1
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Ciuffreda P, Xynomilakis O, Casati S, Ottria R. Fluorescence-Based Enzyme Activity Assay: Ascertaining the Activity and Inhibition of Endocannabinoid Hydrolytic Enzymes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7693. [PMID: 39062935 PMCID: PMC11276806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system, known for its regulatory role in various physiological processes, relies on the activities of several hydrolytic enzymes, such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA), monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), and α/β-hydrolase domains 6 (ABHD6) and 12 (ABHD12), to maintain homeostasis. Accurate measurement of these enzymes' activities is crucial for understanding their function and for the development of potential therapeutic agents. Fluorometric assays, which offer high sensitivity, specificity, and real-time monitoring capabilities, have become essential tools in enzymatic studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the principles behind these assays, the various substrates and fluorophores used, and advances in assay techniques used not only for the determination of the kinetic mechanisms of enzyme reactions but also for setting up kinetic assays for the high-throughput screening of each critical enzyme involved in endocannabinoid degradation. Through this comprehensive review, we aim to highlight the strengths and limitations of current fluorometric assays and suggest future directions for improving the measurement of enzyme activity in the endocannabinoid system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roberta Ottria
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (O.X.); (S.C.)
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2
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Oddi S, Fiorenza MT, Maccarrone M. Endocannabinoid signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis: A mechanistic and integrated perspective. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101239. [PMID: 37385352 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Dentate gyrus of the hippocampus continuously gives rise to new neurons, namely, adult-born granule cells, which contribute to conferring plasticity to the mature brain throughout life. Within this neurogenic region, the fate and behavior of neural stem cells (NSCs) and their progeny result from a complex balance and integration of a variety of cell-autonomous and cell-to-cell-interaction signals and underlying pathways. Among these structurally and functionally diverse signals, there are endocannabinoids (eCBs), the main brain retrograde messengers. These pleiotropic bioactive lipids can directly and/or indirectly influence adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) by modulating, both positively and negatively, multiple molecular and cellular processes in the hippocampal niche, depending on the cell type or stage of differentiation. Firstly, eCBs act directly as cell-intrinsic factors, cell-autonomously produced by NSCs following their stimulation. Secondly, in many, if not all, niche-associated cells, including some local neuronal and nonneuronal elements, the eCB system indirectly modulates the neurogenesis, linking neuronal and glial activity to regulating distinct stages of AHN. Herein, we discuss the crosstalk of the eCB system with other neurogenesis-relevant signal pathways and speculate how the hippocampus-dependent neurobehavioral effects elicited by (endo)cannabinergic medications are interpretable in light of the key regulatory role that eCBs play on AHN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Oddi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via R. Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy; European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa Fiorenza
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, Division of Neuroscience and "Daniel Bovet" Neurobiology Research Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Sardi 70, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy; Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio Snc, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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3
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Fuerte-Hortigón A, Gonçalves J, Zeballos L, Masa R, Gómez-Nieto R, López DE. Distribution of the Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 in the Brain of the Genetically Audiogenic Seizure-Prone Hamster GASH/Sal. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:613798. [PMID: 33841106 PMCID: PMC8024637 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.613798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system modulates epileptic seizures by regulating neuronal excitability. It has become clear that agonist activation of central type I cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) reduces epileptogenesis in pre-clinical animal models of epilepsy. The audiogenic seizure-prone hamster GASH/Sal is a reliable experimental model of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in response to intense sound stimulation. However, no studies hitherto had investigated CB1R in the GASH/Sal. Although the distribution of CB1R has been extensively studied in mammalian brains, their distribution in the Syrian golden hamster brain also remains unknown. The objective of this research is to determine by immunohistochemistry the differential distribution of CB1R in the brains of GASH/Sal animals under seizure-free conditions, by comparing the results with wild-type Syrian hamsters as controls. CB1R in the GASH/Sal showed a wide distribution in many nuclei of the central nervous system. These patterns of CB1R-immunolabeling are practically identical between the GASH/Sal model and control animals, varying in the intensity of immunostaining in certain regions, being slightly weaker in the GASH/Sal than in the control, mainly in brain regions associated with epileptic networks. The RT-qPCR analysis confirms these results. In summary, our study provides an anatomical basis for further investigating CB1R in acute and kindling audiogenic seizure protocols in the GASH/Sal model as well as exploring CB1R activation via exogenously administered cannabinoid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejando Fuerte-Hortigón
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Neurology, Virgen Macarena Hospital, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jaime Gonçalves
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura Zeballos
