX-A- or 2-AGP-mediated phosphorylation of Tau at threonine 231 residue, in a manner prevented by LPA1R (2-AGP receptor) or OX1R (OX-A receptor) antagonism with AM095 or SB334867, respectively. Finally, by patch-clamp recording we documented that 2-AGP-mediated pT231-Tau phosphorylation impairs glutamatergic transmission in the mouse hippocampus. Although further additional research is still required to clarify the potential role of orexin signaling in neurodegeneration, this study provides evidence that counteraction of aberrant OX-A signaling, also via LPA-1R antagonism, may be beneficial in the mild-to-moderate age-related cognitive decline associated with sleep disturbances.
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7
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Lipidomics of Bioactive Lipids in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Where Are We? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116235. [PMID: 35682914 PMCID: PMC9181703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipids are not only constituents of cellular membranes, but they are also key signaling mediators, thus acting as “bioactive lipids”. Among the prominent roles exerted by bioactive lipids are immune regulation, inflammation, and maintenance of homeostasis. Accumulated evidence indicates the existence of a bidirectional relationship between the immune and nervous systems, and lipids can interact particularly with the aggregation and propagation of many pathogenic proteins that are well-renowned hallmarks of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD) diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the presence and quantification of the main classes of endogenous bioactive lipids, namely glycerophospholipids/sphingolipids, classical eicosanoids, pro-resolving lipid mediators, and endocannabinoids, in AD and PD patients, as well as their most-used animal models, by means of lipidomic analyses, advocating for these lipid mediators as powerful biomarkers of pathology, diagnosis, and progression, as well as predictors of response or activity to different current therapies for these neurodegenerative diseases.
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8
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Soares GABE, Bhattacharya T, Chakrabarti T, Tagde P, Cavalu S. Exploring Pharmacological Mechanisms of Essential Oils on the Central Nervous System. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:21. [PMID: 35009027 PMCID: PMC8747111 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) have been traditionally used as ancient remedies to treat many health disorders due to their enormous biological activities. As mainstream allopathic medication currently used for CNS disorders is associated with adverse effects, the search to obtain safer alternatives as compared to the currently marketed therapies is of tremendous significance. Research conducted suggests that concurrent utilization of allopathic medicines and EOs is synergistically beneficial. Due to their inability to show untoward effects, various scientists have tried to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms by which these oils exert beneficial effects on the CNS. In this regard, our review aims to improve the understanding of EOs' biological activity on the CNS and to highlight the significance of the utilization of EOs in neuronal disorders, thereby improving patient acceptability of EOs as therapeutic agents. Through data compilation from library searches and electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, etc., recent preclinical and clinical data, routes of administration, and the required or maximal dosage for the observation of beneficial effects are addressed. We have also highlighted the challenges that require attention for further improving patient compliance, research gaps, and the development of EO-based nanomedicine for targeted therapy and pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle A. Borges e Soares
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Tanima Bhattacharya
- Innovation, Incubation & Industry (I-Cube) Laboratory, Techno India NJR Institute of Technology, Udaipur 313003, Rajasthan, India
- Department of Science & Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia
| | - Tulika Chakrabarti
- Department of Chemistry, Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur 313601, Rajasthan, India;
| | - Priti Tagde
- Bhabha Pharmacy Research Institute, Bhabha University Bhopal, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India;
- PRISAL Foundation (Pharmaceutical Royal International Society), Bhopal 462042, India
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania
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9
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Asaro A, Sinha R, Bakun M, Kalnytska O, Carlo-Spiewok AS, Rubel T, Rozeboom A, Dadlez M, Kaminska B, Aronica E, Malik AR, Willnow TE. ApoE4 disrupts interaction of sortilin with fatty acid-binding protein 7 essential to promote lipid signaling. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:272562. [PMID: 34557909 PMCID: PMC8572006 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sortilin is a neuronal receptor for apolipoprotein E (apoE). Sortilin-dependent uptake of lipidated apoE promotes conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into neuromodulators that induce anti-inflammatory gene expression in the brain. This neuroprotective pathway works with the apoE3 variant but is lost with the apoE4 variant, the main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we elucidated steps in cellular handling of lipids through sortilin, and why they are disrupted by apoE4. Combining unbiased proteome screens with analyses in mouse models, we uncover interaction of sortilin with fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP7), the intracellular carrier for PUFA in the brain. In the presence of apoE3, sortilin promotes functional expression of FABP7 and its ability to elicit lipid-dependent gene transcription. By contrast, apoE4 binding blocks sortilin-mediated sorting, causing catabolism of FABP7 and impairing lipid signaling. Reduced FABP7 levels in the brain of AD patients expressing apoE4 substantiate the relevance of these interactions for neuronal lipid homeostasis. Taken together, we document interaction of sortilin with mediators of extracellular and intracellular lipid transport that provides a mechanistic explanation for loss of a neuroprotective lipid metabolism in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Asaro
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rishabhdev Sinha
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Magda Bakun
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Tymon Rubel
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Radioelectronics and Multimedia Technology, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Annemieke Rozeboom
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Center for Neuroscience, Amsterdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Dadlez
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.,Biology Department, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna R Malik
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany.,Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Thomas E Willnow
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Bajaj S, Jain S, Vyas P, Bawa S, Vohora D. The role of endocannabinoid pathway in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease: Can the inhibitors of MAGL and FAAH prove to be potential therapeutic targets against the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease? Brain Res Bull 2021; 174:305-322. [PMID: 34217798 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive decline of cognitive function in combination with neuronal death. Current approved treatment target single dysregulated pathway instead of multiple mechanism, resulting in lack of efficacy in slowing down disease progression. The proclivity of endocannabinoid system to exert neuroprotective action and mitigate symptoms of neurodegeneration condition has received substantial interest. Growing evidence suggest the endocannabinoids (eCB) system, viz. anadamide (AEA) and arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), as potential therapeutic targets with the ability to modify Alzheimer's pathology by targeting the inflammatory, neurodegenerative and cognitive aspects of the disease. In order to modulate endocannabinoid system, number of agents have been reported amongst which are inhibitors of the monoacylglycerol (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the enzymes that hydrolyses 2-AG and AEA respectively. However, little is known regarding the exact mechanistic signalling and their effects on pathophysiology and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. Both MAGL and FAAH inhibitors possess fascinating properties that may offer a multi-faceted approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease such as potential to protect neurons from deleterious effect of amyloid-β, reducing phosphorylation of tau, reducing amyloid-β induced oxidative stress, stimulating neurotrophin to support brain intrinsic repair mechanism etc. Based on empirical evidence, MAGL and FAAH inhibitors might have potential for therapeutic efficacy against cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this review is to summarize the experimental studies demonstrating the polyvalent properties of MAGL or FAAH inhibitor compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and also effect of these on learning and types of memories, which together encourage to study these compounds over other therapeutics targets. Further research in this direction would enhance the molecular mechanisms and development of applicable interventions for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which nevertheless stay as the primary unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivanshu Bajaj
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Shreshta Jain
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Preeti Vyas
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Sandhya Bawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Divya Vohora
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.
