The Role of Cannabis within an Emerging Perspective on Schizophrenia.

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David

“Approximately 0.5% of the population is diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia, under the prevailing view that the pathology is best treated using pharmaceutical medications that act on monoamine receptors.

We briefly review evidence on the impact of environmental forces, particularly the effect of autoimmune activity, in the expression of schizophrenic profiles and the role of Cannabis therapy for regulating immunological functioning.

A review of the literature shows that phytocannabinoid consumption may be a safe and effective treatment option for schizophrenia as a primary or adjunctive therapy.

Conclusions: Emerging research suggests that Cannabis can be used as a treatment for schizophrenia within a broader etiological perspective that focuses on environmental, autoimmune, and neuroinflammatory causes of the disorder, offering a fresh start and newfound hope for those suffering from this debilitating and poorly understood disease.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30096776

http://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/5/3/86

Acute inflammation: endogenous cannabinoids mellow the harsh proinflammatory environment.

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David

“Under normal conditions, there is a paucity of neutrophils within the intestinal mucosa; however, these innate immune cells rapidly infiltrate the mucosa in response to infection and are critical for pathogen control. Unfortunately, these cells can cause extensive damage to the intestine if the initial inflammatory influx is not resolved. Factors that promote resolution of inflammation are of great interest, as they have therapeutic potential for limiting uncontrolled inflammatory damage. In this issue of the JCI, Szabady et al. demonstrate that the multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) secretes endocannabinoids into the intestinal lumen that counteract the proinflammatory actions of the eicosanoid hepoxilin A3, which is secreted into the lumen by the efflux pump MRP2 and serves as a potent neutrophil chemoattractant. Moreover, the antiinflammatory actions of P-gp-secreted endocannabinoids were mediated by peripheral cannabinoid receptor CB2 on neutrophils. Together, the results of this study identify an important mechanism by which endogenous endocannabinoids facilitate the resolution of inflammation; this mechanism has potential to be therapeutically exploited.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30102253

https://www.jci.org/articles/view/122885

“Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/

Intestinal P-glycoprotein exports endocannabinoids to prevent inflammation and maintain homeostasis.

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David

“Neutrophil influx into the intestinal lumen is a critical response to infectious agents, but is also associated with severe intestinal damage observed in idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. The chemoattractant hepoxilin A3, an eicosanoid secreted from intestinal epithelial cells by the apically restricted efflux pump multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2), mediates this neutrophil influx. Information about a possible counterbalance pathway that could signal the lack of or resolution of an apical inflammatory signal, however, has yet to be described. We now report a system with such hallmarks. Specifically, we identify endocannabinoids as the first known endogenous substrates of the apically restricted multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and reveal a mechanism, which we believe is novel, for endocannabinoid secretion into the intestinal lumen. Knockdown or inhibition of P-gp reduced luminal secretion levels of N-acyl ethanolamine-type endocannabinoids, which correlated with increased neutrophil transmigration in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, loss of CB2, the peripheral cannabinoid receptor, led to increased pathology and neutrophil influx in models of acute intestinal inflammation. These results define a key role for epithelial cells in balancing the constitutive secretion of antiinflammatory lipids with the stimulated secretion of proinflammatory lipids via surface efflux pumps in order to control neutrophil infiltration into the intestinal lumen and maintain homeostasis in the healthy intestine.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30102254

https://www.jci.org/articles/view/96817

Cannabidiol improves frequency and severity of seizures and reduces adverse events in an open-label add-on prospective study.

