Tag Archives: cannabinoid

Activation of Cannabinoid CB2 receptors Reduces Hyperalgesia in an Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

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“Clinical trials investigating the analgesic efficacy of cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis have yielded mixed results, possibly due to psychotropic side effects mediated by cannabinoid CB1 receptors. We hypothesized that a CB2-specific agonist (JWH-133) would decrease hyperalgesia in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of multiple sclerosis…

Our results suggest that JWH-133 acts at CB2 receptors, most likely within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, to suppress the hypersensitivity associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

These are the first pre-clinical studies to directly promote CB2 as a promising target for the treatment of central pain in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25849525

Major urinary protein 1 interacts with cannabinoid receptor type 1 in fatty acid-induced hepatic insulin resistance in a mouse hepatocyte model.

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“Hepatic insulin resistance (HIR) is a metabolic abnormality characterized by increased gluconeogenesis which usually contributes from an elevation of free fatty acids.

Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and major urinary protein 1 (MUP1) are thought to play pivotal roles in mitochondrial dysfunction, liver steatosis and insulin resistance.

The aim of this study was to explore the role of MUP1 in CB1R-mediated HIR through the dysregulation of mitochondrial function in AML12 mouse hepatocytes challenged with high concentration of free fatty acids (HFFA)…

Altogether, these findings suggest that the anti-HIR effect of AM251 via improvement of mitochondrial functions might occur in a MUP1-dependent manner.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25843798

The interactive role of cannabinoid and vanilloid systems in hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rats.

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“Long-term potentiation (LTP) has been most thoroughly studied in the hippocampus, which has a key role in learning and memory. Endocannabinoids are one of the endogenous systems that modulate this kind of synaptic plasticity. The activation of the vanillioid system has also been shown to mediate synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. In addition, immunohistochemical studies have shown that cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) are closely located in the hippocampus.

It seems that agonists of the vanilloid system modulate cannabinoid outputs that cause an increase in synaptic plastisity, while in contemporary consumption of two agonist, TRPV1 agonist can change production of endocannabinoid, which in turn result to enhancement of LTP induction. These findings suggest that the two systems may interact or share certain common signaling pathways in the hippocampus.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25843413

Antiepileptic potential of cannabidiol analogs.

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“In audiogenic seizure (AGS) susceptible rats, the acute (intraperitoneal and intravenous) dose-response effects of (–)-cannabidiol (CBD) for preventing AGS and for causing rototod neurotoxicity (ROT) were determined.

Also, the anti-AGS and ROT effects of 10 CBD analogs, given in intravenous doses equivalent to the AGS-ED50 (15 mg/kg) and ROT-ID50 (31 mg/kg) of CBD, were ascertained.

Compared to CBD, (–)-CBD diacetate and (–)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene were equally effective whereas (–)-CBD monomethyl ether, (–)-CBD dimethyl ether, (–)-3′-acetyl-CBD monoacetate, (+)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (–)-and (+)-4-(6′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene, (+/-)-AF-11, and olivetol were less effective anticonvulsants. Except for (–)- and (+)-4-(2′-olivetyl)-alpha-pinene and olivetol, all analogs showed less ROT than CBD.

Also, CBD and all analogs were not active in tetrahydrocannabinol seizure-susceptible rabbits, the latter a putative model of cannabinoid psychoactivity in humans.

These data suggest anticonvulsant requirements of 2 free phenolic hydroxyl groups, exact positioning of the terpinoid moiety in the resorcinol system and correct stereochemistry.

Moreover, findings of separation of anticonvulsant from neurotoxic and psychoactive activities, notably with CBD diacetate, suggest that additional structural modifications of CBD may yield novel antiepileptic drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7298873

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Renal Effects of Chronic Pharmacological Manipulation of CB2 in Rats with Diet Induced Obesity.

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“In diabetic nephropathy CB2 agonism reduces albuminuria and podocyte loss; however the role of CB2 in obesity-related nephropathy is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CB2 in a model of diet-induced obesity (DIO)…

This study demonstrates that while agonism of CB2 with AM1241 treatment for six weeks does not reduce weight gain in obese rats, it leads to improvements in obesity related renal dysfunction.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25537025

“Alexandros Makriyannis is a professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at Northeastern University, where his research group has synthesized many new compounds with cannabinoid activity.