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11
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Uddin MS, Mamun AA, Sumsuzzman DM, Ashraf GM, Perveen A, Bungau SG, Mousa SA, El-Seedi HR, Bin-Jumah MN, Abdel-Daim MM. Emerging Promise of Cannabinoids for the Management of Pain and Associated Neuropathological Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1097. [PMID: 32792944 PMCID: PMC7387504 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible chronic neurodegenerative disorder that occurs when neurons in the brain degenerate and die. Pain frequently arises in older patients with neurodegenerative diseases including AD. However, the presence of pain in older people is usually overlooked with cognitive dysfunctions. Most of the times dementia patients experience moderate to severe pain but the development of severe cognitive dysfunctions tremendously affects their capability to express the presence of pain. Currently, there are no effective treatments against AD that emphasize the necessity for increasing research to develop novel drugs for treating or preventing the disease process. Furthermore, the prospective therapeutic use of cannabinoids in AD has been studied for the past few years. In this regard, targeting the endocannabinoid system has considered as a probable therapeutic strategy to control several associated pathological pathways, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation for the management of AD. In this review, we focus on recent studies about the role of cannabinoids for the treatment of pain and related neuropathological changes in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdullah Al Mamun
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asma Perveen
- Glocal School of Life Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur, India
| | - Simona G. Bungau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
| | - Shaker A. Mousa
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hesham R. El-Seedi
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Koom, Egypt
| | - May N. Bin-Jumah
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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12
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Asaro A, Carlo-Spiewok AS, Malik AR, Rothe M, Schipke CG, Peters O, Heeren J, Willnow TE. Apolipoprotein E4 disrupts the neuroprotective action of sortilin in neuronal lipid metabolism and endocannabinoid signaling. Alzheimers Dement 2020; 16:1248-1258. [PMID: 32588544 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a carrier for brain lipids and the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). ApoE binds the receptor sortilin, which mediates uptake of apoE-bound cargo into neurons. The significance of this uptake route for brain lipid homeostasis and AD risk seen with apoE4, but not apoE3, remains unresolved. METHODS Combining neurolipidomics in patient specimens with functional studies in mouse models, we interrogated apoE isoform-specific functions for sortilin in brain lipid metabolism and AD. RESULTS Sortilin directs the uptake and conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids into endocannabinoids, lipid-based neurotransmitters that act through nuclear receptors to sustain neuroprotective gene expression in the brain. This sortilin function requires apoE3, but is disrupted by binding of apoE4, compromising neuronal endocannabinoid metabolism and action. DISCUSSION We uncovered the significance of neuronal apoE receptor sortilin in facilitating neuroprotective actions of brain lipids, and its relevance for AD risk seen with apoE4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Asaro
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Anna R Malik
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Carola G Schipke
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Peters
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joerg Heeren
- Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas E Willnow
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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13
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A Systematic Review of Essential Oils and the Endocannabinoid System: A Connection Worthy of Further Exploration. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:8035301. [PMID: 32508955 PMCID: PMC7246407 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8035301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aromatic compounds have a long history of use as medicines in most recorded cultures. An increasing interest in these therapeutic volatile molecules in both scientific and lay communities has led to the advancement of essential oils as phytomedicines. Recent discoveries suggest essential oils augment the endocannabinoid system in a positive manner to mitigate various pathologies. However, the exact mechanisms whereby essential oils influence endocannabinoid system activity are not fully known, these studies provide a glimpse into their involvement and warrant further evaluation. Additional study of the interaction between essential oils and the endocannabinoid system may lead to promising phytomedicines for the treatment of diseases and conditions involving dysregulation or activation of the endocannabinoid system.
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14
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A Systematic Review of the Neurocognitive Effects of Cannabis Use in Older Adults. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2019; 6:443-455. [PMID: 32477850 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-019-00285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Older adults currently represent the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users, yet few studies have investigated the effects of cannabis use on cognitive functioning in aging. We conducted a systematic review of the recent literature examining cognitive outcomes associated with cannabis use in older adults, with and without neurocognitive disorders, to clarify the potential neuroprotective benefits and risks of cognitive decline in this population. Recent Findings We identified 26 studies examining cognitive outcomes associated with medical and recreational use of cannabis in healthy aging, dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV, and pain populations. Although variability in the cannabis products used, outcomes assessed, and study quality limits the conclusions that can be made, modest reductions in cognitive performance were generally detected with higher doses and heavier lifetime use. Summary This review highlights the need for additional high-quality research using standardized, validated assessments of cannabis exposure and cognitive outcomes. Reliable measures and longitudinal data are necessary to better characterize the effects of cannabis use on cognitive aging, as well as differential effects of recreational and medical cannabis.