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rubén Masa
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ricardo Gómez-Nieto
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Dolores E López
- Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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4
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Medina-Vera D, Rosell-Valle C, López-Gambero AJ, Navarro JA, Zambrana-Infantes EN, Rivera P, Santín LJ, Suarez J, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Imbalance of Endocannabinoid/Lysophosphatidylinositol Receptors Marks the Severity of Alzheimer's Disease in a Preclinical Model: A Therapeutic Opportunity. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E377. [PMID: 33167441 PMCID: PMC7694492 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegeneration and dementia. The endocannabinoid (ECB) system has been proposed as a novel therapeutic target to treat AD. The present study explores the expression of the ECB system, the ECB-related receptor GPR55, and cognitive functions (novel object recognition; NOR) in the 5xFAD (FAD: family Alzheimer's disease) transgenic mouse model of AD. Experiments were performed on heterozygous (HTZ) and homozygous (HZ) 11 month old mice. Protein expression of ECB system components, neuroinflammation markers, and β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques were analyzed in the hippocampus. According to the NOR test, anxiety-like behavior and memory were altered in both HTZ and HZ 5xFAD mice. Furthermore, both animal groups displayed a reduction of cannabinoid (CB1) receptor expression in the hippocampus, which is related to memory dysfunction. This finding was associated with indirect markers of enhanced ECB production, resulting from the combination of impaired monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) degradation and increased diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) levels, an effect observed in the HZ group. Regarding neuroinflammation, we observed increased levels of CB2 receptors in the HZ group that positively correlate with Aβ's accumulation. Moreover, HZ 5xFAD mice also exhibited increased expression of the GPR55 receptor. These results highlight the importance of the ECB signaling for the AD pathogenesis development beyond Aβ deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Medina-Vera
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Cristina Rosell-Valle
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
| | - Antonio J. López-Gambero
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Juan A. Navarro
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Emma N. Zambrana-Infantes
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (E.N.Z.-I.); (L.J.S.)
| | - Patricia Rivera
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
| | - Luis J. Santín
- Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (E.N.Z.-I.); (L.J.S.)
| | - Juan Suarez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga-IBIMA, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain; (C.R.-V.); (A.J.L.-G.); (J.A.N.); (P.R.); (J.S.)
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5
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Huang S, Kirkwood A. Endocannabinoid Signaling Contributes to Experience-Induced Increase of Synaptic Release Sites From Parvalbumin Interneurons in Mouse Visual Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:571133. [PMID: 33192316 PMCID: PMC7556304 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.571133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During postnatal development of the visual cortex between eye-opening to puberty, visual experience promotes a gradual increase in the strength of inhibitory synaptic connections from parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PV-INs) onto layer 2/3 pyramidal cells. However, the detailed connectivity properties and molecular mechanisms underlying these developmental changes are not well understood. Using dual-patch clamp in brain slices from G42 mice, we revealed that both connection probability and the number of synaptic release sites contributed to the enhancement of synaptic strength. The increase of release site number was hindered by dark rearing from eye-opening and rescued by 3-days re-exposure to the normal visual environment. The effect of light re-exposure on restoring synaptic release sites in dark reared mice was mimicked by the agonist of cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors and blocked by an antagonist of these receptors, suggesting a role for endocannabinoid signaling in light-induced maturation of inhibitory connectivity from PV-INs to pyramidal cells during postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyong Huang
- Program in Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States.,The Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alfredo Kirkwood
- The Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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6
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Dai Y, Song Y, Xie J, Xiao G, Li X, Li Z, Gao F, Zhang Y, He E, Xu S, Wang Y, Zheng W, Jiang X, Qi Z, Meng D, Fan Z, Cai X. CB1-Antibody Modified Liposomes for Targeted Modulation of Epileptiform Activities Synchronously Detected by Microelectrode Arrays. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:41148-41156. [PMID: 32809788 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a focal, recurrent, and refractory neurological disorder. Therefore, precisely targeted treatments for TLE are greatly needed. We designed anti-CB1 liposomes that can bind to CB1 receptors in the hippocampus to deliver photocaged compounds (ruthenium bipyridine triphenylphosphine γ-aminobutyric acid, RuBi-GABA) in the TLE rats. A 16-channel silicon microelectrode array (MEA) was implanted for simultaneously monitoring electrophysiological signals of neurons. The results showed that anti-CB1 liposomes were larger in size and remained in the hippocampus longer than unmodified liposomes. Following the blue light stimulation, the neural firing rates and the local field potentials of hippocampal neurons were significantly reduced. It is indicated that RuBi-GABA was enriched near hippocampal neurons due to anti-CB1 liposome delivery and photolyzed by optical stimulation, resulting dissociation of GABA to exert inhibitory actions. Furthermore, K-means cluster analysis revealed that the firing rates of interneurons were decreased to a greater extent than those of pyramidal neurons, which may have been a result of the uneven diffusion of RuBi-GABA due to liposomes binding to CB1. In this study, we developed a novel, targeted method to regulate neural electrophysiology in the hippocampus of the TLE rat using antibody-modified nanoliposomes, implantable MEA, and photocaged compounds. This method effectively suppressed hippocampal activities during seizure ictus with high spatiotemporal resolution, which is a crucial exploration of targeted therapy for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchuan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yilin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jingyu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Guihua Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xuanyu Li