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David

“The objective of this study was to characterize the changes in adverse events, seizure severity, and frequency in response to a pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex®) in a large, prospective, single-center, open-label study. We initiated CBD in 72 children and 60 adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) at 5 mg/kg/day and titrated it up to a maximum dosage of 50 mg/kg/day. At each visit, we monitored treatment adverse events with the adverse events profile (AEP), seizure severity using the Chalfont Seizure Severity Scale (CSSS), and seizure frequency (SF) using seizure calendars. We analyzed data for the enrollment and visits at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. We recorded AEP, CSSS, and SF at each follow-up visit for the weeks preceding the visit (seizures were averaged over 2-week periods). Of the 139 study participants in this ongoing study, at the time of analysis, 132 had 12-week, 88 had 24-week, and 61 had 48-week data. Study retention was 77% at one year. There were no significant differences between participants who contributed all 4 data points and those who contributed 2 or 3 data points in baseline demographic and AEP/SF/CSSS measures. For all participants, AEP decreased between CBD initiation and the 12-week visit (40.8 vs. 33.2; p < 0.0001) with stable AEP scores thereafter (all p ≥ 0.14). Chalfont Seizure Severity Scale scores were 80.7 at baseline, decreasing to 39.2 at 12 weeks (p < 0.0001) and stable CSSS thereafter (all p ≥ 0.19). Bi-weekly SF decreased from a mean of 144.4 at entry to 52.2 at 12 weeks (p = 0.01) and remained stable thereafter (all p ≥ 0.65). Analyses of the pediatric and adult subgroups revealed similar patterns. Most patients were treated with dosages of CBD between 20 and 30 mg/kg/day. For the first time, this prospective, open-label safety study of CBD in TRE provides evidence for significant improvements in AEP, CSSS, and SF at 12 weeks that are sustained over the 48-week duration of treatment.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30100226

https://www.epilepsybehavior.com/article/S1525-5050(18)30473-6/fulltext

Treatment of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells with MOR and CBD Promotes Cell Survival and Neuronal Differentiation via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David

“Periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (hPDLSCs), as well as all mesenchymal stem cells, show self-renewal, clonogenicity, and multi-tissue differentiation proprieties and can represent a valid support for regenerative medicine. We treated hPDLSCs with a combination of Moringin (MOR) and Cannabidiol (CBD), in order to understand if treatment could improve their survival and their in vitro differentiation capacity. Stem cells survival is fundamental to achieve a successful therapy outcome in the re-implanted tissue of patients. Through NGS transcriptome analysis, we found that combined treatment increased hPDLSCs survival, by inhibition of apoptosis as demonstrated by enhanced expression of anti-apoptotic genes and reduction of pro-apoptotic ones. Moreover, we investigated the possible involvement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, emphasizing a differential gene expression between treated and untreated cells. Furthermore, hPDLSCs were cultured for 48 h in the presence or absence of CBD and MOR and, after confirming the cellular viability through MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) assay, we examined the presence of neuronal markers, through immunofluorescence analysis. We found an increased expression of Nestin and GAP43 (growth associated protein 43) in treated cells. In conclusion, hPDLSCs treated with Moringin and Cannabidiol showed an improved survival capacity and neuronal differentiation potential.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30096889

http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/8/2341

Medical marijuana laws and workplace fatalities in the United States

Posted on August 12, 2018 by David

International Journal of Drug Policy

“The aim of this research was to determine the association between legalizing medical marijuana and workplace fatalities.

To date, 29 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Although there is increasing concern that legalizing medical marijuana will make workplaces more dangerous, little is known about the relationship between medical marijuana laws (MMLs) and workplace fatalities.

Findings

Legalizing medical marijuana was associated with a 19.5% reduction in the expected number of workplace fatalities among workers aged 25–44 (incident rate ratio [IRR], 0.805; 95% CI, .662–.979). The association between legalizing medical marijuana and workplace fatalities among workers aged 16–24, although negative, was not statistically significant at conventional levels. The association between legalizing medical marijuana and workplace fatalities among workers aged 25–44 grew stronger over time. Five years after coming into effect, MMLs were associated with a 33.7% reduction in the expected number of workplace fatalities (IRR, 0.663; 95% CI, .482–.912). MMLs that listed pain as a qualifying condition or allowed collective cultivation were associated with larger reductions in fatalities among workers aged 25–44 than those that did not.

Conclusions

The results provide evidence that legalizing medical marijuana improved workplace safety for workers aged 25–44. Further investigation is required to determine whether this result is attributable to reductions in the consumption of alcohol and other substances that impair cognitive function, memory, and motor skills.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395918301968

“Workplace Deaths Drop After States Legalize Medical Marijuana” https://www.marijuanamoment.net/workplace-deaths-drop-after-states-legalize-medical-marijuana/

“Medical Marijuana States Have Lower Rates Of Workplace Death, According To New Study” https://www.civilized.life/articles/medical-marijuana-states-have-lower-rates-of-workplace-death-according-to-new-study/

Cannabidiol for treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children: the New South Wales experience.

