Tag Archives: therapeutic

Involvement of the endocannabinoid system in osteoarthritis pain.

Posted on by

“Increasing evidence from preclinical studies supports the interest of the endocannabinoid system as an emerging therapeutic target for osteoarthritis pain.

Indeed, pharmacological studies have shown the anti-nociceptive effects of cannabinoids in different rodent models of osteoarthritis, and compelling evidence suggests an active participation of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of this disease.

The ubiquitous distribution of cannabinoid receptors, together with the physiological role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of pain, inflammation and even joint function further support the therapeutic interest of cannabinoids for osteoarthritis.

…review summarizes the promising results that have been recently obtained in support of the therapeutic value of cannabinoids for osteoarthritis management.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494687

Neurotrophins, endocannabinoids and thermo-transient receptor potential: a threesome in pain signalling.

Posted on by

“Although pain is multifactorial at cellular and molecular levels, it is widely accepted that neurotrophin (TrkA, p75NTR, Ret and GFRs), cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2), and thermo-transient receptor potential (TRPs; TRPV1, TRPA1 and TRPM8) receptors play a pivotal role.

…the available information confirms that pharmacological modulation of this signalling triad is a highly valuable therapeutic strategy for effectively treating pain syndromes.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494676

Effect of cannabinoid receptor activation on spreading depression.

Posted on by

“Cannabis has been used for centuries for both symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of different types of headaches including migraine…

Suppression of CSD (cortical spreading depression) by activation of CB1 receptors suggests the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids in migraine with aura as well as other CSD-related disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586901/

Regulatory role of the Cannabinoid-2 receptor in stress-induced neuroinflammation in mice.

Posted on by

“Stress-exposure produces excitoxicity and neuroinflammation, contributing to the cellular damage observed in stress-related neuropathologies. The endocannabinoid system is present in stress-responsive neural circuits and it is emerging as a homeostatic system. The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible regulatory role of cannabinoid-2 receptor in stress-induced excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:

These results suggest that pharmacological manipulation of CB2 receptor is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of stress-related pathologies with a neuroinflammatory component, such as depression.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24467609

Physiological intestinal oxygen modulates the Caco-2 cell model and increases sensitivity to the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol.

Posted on by

“The Caco-2 cell model is widely used as a model of colon cancer… these cells were more sensitive to cannabidiol-induced antiproliferative actions through changes in cellular energetics…

These effects could impact on its development as an anticancer therapeutic…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24464350

Targeting astrocytomas and invading immune cells with cannabinoids: a promising therapeutic avenue.

Posted on by

“The last quarter century has borne witness to great advances in both the detection and treatment of numerous cancers. Even so, malignancies of the central nervous system, especially high-grade astrocytomas, continue to thwart our best efforts toward effective chemotherapeutic strategies.

With prognosis remaining bleak, the time for serious consideration of alternative therapies has arrived. Various preparations of the marijuana plant, Cannabis sativa, and related synthetic and endogenous compounds, may constitute just such an alternative.

Cannabinoids, although much maligned historically for their psychotropic effects and clear abuse potential, have long been used medicinally and are now staging an impressive comeback, as recent studies have begun to explore their powerful anti-tumoral properties.

In this study, we review in vitro and in vivo evidence supporting the use of cannabinoids for treatment of brain tumors. We further propose the continued intense investigation of cannabinoid efficacies as novel anti-cancer agents, especially in models recapitulating such properties within the unique environment of the brain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17952648

The Expression Level of CB1 and CB2 Receptors Determines Their Efficacy at Inducing Apoptosis in Astrocytomas

Posted on by

“Cannabinoids represent unique compounds for treating tumors, including astrocytomas.

One of the most promising therapeutic uses of cannabinoids is linked to their ability to induce apoptosis in tumors, including in astrocytoma…

Remarkably, cannabinoids applied at high concentration induce apoptosis in all subclones independently of CB1, CB2…

…the treatment of tumors with high concentrations of cannabinoids should not be overlooked. In fact, stereotaxic injection of high concentrations of cannabinoids will eradicate a significant portion of C6 astrocytomas…”

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2806825/

 

Cannabinoid and cannabinoid-like receptors in microglia, astrocytes and astrocytomas

Posted on by

“…compounds targeting cannabinoid-like receptors constitute promising therapeutics to manage neuroinflammation and eradicate malignant astrocytomas.

Importantly, the selective targeting of cannabinoid-like receptors should provide therapeutic relieve without inducing the typical psychotropic effects and possible addictive properties…

 Taken together, the studies outlined in this review suggest that stereotactic injection of high concentrations of CBD could constitute a useful regimen for neurosurgeons to use in the treatment of malignant astrocytomas and of excessive/chronic neuroinflammation.

Such a treatment could provide therapeutic effects both directly, by killing the astrocytoma and limiting its propagation, and indirectly, by reducing the accumulation of activated microglia or invading peripheral immune cells.

The fact that non-psychotropic cannabinoids acting through CB-like receptors affect such fundamental processes involved in microglial cell activation and astrocytoma propagation constitutes, in my opinion, one of the most exciting areas of research in our search for new chemotherapeutic agents to treat malignant brain tumors and new anti-inflammatory agents to temper the damage linked to chronic neuroinflammation.

Furthermore, the curative properties of cannabinoids do not overlap with currently available medicines, and therefore cannabinoid-based treatments constitute a new therapeutic platform.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919281/

Cannabinoid system and neuroinflammation: implications for multiple sclerosis.

Posted on by

“There is a growing amount of evidence suggesting that cannabinoids may be neuroprotective in central nervous system inflammatory conditions.

Advances in the understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of the cannabinoid system have potentiated the interest in cannabinoids as potential therapeutic targets.

…The effects of cannabinoids on cytokine brain work and on the regulation of neuroinflammatory processes may affect chronic inflammatory demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18073512

Cannabinoids induce glioma stem-like cell differentiation and inhibit gliomagenesis.

Posted on by

“Glioma stem-like cells constitute one of the potential origins of gliomas, and therefore, their elimination is an essential factor for the development of efficient therapeutic strategies.

Cannabinoids are known to exert an antitumoral action on gliomas that relies on at least two mechanisms: induction of apoptosis of transformed cells and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis…

The discovery of an endogenous cannabinoid system, together with the great improvement in our understanding of the signaling mechanisms responsible for cannabinoid actions, has fostered the interest in the potential therapeutic applications of cannabinoids.

Several studies have demonstrated a significant antitumoral action of cannabinoid ligands in animal models. Thus, cannabinoid administration to nude mice curbs the growth of different tumors, including gliomas…

Cannabinoids are known to exert an antitumoral action against gliomas…

Overall, our results demonstrate that cannabinoids target glioma stem-like cells, promote their differentiation, and inhibit gliomagenesis, thus giving further support to their potential use in the management of malignant gliomas.

In conclusion, our results demonstrate the action of cannabinoids on glioma stem-like cells and thus may open new avenues for cannabinoid-based antitumoral strategies.”

http://www.jbc.org/content/282/9/6854.long