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for NanoScience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ziyue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Enhui He
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Shengwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Wenfu Zheng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for NanoScience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for NanoScience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhimei Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Dongdong Meng
- National Engineering Research Center for DPSSL, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Zhongwei Fan
- National Engineering Research Center for DPSSL, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xinxia Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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7
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Silva-Peña D, Rivera P, Alén F, Vargas A, Rubio L, García-Marchena N, Pavón FJ, Serrano A, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, Suárez J. Oleoylethanolamide Modulates BDNF-ERK Signaling and Neurogenesis in the Hippocampi of Rats Exposed to Δ 9-THC and Ethanol Binge Drinking During Adolescence. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:96. [PMID: 31068789 PMCID: PMC6491684 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oleoylethanolamide is an endogenous NAE that modulates ethanol-seeking behavior and ethanol-induced neuroinflammation. In the present study we further analyze the role of OEA in hippocampal neurogenesis, BDNF-ERK signaling, and spatial memory that are affected by alcohol. Additionally, we addressed the effects of OEA on the association of alcohol and cannabis, a frequent combination in human alcohol addicts, and whose long-term effects are far from being understood. To this end, OEA (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was pharmacologically administered for 5 days/week in a preclinical model of adolescent rats with binge-like consumption (1 day/week) of ethanol (3 g/kg, i.g.) combined or not with acute administrations of Δ9-THC (5 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 weeks. OEA restored ethanol/THC-related decreases in both short-term spatial memory (spontaneous alternation by Y-maze) and circulating levels of BDNF, reduced cell proliferation (Mki67 and IdU+ cells) and maturation (Dcx, Calb1), and improved cell survival (Casp3 and BrdU+ cells) in the dorsal hippocampus. Interestingly, OEA alone or combined with THC also decreased the mRNA levels of neurotrophic factors (Bdnf, Ntf3) and the NT3 receptor TrkC, but increased the BDNF receptor TrkB in the hippocampus of ethanol-exposed rats. These effects were likely associated with a OEA-specific phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1, key signaling regulators of cell proliferation and survival. These results suggest a regulatory role of OEA in short-term spatial memory and hippocampal neurogenesis through BDNF/AKT/ERK1 signaling in response to acute THC in an alcoholic context during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Silva-Peña
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Patricia Rivera
- Department of Endocrinology, Fundación Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Alén
- Departamento de Psicobiología, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Antonio Vargas
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Leticia Rubio
- Departamento de Anatomía y Medicina Legal, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Nuria García-Marchena
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Pavón
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonia Serrano
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.,Departamento de Psicobiología, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Juan Suárez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga, U.G.C. de Salud Mental, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
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8
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Woodhams SG, Chapman V, Finn DP, Hohmann AG, Neugebauer V. The cannabinoid system and pain. Neuropharmacology 2017; 124:105-120. [PMID: 28625720 PMCID: PMC5785108 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain states are highly prevalent and yet poorly controlled by currently available analgesics, representing an enormous clinical, societal, and economic burden. Existing pain medications have significant limitations and adverse effects including tolerance, dependence, gastrointestinal dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and a narrow therapeutic window, making the search for novel analgesics ever more important. In this article, we review the role of an important endogenous pain control system, the endocannabinoid (EC) system, in the sensory, emotional, and cognitive aspects of pain. Herein, we briefly cover the discovery of the EC system and its role in pain processing pathways, before concentrating on three areas of current major interest in EC pain research; 1. Pharmacological enhancement of endocannabinoid activity (via blockade of EC metabolism or allosteric modulation of CB1receptors); 2. The EC System and stress-induced modulation of pain; and 3. The EC system & medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) dysfunction in pain states. Whilst we focus predominantly on the preclinical data, we also include extensive discussion of recent clinical failures of endocannabinoid-related therapies, the future potential of these approaches, and important directions for future research on the EC system and pain. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "A New Dawn in Cannabinoid Neurobiology".