Endocannabinoid System

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Wiley

“The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is defined as the signalling system composed of: (1) the two G‐protein‐coupled receptors known as cannabinoid receptors of type‐1 and ‐2 (CB1 and CB2); (2) the two most studied endogenous agonists of such receptors, the endocannabinoids anandamide (N‐arachidonoyl‐ethanolamine) and 2‐AG (2‐arachidonoyl‐glycerol); (3) enzymes and other proteins regulating the tissue levels of endocannabinoids; and (4) enzymes and other proteins that, together with endocannabinoids, regulate the activity of cannabinoid receptors.

A key role of the ECS is emerging in the control not only of central and peripheral nervous system functions, but also of most aspects of mammalian physiology, including energy intake, processing and storage, the immune response, reproduction and cell fate.

The ECS is also subject to dysregulation, and this seems to contribute to the symptoms and progress of several diseases. Hence, the possibility of developing new therapies starting from our increasing knowledge of the ECS is discussed.”

http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0023403.html

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/endocannabinoid-system/

Involvement of GluR2 up-regulation in neuroprotection by electroacupuncture pretreatment via cannabinoid CB1 receptor in mice.

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“We investigated whether glutamate receptor subunit 2 (GluR2) is involved in EA pretreatment-induced neuroprotection via cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) after global cerebral ischemia in mice…

In conclusion, GluR2 up-regulation is involved in neuroprotection of EA pretreatment against GCI through CB1R, suggesting that GluR2 may be a novel target for stroke intervention.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25830356

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/stroke-2/

New Approaches in the Design and Development of Cannabinoid Receptor Ligands: Multifunctional and Bivalent Compounds.

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“Since the identification of the endocannabinoid system, two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of this complex system were identified and characterized: cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R).

In addition to orthosteric and subsequently allosteric ligands, new strategies have been used to target CBRs.

Bivalent ligands and multifunctional ligands acting at diverse biological targets have been designed, synthesized, and characterized for both CBRs. Due to their altered receptor binding and pharmacological profiles, they are interesting tools to explore CBR functions and their interactions with other physiological systems.

Moreover, this approach may bear therapeutic advantages in the therapy of CBR-related disorders, especially multifactorial diseases.

Promising prospects include anorectics with fewer side effects, analgesics with decreased tolerance, and therapeutics with multiple pharmacological activities for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25820617

Cannabinoid agonist rescues learning and memory after a traumatic brain injury.

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“Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause persistent challenges including problems with learning and memory.

Previous studies suggest that the activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor after a traumatic brain injury could be beneficial.

We tested the hypothesis that posttraumatic brain injury administration of a cannabinoid 1 receptor agonist can rescue deficits in learning and memory.

Young adult male rats were subjected to a moderately severe controlled cortical impact brain injury, with a subset given postinjury i.p. injections of a cannabinoid receptor agonist.

Utilizing novel object recognition and the morris water task, we found that the brain-injured animals treated with the agonist showed a marked recovery.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25815355

“Taken together, this study shows that the administration of a CB1R agonist after a TBI rescues deficits in learning and memory.”  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.163/full

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/brain-trauma/

Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, leads to EGR2-dependent anergy in activated encephalitogenic T cells.

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“Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has been previously shown by us to ameliorate clinical symptoms and to decrease inflammation in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55-induced mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model of multiple sclerosis as well as to decrease MOG35-55-induced T cell proliferation and IL-17 secretion. However, the mechanisms of CBD anti-inflammatory activities are unclear…

Our data suggests that CBD exerts its immunoregulatory effects via induction of CD4(+)CD25(-)CD69(+)LAG3(+) cells in MOG35-55-activated APC/TMOG co-cultures. This is accompanied by EGR2-dependent anergy of stimulated TMOG cells as well as a switch in their intracellular STAT3/STAT5 activation balance leading to the previously observed decrease in Th17 activity.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25779454