Tag Archives: endocannabinoid system

Arachidonylethanolamide induces apoptosis of human glioma cells through vanilloid receptor-1.

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“The anti-tumor properties of cannabinoids have recently been evidenced, mainly with delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Here we investigated whether the most potent endogenous cannabinoid, arachidonylethanolamide (AEA), could be a candidate.

We observed that AEA induced apoptosis in long-term and recently established glioma cell lines via aberrantly expressed vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1).

In contrast with their role in THC-mediated death, both CB1 and CB2 partially protected glioma against AEA-induced apoptosis.

These data show that the selective targeting of VR1 by AEA or more stable analogues is an attractive research area for the treatment of glioma.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15453094

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/gllomas/

Arachidonyl ethanolamide induces apoptosis of uterine cervix cancer cells via aberrantly expressed vanilloid receptor-1.

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“Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol, the active agent of Cannabis sativa, exhibits well-documented antitumor properties, but little is known about the possible effects mediated by endogenous cannabinoids on human tumors. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of arachidonyl ethanolamide (AEA) on cervical carcinoma (CxCa) cell lines.

The major finding was that AEA induced apoptosis of CxCa cell lines via aberrantly expressed vanilloid receptor-1, whereas AEA binding to the classical CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors mediated a protective effect…

Overall, these data suggest that the specific targeting of VR1 by endogenous cannabinoids or synthetic molecules offers attractive opportunities for the development of novel potent anticancer drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15047233

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/cervical-cancer/

Cannabidiol effects in the prepulse inhibition disruption induced by amphetamine.

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“Drugs that facilitate dopaminergic neurotransmission such as amphetamine induce PPI disruption in human and rodents.

Clinical and neurobiological findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system and cannabinoids may be implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant, has also been reported to have potential as an antipsychotic.

Our aim was to investigate if CBD pretreatment was able to prevent PPI disruption induced by amphetamine…

Pretreatment with CBD attenuated the amphetamine-disruptive effects…

These results corroborate findings indicating that CBD induces antipsychotic-like effects.

In addition, they pointed to the nucleus accumbens as a possible site of these effects.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25943166

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/schizophrenia/

 

The effect of endocannabinoid system in ischemia-reperfusion injury: a friend or a foe?

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“In recent years, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a new therapeutic target in variety of disorders associated with inflammation and tissue injury, including those of the neuronal, liver, renal and cardiovascular system.

The aim of the present review is to elucidate the effect of endocannabinoid system on ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in different organs and systems.

Expert opinion: CB2 receptors may play an important compensatory role in controlling tissue inflammation and injury in cells of the neuronal, cardiovascular, liver and renal systems, as well as in infiltrating monocytes/macrophages and leukocytes during various pathological conditions of the systems (atherosclerosis, restenosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart, liver and renal failure).

These receptors limit inflammation and associated tissue injury.

On the basis of preclinical results, pharmacological modulation of CB2 receptors may hold a unique therapeutic potential in stroke, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, IRI and liver disease.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25936364

Long-term disease-modifying effect of the endocannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 in a rat model of audiogenic epilepsy.

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Modulation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) transmission is a promising approach to treating epilepsy.

Animal models can be used to investigate this approach. Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rats have, genetically, audiogenic epilepsy. Moreover, in these animals, repeated induction of audiogenic seizures results in a progressive prolongation of the seizures, known as audiogenic kindling.

Administration of the single dose of WIN55,212-2 one hour before the 4th seizure delayed the kindling process by two weeks, without any acute effect on the audiogenic seizures.

CONCLUSIONS:

This result suggests that short-term potentiation of the eCB system might modify the epileptogenic disease process in patients with a progressive course of epilepsy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25933961

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

Enhancement of endocannabinoid signalling protects against cocaine-induced neurotoxicity.

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“Cocaine is an addictive substance with a potential to cause deleterious effects in the brain. The strategies for treating its neurotoxicity, however, are limited.

Evidence suggest that the endocannabinoid system exerts neuroprotective functions against various stimuli. Thus, we hypothesized that inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the main enzyme responsible for terminating the actions of the endocannabinoid anandamide, reduces seizures and cell death in the hippocampus in a model of cocaine intoxication…

In conclusion, the pharmacological facilitation of the anandamide/CB1/PI3K signalling protects the brain against cocaine intoxication in experimental models. This strategy may be further explored in the development of treatments for drug-induced neurotoxicity.”

The critical role of spinal 5-HT7 receptors in opioid and non-opioid type stress-induced analgesia.

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“The opioid and non-opioid types of stress-induced analgesia have been well defined. One of the non-opioid type involve the endocannabinoid system.

We previously reported that the spinal serotonin 7 receptor (5-HT7) blockers inhibit both morphine and cannabinoid-induced analgesia, thus we hypothesized that descending serotonergic pathways-spinal 5-HT7 receptor loop might contribute to stress-induced analgesia…

These results indicate that descending serotonergic pathways and the spinal 5-HT7 receptor loop play a crucial role in mediating both opioid and non-opioid type stress-induced analgesia.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25917322

Endocannabinoids regulate the activity of astrocytic hemichannels and the microglial response against an injury: In vivo studies.

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“Anandamide (AEA) is an endocannabinoid (EC) that modulates multiple functions in the CNS and that is released in areas of injury, exerting putative neuroprotective actions.

In the present study, we have used intravital microscopy to analyze the role of the EC system in the glial response against an acute insult…

In summary, these findings demonstrate that AEA modifies glial functions by promoting an enhanced pro-inflammatory glial response in the brain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25917763

Distinct roles of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in social behavior and emotionality at different developmental ages in rats.

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“To date, our understanding of the relative contribution and potential overlapping roles of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the regulation of brain function and behavior is still limited. To address this issue, we investigated the effects of systemic administration of JZL195, that simultaneously increases AEA and 2-AG signaling by inhibiting their hydrolysis, in the regulation of socio-emotional behavior in adolescent and adult rats.

These findings provide the first evidence for a role of 2-AG in social behavior, highlight the different contributions of AEA and 2-AG in the modulation of emotionality at different developmental ages and suggest that pharmacological inhibition of AEA and 2-AG hydrolysis is a useful approach to investigate the role of these endocannabinoids in neurobehavioral processes.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25914159

[The role of endocannabinoid system in physiological and pathological processes in the eye].

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“Plant of Cannabis sativa/ marihuana except for its psychotropic effects possesses a range of pharmacological properties, that has been utilized for medical purposes over a period of millenia.

Investigations concerning biochemical mechanism of action of the main and most active pharmacological compound of Cannabis sativa, cannabinoid 9-THC, contributed to the discovery of cannabinoid receptors both in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues, that mediated actions of this substance.

The discovery made possible identification of a new, endogenous signaling system referred to as the endocannabinoid system.

Besides cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, the system includes it’s endogenic ligands (endocannabinoids) and compounds that participate in their biosynthesis and inactivation. Structure and functioning of the endocannabinoid system is conservative in all vertebrates.

It’s activation with plant, synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids has an influence on multiple physiological and pathological processes within the eye.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19195174