Posted on August 11, 2018 by David

Image result for Med J Aust.

“To evaluate the tolerability and safety of cannabidiol for treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children, and to describe adverse events associated with such treatment.

The caregivers of 12 children felt the overall health of their children had much or very much improved; clinicians assessed seven children as being much or very much improved.

Cannabidiol as an adjunct treatment had some subjective benefit for overall health, with a manageable adverse event profile.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30092753

Glial Endocannabinoid System in Pain Modulation.

Posted on August 11, 2018 by David

Publication Cover

“Pain is affecting the human for centuries and there still is no satisfactory strategy for patients suffering pain particularly chronic pain although intensive studies about its mechanism have been performed in order to improve the treatment of pain.

Cannabinoid is a group of chemicals extracted from plants and has a long history in treating pain through the endogenous cannabinoid receptor in the body, however, its application in pain treatment is limited due to its inverse effects.

Recent studies have indicated that glial cells play critical role in mediating pain processing through multiple pathway, including excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in different levels of the nervous system.

Furthermore, the glial cells are found to express cannabinoid receptors.

This review summarized the recent studies about the cannabinoid system in glial cells, which may provide some insight for the studying of pain.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30084280

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207454.2018.1503178

Neuronal preservation and reactive gliosis attenuation following neonatal sciatic nerve axotomy by a fluorinated cannabidiol derivative.

Posted on August 11, 2018 by David

Neuropharmacology

“Immature peripheral nervous system damage, such as the transection of a peripheral nerve, results in the extensive degeneration of motoneurons and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons, mostly due to apoptotic events.

We have previously shown that cannabidiol (CBD), the most abundant non-psychotropic molecule present in the Cannabis sativa plant, exhibits neuroprotective action when administered daily at a dose of 15 mg/kg.

This study shows that use of the fluorinated synthetic version of CBD (4′-fluoro-cannabidiol, HUF-101) significantly improves neuronal survival by 2-fold compared to that achieved with traditional CBD at one-third the dose. Furthermore, we show that HUF-101 administration significantly upregulates anti-apoptotic genes and blocks the expression of pro-apoptotic nuclear factors.

Two-day-old Wistar rats were subjected to unilateral sectioning of the sciatic nerve and treated daily with HUF-101 (1, 2.5, 5 mg/kg/day, i.p.) or a vehicle solution for five days.

The results were evaluated by Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. Neuronal counting revealed a 47% rescue of spinal motoneurons and a 79% rescue of DRG neurons (HUF-101, 5 mg/kg). Survival was associated with complete depletion of p53 and a 60-fold elevation in BCL2-like 1 gene expression.

Additionally, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) gene expression was downregulated by 80%. Neuronal preservation was coupled with a high preservation of synaptic coverage and a reduction in astroglial and microglial reactions that were evaluated in nearby spinal motoneurons present in the ventral horn of the lumbar intumescence.

Overall, these data strongly indicate that HUF-101 exerts potent neuroprotective effects that are related to anti-apoptotic protection and the reduction of glial reactivity.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30096328

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390818304830?via%3Dihub

Targeted inhibition of the type 2 cannabinoid receptor is a novel approach to reduce renal fibrosis.

Posted on August 11, 2018 by David

Kidney International Home

“The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is a G protein-coupled seven transmembrane receptor that transmits endogenous cannabinoid signaling. The role of CB2 in the pathogenesis of kidney injury and fibrosis remains poorly understood.

Here we demonstrate that CB2 was induced, predominantly in kidney tubular epithelium, in various models of kidney disease induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction, adriamycin or ischemia/reperfusion injury.

By using in silico screening and medicinal chemistry modifications, we discovered a novel compound, XL-001, that bound to CB2 with high affinity and selectivity and acted as an inverse agonist. Delayed administration of XL-001 was also effective in ameliorating kidney fibrosis and inflammation.

Thus, CB2 is a pathogenic mediator in kidney fibrosis and targeted inhibition with the novel inverse agonist XL-001 may provide a strategy in the fight against fibrotic kidney diseases.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30093080

https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(18)30397-1/fulltext