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15
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Talarico G, Trebbastoni A, Bruno G, de Lena C. Modulation of the Cannabinoid System: A New Perspective for the Treatment of the Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019; 17:176-183. [PMID: 29962346 PMCID: PMC6343203 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180702144644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is somewhat complex and has yet to be fully understood. As the ef-fectiveness of the therapy currently available for AD has proved to be limited, the need for new drugs has become increas-ingly urgent. The modulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECBS) is one of the potential therapeutic approaches that is attracting a growing amount of interest. The ECBS consists of endogenous compounds and receptors. The receptors CB1 and CB2 have already been well characterized: CB1 receptors, which are abundant in the brain, particularly in the hip-pocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum, regulate memory function and cognition. It has been suggested that the activation of CB1 receptors reduces intracellular Ca concentrations, inhibits glutamate release and enhances neurotrophin expression and neurogenesis. CB2 receptors are expressed, though to a lesser extent, in the central nervous system, particularly in the mi-croglia and immune system cells involved in the release of cytokines. CB2 receptors have been shown to be upregulated in neuritic plaque-associated microglia in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of patients, which suggests that these receptors play a role in the inflammatory pathology of AD. The role of the ECBS in AD is supported by cellular and animal models. By contrast, few clinical studies designed to investigate therapies aimed at reducing behaviour disturbances, especially night-time agitation, eating behaviour and aggressiveness, have yielded positive results. In this review, we will describe how the manipulation of the ECBS offers a potential approach to the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Giuseppe Bruno
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo de Lena
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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16
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Dhamodharan U, Ponjayanthi B, Sireesh D, Bhakkiyalakshmi E, Ramkumar KM. Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the KEAP1 gene with the risk of various human diseases and its functional impact using in silico analysis. Pharmacol Res 2018; 137:205-218. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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17
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Aymerich MS, Aso E, Abellanas MA, Tolon RM, Ramos JA, Ferrer I, Romero J, Fernández-Ruiz J. Cannabinoid pharmacology/therapeutics in chronic degenerative disorders affecting the central nervous system. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 157:67-84. [PMID: 30121249 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) exerts a modulatory effect of important functions such as neurotransmission, glial activation, oxidative stress, or protein homeostasis. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a common neuropathological hallmark in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The broad spectrum of actions of cannabinoids allows targeting different aspects of these multifactorial diseases. In this review, we examine the therapeutic potential of the ECS for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. First, we describe the localization of the molecular components of the ECS and how they are altered under neurodegenerative conditions, either contributing to or protecting cells from degeneration. Second, we address recent advances in the modulation of the ECS using experimental models through different strategies including the direct targeting of cannabinoid receptors with agonists or antagonists, increasing the endocannabinoid tone by the inhibition of endocannabinoid hydrolysis, and activation of cannabinoid receptor-independent effects. Preclinical evidence indicates that cannabinoid pharmacology is complex but supports the therapeutic potential of targeting the ECS. Third, we review the clinical evidence and discuss the future perspectives on how to bridge human and animal studies to develop cannabinoid-based therapies for each neurodegenerative disorder. Finally, we summarize the most relevant opportunities of cannabinoid pharmacology related to each disease and the multiple unexplored pathways in cannabinoid pharmacology that could be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Aymerich
- Universidad de Navarra, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Genética, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Programa de Neurociencias, Pamplona, Spain; IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Spain.
| | - Ester Aso
- Departamento de Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universidad de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Miguel A Abellanas
- Universidad de Navarra, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Bioquímica y Genética, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Programa de Neurociencias, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rosa M Tolon
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Jose A Ramos
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; IRYCIS, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Departamento de Patología y Terapéutica Experimental, Universidad de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Julian Romero
- Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Javier Fernández-Ruiz
- CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; IRYCIS, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
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18
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Leishman E, Murphy M, Mackie K, Bradshaw HB. Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol changes the brain lipidome and transcriptome differentially in the adolescent and the adult. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018; 1863:479-492. [PMID: 29408467 PMCID: PMC5987162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Exposing the adolescent brain to drugs of abuse is associated with increased risk for adult onset psychopathologies. Cannabis use peaks during adolescence, with largely unknown effects on the developing brain. Cannabis' major psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) alters neuronal, astrocytic, and microglial signaling. Therefore, multiple cellular and signaling pathways are affected with a single dose of THC. The endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs), N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are members of an interconnected lipidome that includes an emerging class of AEA structural analogs, the lipoamines, additional 2-acyl glycerols, free fatty acids, and prostaglandins (PGs). Lipids in this lipidome share many biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, yet have diverse signaling properties. Here, we show that acute THC drives age-dependent changes in this lipidome across 8 regions of the female mouse brain. Interestingly, most changes are observed in the adult, with eCBs and related lipids predominately decreasing. Analysis of THC and metabolites reveals an unequal distribution across these brain areas; however, the highest levels of THC were measured in the hippocampus (HIPP) in all age groups. Transcriptomic analysis of the HIPP after acute THC showed that like the lipidome, the adult transcriptome demonstrated significantly more changes than the adolescent. Importantly, the regulation of 31 genes overlapped between the adolescent and the adult, suggesting a conserved transcriptomic response in the HIPP to THC exposure independent of age. Taken together these data illustrate that the first exposure to a single dose of THC has profound effects on signaling in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Leishman
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, United States
| | - Michelle Murphy
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, United States; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, United States; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
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19
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Karl T, Garner B, Cheng D. The therapeutic potential of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol for Alzheimer's disease. Behav Pharmacol 2018; 28:142-160. [PMID: 27471947 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive loss of cognition. Over 35 million individuals currently have AD worldwide. Unfortunately, current therapies are limited to very modest symptomatic relief. The brains of AD patients are characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated forms of tau protein. AD brains also show neurodegeneration and high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) possesses neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and reduces amyloid-β production and tau hyperphosphorylation in vitro. CBD has also been shown to be effective in vivo making the phytocannabinoid an interesting candidate for novel therapeutic interventions in AD, especially as it lacks psychoactive or cognition-impairing properties. CBD treatment would be in line with preventative, multimodal drug strategies targeting a combination of pathological symptoms, which might be ideal for AD therapy. Thus, this review will present a brief introduction to AD biology and current treatment options before outlining comprehensively CBD biology and pharmacology, followed by in-vitro and in-vivo evidence for the therapeutic potential of CBD. We will also discuss the role of the endocannabinioid system in AD before commenting on the potential future of CBD for AD therapy (including safety aspects).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Karl
- aSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown bNeuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Randwick cIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute dSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong eVictor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
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20
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Circulating Endocannabinoids: From Whence Do They Come and Where are They Going? Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:155-172. [PMID: 28653665 PMCID: PMC5719092 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this review is to summarize studies in which concentrations of circulating endocannabinoids in humans have been examined in relationship to physiological measurements and pathological status. The roles of endocannabinoids in the regulation of energy intake and storage have been well studied and the data obtained consistently support the hypothesis that endocannabinoid signaling is associated with increased consumption and storage of energy. Physical exercise mobilizes endocannabinoids, which could contribute to refilling of energy stores and also to the analgesic and mood-elevating effects of exercise. Circulating concentrations of 2-arachidonoylglycerol are very significantly circadian and dysregulated when sleep is disrupted. Other conditions under which circulating endocannabinoids are altered include inflammation and pain. A second important role for endocannabinoid signaling is to restore homeostasis following stress. Circulating endocannabinoids are stress-responsive and there is evidence that their concentrations are altered in disorders associated with excessive stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Although determination of circulating endocannabinoids can provide important information about the state of endocannabinoid signaling and thus allow for hypotheses to be defined and tested, the large number of physiological factors that contribute to their circulating concentrations makes it difficult to use them in isolation as a biomarker for a specific disorder.