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen G Woodhams
- Arthritis UK Pain Centre, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
| | - Victoria Chapman
- Arthritis UK Pain Centre, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - David P Finn
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, NCBES, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Andrea G Hohmann
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Interdisciplinary Biochemistry Graduate Program, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA; Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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9
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Booker SA, Althof D, Gross A, Loreth D, Müller J, Unger A, Fakler B, Varro A, Watanabe M, Gassmann M, Bettler B, Shigemoto R, Vida I, Kulik Á. KCTD12 Auxiliary Proteins Modulate Kinetics of GABABReceptor-Mediated Inhibition in Cholecystokinin-Containing Interneurons. Cereb Cortex 2016; 27:2318-2334. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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10
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Kiritoshi T, Ji G, Neugebauer V. Rescue of Impaired mGluR5-Driven Endocannabinoid Signaling Restores Prefrontal Cortical Output to Inhibit Pain in Arthritic Rats. J Neurosci 2016; 36:837-50. [PMID: 26791214 PMCID: PMC4719019 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4047-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) serves executive functions that are impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders and pain. Underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. Here we advance the novel concept that metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) fails to engage endocannabinoid (2-AG) signaling to overcome abnormal synaptic inhibition in pain, but restoring endocannabinoid signaling allows mGluR5 to increase mPFC output hence inhibit pain behaviors and mitigate cognitive deficits. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from layer V pyramidal cells in the infralimbic mPFC in rat brain slices. Electrical and optogenetic stimulations were used to analyze amygdala-driven mPFC activity. A selective mGluR5 activator (VU0360172) increased pyramidal output through an endocannabinoid-dependent mechanism because intracellular inhibition of the major 2-AG synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase or blockade of CB1 receptors abolished the facilitatory effect of VU0360172. In an arthritis pain model mGluR5 activation failed to overcome abnormal synaptic inhibition and increase pyramidal output. mGluR5 function was rescued by restoring 2-AG-CB1 signaling with a CB1 agonist (ACEA) or inhibitors of postsynaptic 2-AG hydrolyzing enzyme ABHD6 (intracellular WWL70) and monoacylglycerol lipase MGL (JZL184) or by blocking GABAergic inhibition with intracellular picrotoxin. CB1-mediated depolarization-induced suppression of synaptic inhibition (DSI) was also impaired in the pain model but could be restored by coapplication of VU0360172 and ACEA. Stereotaxic coadministration of VU0360172 and ACEA into the infralimbic, but not anterior cingulate, cortex mitigated decision-making deficits and pain behaviors of arthritic animals. The results suggest that rescue of impaired endocannabinoid-dependent mGluR5 function in the mPFC can restore mPFC output and cognitive functions and inhibit pain. Significance statement: Dysfunctions in prefrontal cortical interactions with subcortical brain regions, such as the amygdala, are emerging as important players in neuropsychiatric disorders and pain. This study identifies a novel mechanism and rescue strategy for impaired medial prefrontal cortical function in an animal model of arthritis pain. Specifically, an integrative approach of optogenetics, pharmacology, electrophysiology, and behavior is used to advance the novel concept that a breakdown of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype mGluR5 and endocannabinoid signaling in infralimbic pyramidal cells fails to control abnormal amygdala-driven synaptic inhibition in the arthritis pain model. Restoring endocannabinoid signaling allows mGluR5 activation to increase infralimbic output hence inhibit pain behaviors and mitigate pain-related cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Volker Neugebauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), School of Medicine, Lubbock, Texas 79430-6592
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Blanco E, Galeano P, Holubiec MI, Romero JI, Logica T, Rivera P, Pavón FJ, Suarez J, Capani F, Rodríguez de Fonseca F. Perinatal asphyxia results in altered expression of the hippocampal acylethanolamide/endocannabinoid signaling system associated to memory impairments in postweaned rats. Front Neuroanat 2015; 9:141. [PMID: 26578900 PMCID: PMC4630311 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2015.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is an obstetric complication that strongly affects the CNS. