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Bilkei-Gorzo A, Schurmann B, Schneider M, Kraemer M, Nidadavolu P, Beins EC, Müller CE, Dvir-Ginzberg M, Zimmer A. Bidirectional Effect of Long-Term Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment on mTOR Activity and Metabolome. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:2637-2649. [PMID: 39296258 PMCID: PMC11406684 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
Brain aging is associated with cognitive decline, reduced synaptic plasticity, and altered metabolism. The activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has a major impact on aging by regulating cellular metabolism. Although reduced mTOR signaling has a general antiaging effect, it can negatively affect the aging brain by reducing synaptogenesis and thus cognitive functions. Increased mTOR activity facilitates aging and is responsible for the amnestic effect of the cannabinoid receptor 1 agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in higher doses. Long-term low-dose Δ9-THC had an antiaging effect on the brain by restoring cognitive abilities and synapse densities in old mice. Whether changes in mTOR signaling and metabolome are associated with its positive effects on the aging brain is an open question. Here, we show that Δ9-THC treatment has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome. In the brain, Δ9-THC treatment induced a transient increase in mTOR activity and in the levels of amino acids and metabolites involved in energy production, followed by an increased synthesis of synaptic proteins. Unexpectedly, we found a similar reduction in the mTOR activity in adipose tissue and in the level of amino acids and carbohydrate metabolites in blood plasma as in animals on a low-calorie diet. Thus, long-term Δ9-THC treatment first increases the level of energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by a reduction in mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery. Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective antiaging and pro-cognitive medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andras Bilkei-Gorzo
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Britta Schurmann
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Marion Schneider
- Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Michael Kraemer
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53111, Germany
| | - Prakash Nidadavolu
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Eva C Beins
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Christa E Müller
- Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Mona Dvir-Ginzberg
- Institute of BioMedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
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2
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Palmisano M, Ramunno CF, Farhat E, Dvir-Ginzberg M, Lutz B, de Almodovar CR, Bilkei-Gorzo A. Local cannabinoid receptor type-1 regulates glial cell activity and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signaling in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Mech Ageing Dev 2024; 220:111954. [PMID: 38821184 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2024.111954] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
As organisms age, the activity of the endocannabinoid system in the brain declines, coinciding with increased neuroinflammation and disrupted hypothalamic functions. Notably, cannabinoid receptors type-1 (CB1) are highly expressed in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) within the mediobasal hypothalamus, a central area of neuroendocrine regulation. This study investigates whether the CB1 receptor influences age-related changes in a brain region-dependent manner. Therefore, we performed stereotaxic injections of rAAV1/2 expressing Cre recombinase in 2-month-old CB1flox/flox male animals to delete the CB1 gene and in CB1-deficient (CB1-STOP) mice to induce its re-expression. The intensity of pro-inflammatory glial activity, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression was assessed in the hypothalamus of mice at 18-19 months of age. Site-specific CB1 receptor deletion induced pro-inflammatory glial activity and increased hypothalamic Igf1r mRNA expression. Unexpectedly, GnRH levels remained unaltered. Importantly, rescuing the receptor in null mutant animals had the opposite effect: it reduced pro-inflammatory glial activation and decreased Igf1r mRNA expression without affecting GnRH production. Overall, the study highlights the important role of the CB1 receptor in the VMH in reducing age-related inflammation and modulating IGF-1R signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Palmisano
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Clinics of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Carla Florencia Ramunno
- Institute for Neurovascular Cell Biology, University Hospital Bonn, University Clinics of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Eli Farhat
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 12272, Israel
| | - Mona Dvir-Ginzberg
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 12272, Israel
| | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz 55122, Germany
| | - Carmen Ruiz de Almodovar
- Institute for Neurovascular Cell Biology, University Hospital Bonn, University Clinics of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany
| | - Andras Bilkei-Gorzo
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Clinics of Bonn, Bonn 53125, Germany.