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21
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Kantae V, Ogino S, Noga M, Harms AC, van Dongen RM, Onderwater GLJ, van den Maagdenberg AMJM, Terwindt GM, van der Stelt M, Ferrari MD, Hankemeier T. Quantitative profiling of endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamines in human CSF using nano LC-MS/MS. J Lipid Res 2016; 58:615-624. [PMID: 27999147 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.d070433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids, a class of lipid messengers, have emerged as crucial regulators of synaptic communication in the CNS. Dysregulation of these compounds has been implicated in many brain disorders. Although some studies have identified and quantified a limited number of target compounds, a method that provides comprehensive quantitative information on endocannabinoids and related N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is currently lacking, as measurements are challenging due to low concentrations under normal physiological conditions. Here we developed and validated a high-throughput nano LC-ESI-MS/MS platform for the simultaneous quantification of endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol), ten related NAEs, and eight additional putatively annotated NAEs in human CSF. Requiring only 200 μl of CSF, our method has limits of detection from 0.28 to 61.2 pM with precisions of relative SD <15% for most compounds. We applied our method to CSF from 45 healthy humans and demonstrated potential age and gender effects on concentrations of endocannabinoids and NAEs. Notably, our results show that docosahexaenoylethanolamide concentrations increase with age in males. Our method may offer new opportunities to gain insight into regulatory functions of endocannabinoids in the context of (ab)normal brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasudev Kantae
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shinji Ogino
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marek Noga
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amy C Harms
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robin M van Dongen
- Departments of Neurology Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arn M J M van den Maagdenberg
- Departments of Neurology Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gisela M Terwindt
- Departments of Neurology Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Bioorganic Synthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michel D Ferrari
- Departments of Neurology Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Division of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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22
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Altamura C, Ventriglia M, Martini MG, Montesano D, Errante Y, Piscitelli F, Scrascia F, Quattrocchi C, Palazzo P, Seccia S, Vernieri F, Di Marzo V. Elevation of Plasma 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Levels in Alzheimer's Disease Patients as a Potential Protective Mechanism against Neurodegenerative Decline. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 46:497-506. [PMID: 25818503 DOI: 10.3233/jad-142349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the activation of the endocannabinoid system in AD in vivo and the possible intermediate role of atherosclerosis. METHODS We enrolled 41 patients with probable AD, and 30 age- and gender-matched controls. All subjects underwent: ultrasound examination of cerebral and neck vessels (including intima-media thickness and plaque stenosis evaluation); blood sampling to measure levels of endocannabinoid [anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)] and endogenous AEA analogues [N-palmitoyl-ethanolamide (PEA); N-oleoyl-ethanolamide]; neuropsychological evaluation and brain MRI (atrophy, white matter hyperintensity volume). RESULTS 2-AG levels were higher in AD patients compared to controls (Mann-Whitney test p = 0.021). In the AD group, 2-AG correlated to white matter hyperintensity volume (r = 0.415, p = 0.015) and was higher in patients with chronic heart ischemic disease (p = 0.023). In AD patients, 2-AG was also positively related to memory (r = 0.334, p = 0.05) and attention (r = 0.423, p = 0.018) performances. Constructional praxia test scores were lower in patients with higher levels of PEA (r =-0.389, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION AD patients present high plasma 2-AG levels, also in relation to heart ischemic disease and cerebral leukoaraiosis. This may be a protective mechanism hindering neurodegeneration, but it may also play an ambivalent role on cerebrovascular circulation. The increase in 2-AG and PEA levels observed with ongoing pathological processes may differently modulate cognitive performances.