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a lipid transmitter system involved in several physiological processes including synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, memory, and mood. Endocannabinoids, and other acylethanolamides (AEs) without endocannabinoid activity, have recently received growing attention due to their potential neuroprotective functions in neurological disorders, including cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the changes produced by PA in the major metabolic enzymes and receptors of the ECS/AEs in the hippocampus using a rodent model of PA. To induce PA, we removed uterine horns from ready-to-deliver rats and immersed them into a water bath during 19 min. Animals delivered spontaneously or by cesarean section were employed as controls. At 1 month of age, cognitive functions were assessed and immunohistochemical procedures were carried out to determine the expression of NeuN and glial fibrillary acidic protein, enzymes responsible for synthesis (DAGLα and NAPE-PLD) and degradation (FAAH) of ECS/AEs and their receptors (CB1 and PPARα) in the hippocampus. Postweaned asphyctic rats showed impaired recognition and spatial reference memory that were accompanied by hippocampal astrogliosis and changes in the expression of enzymes and receptors. The most remarkable findings in asphyctic rats were a decrease in the expression of NAPE-PLD and PPARα in both hippocampal areas CA1 and CA3. In addition, postweaned cesarean delivery rats showed an increase in the immunolabeling for FAAH in the hippocampal CA3 area. Since, NAPE-PLD and PPARα are proteins that participate in the biochemical process of AEs, specially the neuroprotective oleoylethanolamide, these results suggest that PA dysregulates this system. These data encourage conducting future studies using AEs as potential neuroprotective compounds in animal models of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Blanco
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain ; Departament de Pedagogia i Psicologia, Facultat d'Educació, Psicologia i Treball Social, Universitat de Lleida Lleida, Spain
| | - Pablo Galeano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Fundación Instituto Leloir Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana I Holubiec
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan I Romero
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tamara Logica
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia Rivera
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco J Pavón
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Juan Suarez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Capani
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas "Prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental, Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga Málaga, Spain
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12
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Viñals X, Moreno E, Lanfumey L, Cordomí A, Pastor A, de La Torre R, Gasperini P, Navarro G, Howell LA, Pardo L, Lluís C, Canela EI, McCormick PJ, Maldonado R, Robledo P. Cognitive Impairment Induced by Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol Occurs through Heteromers between Cannabinoid CB1 and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptors. PLoS Biol 2015; 13:e1002194. [PMID: 26158621 PMCID: PMC4497644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces a variety of negative effects with major consequences in cannabis users that constitute important drawbacks for the use of cannabinoids as therapeutic agents. For this reason, there is a tremendous medical interest in harnessing the beneficial effects of THC. Behavioral studies carried out in mice lacking 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2AR) revealed a remarkable 5-HT2AR-dependent dissociation in the beneficial antinociceptive effects of THC and its detrimental amnesic properties. We found that specific effects of THC such as memory deficits, anxiolytic-like effects, and social interaction are under the control of 5-HT2AR, but its acute hypolocomotor, hypothermic, anxiogenic, and antinociceptive effects are not. In biochemical studies, we show that CB1R and 5-HT2AR form heteromers that are expressed and functionally active in specific brain regions involved in memory impairment. Remarkably, our functional data shows that costimulation of both receptors by agonists reduces cell signaling, antagonist binding to one receptor blocks signaling of the interacting receptor, and heteromer formation leads to a switch in G-protein coupling for 5-HT2AR from Gq to Gi proteins. Synthetic peptides with the sequence of transmembrane helices 5 and 6 of CB1R, fused to a cell-penetrating peptide, were able to disrupt receptor heteromerization in vivo, leading to a selective abrogation of memory impairments caused by exposure to THC. These data reveal a novel molecular mechanism for the functional interaction between CB1R and 5-HT2AR mediating cognitive impairment. CB1R-5-HT2AR heteromers are thus good targets to dissociate the cognitive deficits induced by THC from its beneficial antinociceptive properties.
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MESH Headings
- Amnesia/chemically induced
- Analgesia
- Animals
- Anxiety/chemically induced
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/metabolism
- Cognition Disorders/chemically induced
- Dimerization
- Dorsal Raphe Nucleus/drug effects
- Dronabinol/adverse effects
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Hypothermia/chemically induced
- Locomotion/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/drug effects
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/drug effects
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Viñals
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estefanía Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laurence Lanfumey
- CPN, INSERM UMR S894, Université Paris Descartes, UMR S894, Paris, France
| | - Arnau Cordomí
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de La Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Gasperini
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lesley A. Howell
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Carmen Lluís
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric I. Canela
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter J. McCormick
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Robledo
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
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