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3
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Candib A, Lee N, Sam N, Cho E, Rojas J, Hastings R, DeAlva K, Khon D, Gonzalez A, Molina B, Torabzadeh G, Vu J, Hasenstab K, Sant K, Phillips JA, Finley K. The Influence of Cannabinoids on Drosophila Behaviors, Longevity, and Traumatic Injury Responses of the Adult Nervous System. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:e886-e896. [PMID: 37158809 PMCID: PMC11295667 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0285] [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: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The legalization of cannabis products has increased their usage in the United States. Among the ∼500 active compounds, this is especially true for cannabidiol (CBD)-based products, which are being used to treat a range of ailments. Research is ongoing regarding the safety, therapeutic potential, and molecular mechanism of cannabinoids. Drosophila (fruit flies) are widely used to model a range of factors that impact neural aging, stress responses, and longevity. Materials and Methods: Adult wild-type Drosophila melanogaster cohorts (w1118/+) were treated with different Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD dosages and examined for neural protective properties using established neural aging and trauma models. The therapeutic potential of each compound was assessed using circadian and locomotor behavioral assays and longevity profiles. Changes to NF-κB pathway activation were assessed by measuring expression levels of downstream targets using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of neural cDNAs. Results: Flies exposed to different CBD or THC dosages showed minimal effects to sleep and circadian-based behaviors or the age-dependent decline in locomotion. The 2-week CBD (3 μM) treatment did significantly enhance longevity. Flies exposed to different CBD and THC dosages were also examined under stress conditions, using the Drosophila mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) model (10×). Pretreatment with either compound did not alter baseline expression of key inflammatory markers (NF-κB targets), but did reduce neural mRNA profiles at a key 4-h time point following mTBI exposure. Locomotor responses were also significantly improved 1 and 2 weeks following mTBI. After mTBI (10×) exposure, the 48-h mortality rate improved for CBD (3 μM)-treated flies, as were global average longevity profiles for other CBD doses tested. While not significant, THC (0.1 μM)-treated flies show a net positive impact on acute mortality and longevity profiles following mTBI (10×) exposure. Conclusions: This study shows that the CBD and THC dosages examined had at most a modest impact on basal neural function, while demonstrating that CBD treatments had significant neural protective properties for flies following exposure to traumatic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Candib
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Nicholas Lee
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Natasha Sam
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Eddie Cho
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jesse Rojas
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Reina Hastings
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kyle DeAlva
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Diana Khon
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Brandon Molina
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Gina Torabzadeh
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Josephine Vu
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kyle Hasenstab
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Karylin Sant
- Division of Environmental Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Joy A. Phillips
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kim Finley
- Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Division of Environmental Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Amir Hamzah K, Toms LM, Kucharski N, Orr J, Turner NP, Hobson P, Nichols DS, Ney LJ. Sex-dimorphism in human serum endocannabinoid and n-acyl ethanolamine concentrations across the lifespan. Sci Rep 2023; 13:23059. [PMID: 38155287 PMCID: PMC10754838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50426-4] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid (ECB) system has recently been considered a potential treatment target for various clinical disorders. However, research around age- and sex-related changes within the ECB system is relatively limited. To improve our understanding of these changes, the current study measured arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), oleoylethanolamine (OEA), palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), arachidonic acid (AA), cortisol, and progesterone in pooled serum samples stratified by sex (male and female) and age groups (5-15; 15-30; 30-45; 45-60; 60-75; 85+), using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Serum progesterone levels significantly increased in females of the 15-30 and 30-45 age groups, before declining. Significantly higher cortisol, AEA, 2-AG, OEA, and PEA were found in males and in older age, while significantly higher AA was found in females. Our results indicate that ECBs and related hormones exhibit sexual dimorphism in the age ranges that correspond with female pregnancy, menopause, and post menopause. Male testosterone levels most likely influences male ECB changes throughout the lifespan. Future research could capitalise on these findings by performing repeated measurements in individuals in a longitudinal style, to further refine the temporal profile of age-specific changes to the ECB system identified here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalisa Amir Hamzah
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, 4059, Australia.