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Yang YW, Tsai CW, Mong MC, Yin MC. Maslinic Acid Protected PC12 Cells Differentiated by Nerve Growth Factor against β-Amyloid-Induced Apoptosis. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2015; 63:10243-10249. [PMID: 26477978 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
β-Amyloid peptide (Abeta) was used to induce apoptosis in PC12 cells differentiated by nerve growth factor, and the protective activities of maslinic acid (MA) at 2-16 μM were examined. Abeta treatment lowered Bcl-2 expression, raised Bax expression, and decreased cell viability. MA pretreatments decreased Bax expression, raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and increased cell viability. MA pretreatments retained glutathione content and decreased subsequent Abeta-induced release of reactive oxygen species, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Abeta treatment up-regulated protein expression of p47(phox), gp91(phox), mitogen-activated protein kinase, advanced glycation end product receptor (RAGE), and nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κB). MA pretreatments at 2-16 μM suppressed the expression of proteins including gp91(phox), p47(phox), p-p38, and NF-κB p65, at 4-16 μM down-regulated RAGE and NF-κB p50 expression, and at 8 and 16 μM reduced p-ERK1/2 expression. These novel findings suggest that maslinic acid is a potent compound against Abeta-induced cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-wan Yang
- School of Medicine, China Medical University , Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital , Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-wen Tsai
- Department of Nutrition, China Medical University , Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Mei-chin Mong
- Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University , Taichung City, Taiwan
| | - Mei-chin Yin
- Department of Nutrition, China Medical University , Taichung City, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University , Taichung City, Taiwan
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24
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Agar E. The role of cannabinoids and leptin in neurological diseases. Acta Neurol Scand 2015; 132:371-80. [PMID: 25880465 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoids exert a neuroprotective influence on some neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists/antagonists or compounds can provide symptom relief or control the progression of neurological diseases. However, the molecular mechanism and the effectiveness of these agents in controlling the progression of most of these diseases remain unclear. Cannabinoids may exert effects via a number of mechanisms and interactions with neurotransmitters, neurotropic factors and neuropeptides. Leptin is a peptide hormone involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance via its actions on specific hypothalamic nuclei. Leptin receptors are widely expressed throughout the brain, especially in the hippocampus, basal ganglia, cortex and cerebellum. Leptin has also shown neuroprotective properties in a number of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Therefore, cannabinoid and leptin hold therapeutic potential for neurological diseases. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects on these agents may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Agar
- Department of Physiology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Ondokuz Mayis; Samsun Turkey
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25
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Agarwal A, Tijare M, Saxena A, Rubens M, Ahuja R. Exploratory Study to Evaluate Changes in Serum Lipid Levels as Early Diagnostic and/or Prognostic Indicators for Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Cancer among Gutkha Consumers in India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015; 16:6439-44. [PMID: 26434856 DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.15.6439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In India smokeless tobacco users account for 25.9% of total tobacco use, Gutkha being the most common form. This study evaluated the association between serum lipid profile and Gutkha use as an early diagnostic and/or prognostic indicator for oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and oral cancer (Oral Ca) in non-smokers and non-alcohol consumers. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 163 participants were recruited from two sites in India. Participants were divided into four groups: individuals without any Gutkha chewing habit and without any oral lesions (control group), individuals with Gutkha chewing habit but without any oral lesions (GWL), patients with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of OSMF, and patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Oral Ca. Mixed linear modelling (MLM) was conducted to detect the change in mean serum lipid levels among four groups. RESULTS The sample consisted of 69% males and 31% females. Results of MLM show an inverse relationship between serum lipid levels in OSMF, and Oral Ca groups when compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study demonstrated that GWL, OSMF and Oral Ca patients had lower serum lipid levels. Low serum lipid levels could be an indicator of initial neoplastic changes in oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Agarwal
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Peoples College of Dental Science and Research Center, Bhopal (MP), India E-mail :
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Nicholson J, Azim S, Rebecchi MJ, Galbavy W, Feng T, Reinsel R, Rizwan S, Fowler CJ, Benveniste H, Kaczocha M. Leptin levels are negatively correlated with 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with osteoarthritis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123132. [PMID: 25835291 PMCID: PMC4383333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is compelling evidence in humans that peripheral endocannabinoid signaling is disrupted in obesity. However, little is known about the corresponding central signaling. Here, we have investigated the relationship between gender, leptin, body mass index (BMI) and levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of primarily overweight to obese patients with osteoarthritis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Patients (20 females, 15 males, age range 44-78 years, BMI range 24-42) undergoing total knee arthroplasty for end-stage osteoarthritis were recruited for the study. Endocannabinoids were quantified by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. AEA and 2-AG levels in the serum and CSF did not correlate with either age or BMI. However, 2-AG levels in the CSF, but not serum, correlated negatively with CSF leptin levels (Spearman's ρ -0.48, P=0.0076, n=30). No such correlations were observed for AEA and leptin. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE In the patient sample investigated, there is a negative association between 2-AG and leptin levels in the CSF. This is consistent with pre-clinical studies in animals, demonstrating that leptin controls the levels of hypothalamic endocannabinoids that regulate feeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Nicholson
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Syed Azim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Mario J. Rebecchi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - William Galbavy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Tian Feng
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Ruth Reinsel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Sabeen Rizwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Helene Benveniste
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MK); (HB)
| | - Martin Kaczocha
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MK); (HB)
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27
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Sexton M, Cudaback E, Abdullah RA, Finnell J, Mischley LK, Rozga M, Lichtman AH, Stella N. Cannabis use by individuals with multiple sclerosis: effects on specific immune parameters. Inflammopharmacology 2014; 22:295-303. [PMID: 25135301 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-014-0214-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids affect immune responses in ways that may be beneficial for autoimmune diseases. We sought to determine whether chronic Cannabis use differentially modulates a select number of immune parameters in healthy controls and individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS cases). Subjects were enrolled and consented to a single blood draw, matched for age and BMI. We measured monocyte migration isolated from each subject, as well as plasma levels of endocannabinoids and cytokines. Cases met definition of MS by international diagnostic criteria. Monocyte cell migration measured in control subjects and individuals with MS was similarly inhibited by a set ratio of phytocannabinoids. The plasma levels of CCL2 and IL17 were reduced in non-naïve cannabis users irrespective of the cohorts. We detected a significant increase in the endocannabinoid arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) in serum from individuals with MS compared to control subjects, and no significant difference in levels of other endocannabinoids and signaling lipids irrespective of Cannabis use. Chronic Cannabis use may affect the immune response to similar extent in individuals with MS and control subjects through the ability of phytocannabinoids to reduce both monocyte migration and cytokine levels in serum. From a panel of signaling lipids, only the levels of AEA are increased in individuals with MS, irrespective of Cannabis use or not. Our results suggest that both MS cases and controls respond similarly to chronic Cannabis use with respect to the immune parameters measured in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Sexton
- Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy, Seattle, WA, 98028, USA,
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28
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Aso E, Ferrer I. Cannabinoids for treatment of Alzheimer's disease: moving toward the clinic. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:37. [PMID: 24634659 PMCID: PMC3942876 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The limited effectiveness of current therapies against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) highlights the need for intensifying research efforts devoted to developing new agents for preventing or retarding the disease process. During the last few years, targeting the endogenous cannabinoid system has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer. The endocannabinoid system is composed by a number of cannabinoid receptors, including the well-characterized CB1 and CB2 receptors, with their endogenous ligands and the enzymes related to the synthesis and degradation of these endocannabinoid compounds. Several findings indicate that the activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors by natural or synthetic agonists, at non-psychoactive doses, have beneficial effects in Alzheimer experimental models by reducing the harmful β-amyloid peptide action and tau phosphorylation, as well as by promoting the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms. Moreover, endocannabinoid signaling has been demonstrated to modulate numerous concomitant pathological processes, including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The present paper summarizes the main experimental studies demonstrating the polyvalent properties of cannabinoid compounds for the treatment of AD, which together encourage progress toward a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Aso
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Carlos III Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Carlos III Spain
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Pavón FJ, Araos P, Pastor A, Calado M, Pedraz M, Campos-Cloute R, Ruiz JJ, Serrano A, Blanco E, Rivera P, Suárez J, Romero-Cuevas M, Pujadas M, Vergara-Moragues E, Gornemann I, Torrens M, de la Torre R, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Evaluation of plasma-free endocannabinoids and their congeners in abstinent cocaine addicts seeking outpatient treatment: impact of psychiatric co-morbidity. Addict Biol 2013; 18:955-69. [PMID: 24283982 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine is associated with serious health problems including psychiatric co-morbidity. There is a need for the identification of biomarkers for the stratification of cocaine-addicted subjects. Several studies have evaluated circulating endocannabinoid-related lipids as biomarkers of inflammatory, metabolic and mental disorders. However, little is known in substance use disorders. This study characterizes both free N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs) and 2-acyl-glycerols in abstinent cocaine addicts from outpatient treatment programs who were diagnosed with cocaine use disorder (CUD; n = 88), and age-/gender-/body mass-matched healthy control volunteers (n = 46). Substance and mental disorders that commonly occur with substance abuse were assessed by the semi-structured interview 'Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Diseases' according to the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision' (DSM-IV-TR) and plasma-free acyl derivatives were quantified by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. The results indicate that plasma acyl derivatives are altered in abstinent cocaine-addicted subjects with CUD (CUD subjects). While NAEs were found to be increased, 2-acyl-glycerols were decreased in CUD subjects compared with controls. Multivariate predictive models based on these lipids as explanatory variables were developed to distinguish CUD subjects from controls providing high discriminatory power. However, these alterations were not influenced by the DSM-IV-TR criteria for cocaine abuse and dependence as cocaine trait severity measure. In contrast, we observed that some free acyl derivatives in CUD subjects were found to be affected by the diagnosis of some co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Thus, we found that the monounsaturated NAEs were significantly elevated in CUD subjects diagnosed with mood [N-oleoyl-ethanolamine and N-palmitoleoyl-ethanolamine (POEA)] and anxiety (POEA) disorders compared with non-co-morbid CUD subjects. Interestingly, the coexistence of alcohol use disorders did not influence the circulating levels of these free acyl derivatives. In summary, we have identified plasma-free acyl derivatives that might serve as reliable biomarkers for CUD. Furthermore, we found that monounsaturated NAE levels are also enhanced by co-morbid mood and anxiety disorders in cocaine addicts. These findings open the way for the development of new strategies for cocaine addiction diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Pavón
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Pedro Araos
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Neurosciences Programme; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques (IMIM); Spain
- Facultat de Medicina; Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Spain
| | - Montserrat Calado
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - María Pedraz
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | | | | | - Antonia Serrano
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Eduardo Blanco
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento; Facultad de Psicología; Universidad de Málaga; Spain
| | - Patricia Rivera
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Juan Suárez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Miguel Romero-Cuevas
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Mitona Pujadas
- Neurosciences Programme; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques (IMIM); Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03); CIBEROBN; Spain
| | - Esperanza Vergara-Moragues
- Grupo de Investigación de Neuropsicología y Psiconeuroinmunología Clínica; Universidad de Granada; Spain
| | - Isolde Gornemann
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
| | - Marta Torrens
- Neurosciences Programme; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques (IMIM); Spain
- Facultat de Medicina; Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona; Spain
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Addiccions (INAD) del Parc de Salut MAR; Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Neurosciences Programme; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mediques (IMIM); Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03); CIBEROBN; Spain
- Facultat de Ciencies de la Salut i de la Vida; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF); Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA); Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; Spain
- CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03); CIBEROBN; Spain
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30
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Fagundo AB, de la Torre R, Jiménez-Murcia S, Agüera Z, Pastor A, Casanueva FF, Granero R, Baños R, Botella C, del Pino-Gutierrez A, Fernández-Real JM, Fernández-García JC, Frühbeck G, Gómez-Ambrosi J, Menchón JM, Moragrega I, Rodríguez R, Tárrega S, Tinahones FJ, Fernández-Aranda F. Modulation of the Endocannabinoids N-Arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) on Executive Functions in Humans. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66387. [PMID: 23840456 PMCID: PMC3686875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal studies point to an implication of the endocannabinoid system on executive functions. In humans, several studies have suggested an association between acute or chronic use of exogenous cannabinoids (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and executive impairments. However, to date, no published reports establish the relationship between endocannabinoids, as biomarkers of the cannabinoid neurotransmission system, and executive functioning in humans. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between circulating levels of plasma endocannabinoids N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and executive functions (decision making, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility) in healthy subjects. One hundred and fifty seven subjects were included and assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; Stroop Color and Word Test; and Iowa Gambling Task. All participants were female, aged between 18 and 60 years and spoke Spanish as their first language. Results showed a negative correlation between 2-AG and cognitive flexibility performance (r = −.37; p<.05). A positive correlation was found between AEA concentrations and both cognitive flexibility (r = .59; p<.05) and decision making performance (r = .23; P<.05). There was no significant correlation between either 2-AG (r = −.17) or AEA (r = −.08) concentrations and inhibition response. These results show, in humans, a relevant modulation of the endocannabinoid system on prefrontal-dependent cognitive functioning. The present study might have significant implications for the underlying executive alterations described in some psychiatric disorders currently associated with endocannabinoids deregulation (namely drug abuse/dependence, depression, obesity and eating disorders). Understanding the neurobiology of their dysexecutive profile might certainly contribute to the development of new treatments and pharmacological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B. Fagundo