| | - Leisa-Maree Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Nathaniel Kucharski
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
| | - Julia Orr
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie P Turner
- The Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR), Queensland University of Technology, 62 Graham Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Peter Hobson
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
- Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology, 24 Hurworth Street, Bowen Hills, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - David S Nichols
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, 149 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, 4059, Australia
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Fonseca C, Ettcheto M, Bicker J, Fernandes MJ, Falcão A, Camins A, Fortuna A. Under the umbrella of depression and Alzheimer's disease physiopathology: Can cannabinoids be a dual-pleiotropic therapy? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:101998. [PMID: 37414155 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Depression and Alzheimer´s disease (AD) are two disorders highly prevalent worldwide. Depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide while AD affects 60-80% of the 55 million cases of dementia. Both diseases are affected by aging with high prevalence in elderly and share not only the main brain affected areas but also several physiopathological mechanisms. Depression disease is already ascribed as a risk factor to the development of AD. Despite the wide diversity of pharmacological treatments currently available in clinical practice for depression management, they remain associated to a slow recovery process and to treatment-resistant depression. On the other hand, AD treatment is essentially based in symptomatology relieve. Thus, the need for new multi-target treatments arises. Herein, we discuss the current state-of-art regarding the contribution of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in synaptic transmission processes, synapses plasticity and neurogenesis and consequently the use of exogenous cannabinoids in the treatment of depression and on delaying the progression of AD. Besides the well-known imbalance of neurotransmitter levels, including serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine and glutamate, recent scientific evidence highlights aberrant spine density, neuroinflammation, dysregulation of neurotrophic factor levels and formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, as the main physiopathological mechanisms compromised in depression and AD. The contribution of the ECS in these mechanisms is herein specified as well as the pleiotropic effects of phytocannabinoids. At the end, it became evident that Cannabinol, Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Cannabidivarin and Cannabichromene may act in novel therapeutic targets, presenting high potential in the pharmacotherapy of both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Fonseca
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miren Ettcheto
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Bicker
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria José Fernandes
- Departamento de Neurologia/Neurocirurgia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, CEP, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Amílcar Falcão
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Antoni Camins
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Fortuna
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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6
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Rosado-Franco JJ, Ellison AL, White CJ, Price AS, Moore CF, Williams RE, Fridman LB, Weerts EM, Williams DW. Roadmap For The Expression Of Canonical and Extended Endocannabinoid System Receptors and Proteins in Peripheral Organs of Preclinical Animal Models. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.10.544455. [PMID: 37333264 PMCID: PMC10274867 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.10.544455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed throughout the body and is comprised of receptors, ligands, and enzymes that maintain metabolic, immune, and reproductive homeostasis. Increasing interest in the endocannabinoid system has arisen due to these physiologic roles, policy changes leading to more widespread recreational use, and the therapeutic potential of Cannabis and phytocannabinoids. Rodents have been the primary preclinical model of focus due to their relative low cost, short gestational period, genetic manipulation strategies, and gold-standard behavioral tests. However, the potential for lack of clinical translation to non-human primates and humans is high as cross-species comparisons of the endocannabinoid system has not been evaluated. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we evaluate the relative gene expression of 14 canonical and extended endocannabinoid receptors in seven peripheral organs of C57/BL6 mice, Sprague-Dawley rats, and non-human primate rhesus macaques. Notably, we identify species- and organ-specific heterogeneity in endocannabinoid receptor distribution where there is surprisingly limited overlap among the preclinical models. Importantly, we determined there were only five receptors (CB2, GPR18, GPR55, TRPV2, and FAAH) that had identical expression patterns in mice, rats, and rhesus macaques. Our findings demonstrate a critical, yet previously unappreciated, contributor to challenges of rigor and reproducibility in the cannabinoid field, which has profound implications in hampering progress in understanding the complexity of the endocannabinoid system and development of cannabinoid-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Rosado-Franco
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - A L Ellison
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Johns Hopkins University-Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - C J White
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - A S Price
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - C F Moore
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bayview Campus, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - R E Williams
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - L B Fridman
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - E M Weerts
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - D W Williams
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Johns Hopkins University-Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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7
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Palmisano M, Gargano A, Olabiyi BF, Lutz B, Bilkei-Gorzo A. Hippocampal Deletion of CB1 Receptor Impairs Social Memory and Leads to Age-Related Changes in the Hippocampus of Adult Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010026. [PMID: 36613469 PMCID: PMC9819823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoid system activity declines with age in the hippocampus, along with the density of the cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1). This process might contribute to brain ageing, as previous studies showed that the constitutive deletion of the CB1 receptor in mice leads to early onset of memory deficits and histological signs of ageing in the hippocampus including enhanced pro-inflammatory glial activity and reduced neurogenesis. Here we asked whether the CB1 receptor exerts its activity locally, directly influencing hippocampal ageing or indirectly, accelerating systemic ageing. Thus, we deleted the CB1 receptor site-specifically in the hippocampus of 2-month-old CB1flox/flox mice using stereotaxic injections of rAAV-Cre-Venus viruses and assessed their social recognition memory four months later. Mice with hippocampus-specific deletion of the CB1 receptor displayed a memory impairment, similarly as observed in constitutive knockouts at the same age. We next analysed neuroinflammatory changes in the hippocampus, neuronal density and cell proliferation. Site-specific mutant mice had enhanced glial cell activity, up-regulated levels of TNFα in the hippocampus and decreased cell proliferation, specifically in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Our data indicate that a local activity of the CB1 receptor in the hippocampus is required to maintain neurogenesis and to prevent neuroinflammation and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Palmisano
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany
| | - Alessandra Gargano
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Beat Lutz
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Andras Bilkei-Gorzo
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53125 Bonn, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-0228-6885-317
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