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Jiménez-Murcia
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zaida Agüera
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Felipe F. Casanueva
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrine Division, Complejo Hospitalario U. de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela University, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Roser Granero
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Baños
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment of the University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Botella
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology of the University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Amparo del Pino-Gutierrez
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- Nursing Department of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health the Nursing School of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose M. Fernández-Real
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona (IdlBGi) Hospital Dr Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Jose C. Fernández-García
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | - Gema Frühbeck
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Gómez-Ambrosi
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - José M. Menchón
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Salud Mental (CIBERsam), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Moragrega
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology of the University Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
| | - Roser Rodríguez
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona (IdlBGi) Hospital Dr Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Salomé Tárrega
- Departament de Psicobiologia i Metodologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Tinahones
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de Victoria, Málaga, Spain
| | - Fernando Fernández-Aranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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31
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Barricklow J, Blatnik M. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol is a substrate for butyrylcholinesterase: A potential mechanism for extracellular endocannabinoid regulation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2013; 536:1-5. [PMID: 23689009 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is a component of the endocannabinoid receptor pathway and is primarily hydrolyzed by monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) in vivo. We found that the non-specific serine esterase, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), can hydrolyze 2-AG with reasonable affinity and may present a new compensatory mechanism for endocannabinoid regulation. In vitro hydrolysis reactions of 2-AG with equine BChE were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) positive/negative electrospray ionization (ESI±) to measure the formation of arachidonic acid (AA) and the loss of 2-AG over time (min). The resulting Michaelis-Menten approximations reveal that BChE has affinity towards 2-AG in phosphate buffer at neutral pH (7.4). The calculated Vmax, Km and kcat were 12.1nmols(-1), 57.5μM, and 0.074s(-1), respectively, which produced a diffusion-controlled rate of association (kcat/Km) of 1.3×10(3)M(-1)s(-1). Human BChE 2-AG hydrolysis was measured by immunoprecipitating BChE from fresh plasma and monitoring 2-AG loss and AA formation over time. These findings show that BChE can hydrolyze 2-AG which may be evidence of a more specific role for BChE in endocannabinoid regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Barricklow
- Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton Laboratories, 558 Eastern Point Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA
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Immunolocalization of Kisspeptin Associated with Amyloid-β Deposits in the Pons of an Alzheimer's Disease Patient. JOURNAL OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES 2013; 2013:879710. [PMID: 26317001 PMCID: PMC4437339 DOI: 10.1155/2013/879710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The pons region of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain is one of the last to show amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits and has been suggested to contain neuroprotective compounds. Kisspeptin (KP) is a hormone that activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and has been suggested to be neuroprotective against Aβ toxicity. The localization of KP, plus the established endogenous neuroprotective compounds corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and catalase, in tissue sections from the pons region of a male AD subject has been determined in relation to Aβ deposits. Results showed Aβ deposits also stained with KP, CRH, and catalase antibodies. At high magnification the staining of deposits was either KP or catalase positive, and there was only a limited area of the deposits with KP-catalase colocalization. The CRH does not bind Aβ, whilst both KP and catalase can bind Aβ, suggesting that colocalization in Aβ deposits is not restricted to compounds that directly bind Aβ. The neuroprotective actions of KP, CRH, and catalase were confirmed in vitro, and fibrillar Aβ preparations were shown to stimulate the release of KP in vitro. In conclusion, neuroprotective KP, CRH, and catalase all colocalize with Aβ plaque-like deposits in the pons region from a male AD subject.
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D'Addario C, Di Francesco A, Arosio B, Gussago C, Dell'Osso B, Bari M, Galimberti D, Scarpini E, Altamura AC, Mari D, Maccarrone M. Epigenetic regulation of fatty acid amide hydrolase in Alzheimer disease. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39186. [PMID: 22720070 PMCID: PMC3373611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative and irreversible neurological disorder with few therapies available. In search for new potential targets, increasing evidence suggests a role for the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the regulation of neurodegenerative processes. METHODS We have studied the gene expression status and the epigenetic regulation of ECS components in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of subjects with late-onset AD (LOAD) and age-matched controls (CT). RESULTS We found an increase in fatty acid amide hydrolase (faah) gene expression in LOAD subjects (2.30 ± 0.48) when compared to CT (1.00 ± 0.14; *p<0.05) and no changes in the mRNA levels of any other gene of ECS elements. Consistently, we also observed in LOAD subjects an increase in FAAH protein levels (CT: 0.75 ± 0.04; LOAD: 1.11 ± 0.15; *p<0.05) and activity (pmol/min per mg protein CT: 103.80 ± 8.73; LOAD: 125.10 ± 4.00; *p<0.05), as well as a reduction in DNA methylation at faah gene promoter (CT: 55.90 ± 4.60%; LOAD: 41.20 ± 4.90%; *p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Present findings suggest the involvement of FAAH in the pathogenesis of AD, highlighting the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in enzyme regulation; they also point to FAAH as a new potential biomarker for AD in easily accessible peripheral cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio D'Addario
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Arosio
- Geriatric Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Gussago
- Geriatric Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Bari
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Department of Neurological Sciences, “Dino Ferrari” Center, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Elio Scarpini
- Department of Neurological Sciences, “Dino Ferrari” Center, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Carlo Altamura
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Mari
- Geriatric Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Hillard CJ, Weinlander KM, Stuhr KL. Contributions of endocannabinoid signaling to psychiatric disorders in humans: genetic and biochemical evidence. Neuroscience 2011; 204:207-29. [PMID: 22123166 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Revised: 11/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid signaling system is a widespread, neuromodulatory system in brain and is also widely utilized in the periphery to modulate metabolic functions and the immune system. Preclinical data demonstrate that endocannabinoid signaling is an important stress buffer and modulates emotional and cognitive functions. These data suggest the hypothesis that endocannabinoid signaling could be dysfunctional in a number of mental disorders. Genetic polymorphisms in the human genes for two important proteins of the endocannabinoid signaling system, the CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), have been explored in the context of normal and pathological conditions. In the case of the gene for FAAH, the mechanistic relationships among the common genetic polymorphism, the expression of the FAAH protein, and its likely impact on endocannabinoid signaling are understood. However, multiple polymorphisms in the gene for the CB1R occur and are associated with human phenotypic differences without an understanding of the functional relationships among the gene, mRNA, protein, and protein function. The endocannabinoid ligands are found in the circulation, and several studies have identified changes in their concentrations under various conditions. These data are reviewed for the purpose of generating hypotheses and to encourage further studies in this very interesting and important area.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Hillard
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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35
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Scotter EL, Abood ME, Glass M. The endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. Br J Pharmacol 2010; 160:480-98. [PMID: 20590559 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cannabis sativa plant has been exploited for medicinal, agricultural and spiritual purposes in diverse cultures over thousands of years. Cannabis has been used recreationally for its psychotropic properties, while effects such as stimulation of appetite, analgesia and anti-emesis have lead to the medicinal application of cannabis. Indeed, reports of medicinal efficacy of cannabis can been traced back as far as 2700 BC, and even at that time reports also suggested a neuroprotective effect of the cultivar. The discovery of the psychoactive component of cannabis resin, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) occurred long before the serendipitous identification of a G-protein coupled receptor at which Delta(9)-THC is active in the brain. The subsequent finding of endogenous cannabinoid compounds, the synthesis of which is directed by neuronal excitability and which in turn served to regulate that excitability, further widened the range of potential drug targets through which the endocannabinoid system can be manipulated. As a result of this, alterations in the endocannabinoid system have been extensively investigated in a range of neurodegenerative disorders. In this review we examine the evidence implicating the endocannabinoid system in the cause, symptomatology or treatment of neurodegenerative disease. We examine data from human patients and compare and contrast this with evidence from animal models of these diseases. On the basis of this evidence we discuss the likely efficacy of endocannabinoid-based therapies in each disease context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Scotter
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Noonan J, Tanveer R, Klompas A, Gowran A, McKiernan J, Campbell VA. Endocannabinoids prevent β-amyloid-mediated lysosomal destabilization in cultured neurons. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:38543-54. [PMID: 20923768 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.162040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal cell loss underlies the pathological decline in cognition and memory associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). Recently, targeting the endocannabinoid system in AD has emerged as a promising new approach to treatment. Studies have identified neuroprotective roles for endocannabinoids against key pathological events in the AD brain, including cell death by apoptosis. Elucidation of the apoptotic pathway evoked by β-amyloid (Aβ) is thus important for the development of therapeutic strategies that can thwart Aβ toxicity and preserve cell viability. We have previously reported that lysosomal membrane permeabilization plays a distinct role in the apoptotic pathway initiated by Aβ. In the present study, we provide evidence that the endocannabinoid system can stabilize lysosomes against Aβ-induced permeabilization and in turn sustain cell survival. We report that endocannabinoids stabilize lysosomes by preventing the Aβ-induced up-regulation of the tumor suppressor protein, p53, and its interaction with the lysosomal membrane. We also provide evidence that intracellular cannabinoid type 1 receptors play a role in stabilizing lysosomes against Aβ toxicity and thus highlight the functionality of these receptors. Given the deleterious effect of lysosomal membrane permeabilization on cell viability, stabilization of lysosomes with endocannabinoids may represent a novel mechanism by which these lipid modulators confer neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janis Noonan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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37
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Tsai SJ, Lin CY, Mong MC, Ho MW, Yin MC. s-Ethyl cysteine and s-propyl cysteine alleviate beta-amyloid induced cytotoxicity in nerve growth factor differentiated PC12 cells. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2010; 58:7104-7108. [PMID: 20443605 DOI: 10.1021/jf1009318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) was used to induce cytotoxicity in nerve growth factor differentiated PC12 cells, and the effects of s-ethyl cysteine (SEC) and s-propyl cysteine (SPC) on anti-inflammatory protection, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and caspases were examined. Abeta treatment significantly decreased cell viability and MMP, and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). The pretreatments from SEC or SPC at 2.5, 5, and 10 microM significantly enhanced cell viability and MMP, and lowered LDH activity and DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). Abeta treatment also significantly decreased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and enhanced the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8 (P < 0.05); however, the pretreatments from SEC or SPC significantly attenuated Abeta-induced reduction in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and elevation in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities (P < 0.05). Abeta treatment increased the protein production and mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.05). The pretreatments from SEC at 10 microM or SPC at 2.5, 5, and 10 microM significantly suppressed mRNA expression and decreased the protein production of these cytokines. These results suggested that SEC and SPC were potent neuroprotective agents against Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Jei Tsai
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Zoerner AA, Gutzki FM, Suchy MT, Beckmann B, Engeli S, Jordan J, Tsikas D. Targeted stable-isotope dilution GC-MS/MS analysis of the endocannabinoid anandamide and other fatty acid ethanol amides in human plasma. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2009; 877:2909-23. [PMID: 19414283 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2009.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2009] [Revised: 04/03/2009] [Accepted: 04/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanol amide, AEA) is an endocannabinoid, acting on CB1 and CB2 receptors. Elevated plasma AEA concentrations in humans have been associated amongst others with obesity, psychological disorders and miscarriage. The occurrence in human plasma of ethanol amides of other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, including oleic acid and palmitic acid, has also been reported. Most data available on anandamide and other fatty acid ethanol amides (FAEA) until now have been generated by using the LC-MS/MS methodology. Here, we describe a stable-isotope dilution GC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of AEA, oleic acid ethanol amide (OEA) and palmitic acid ethanol amide (PEA) in human plasma using their stable-isotope labeled analogs as internal standards. Other FAEA were found in plasma and their concentration was estimated. The present method involves a single solvent extraction of FAEA and their internal standards from plasma (50-1000 microl) with toluene, derivatization to the pentafluorobenzamide pentafluoropropionyl derivatives (FAEA-PFBz-PFP), and simultaneous quantification by selected reaction monitoring of the carboxylate anions produced by collision-induced dissociation of the parent ions [M-PFBz](-). The present method was fully validated for anandamide. Thus, accuracy and imprecision of the method were within the range of 100+/-20% and less than 20%, respectively, in the range investigated (0-4 nM). Mean overall recovery was 90+/-3%. The LOQ and LOD values of the method were determined to be 0.25 nM of added AEA in plasma samples and 400 amol of injected AEA-PFBz-PFP derivative, respectively. In plasma of 16 healthy individuals AEA concentration was measured to be 1.35+/-0.32 nM. This finding is concordant to literature AEA plasma concentrations as measured by LC-MS/MS. The plasma concentrations of OEA, PEA and other FAEA are higher than that of AEA. This GC-MS/MS method is straightforward, accurate, precise, highly specific for FAEA and useful in basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Zoerner
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30623 Hannover, Germany
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