Tag Archives: therapeutic

Ultra Low Dose Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Protects Mouse Liver from Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

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“Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the main cause of both primary graft dysfunction and primary non-function of liver allografts.

Cannabinoids has been reported to attenuate myocardial, cerebral and hepatic I/R oxidative injury.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabinoid agonist, is the active components of marijuana.

In this study we examined the role of ultralow dose THC (0.002mg/kg) in the protection of livers from I/R injury. This extremely low dose of THC was previously found by us to protect the mice brain and heart from a variety of insults.

CONCLUSION:

A single ultralow dose THC can reduce the apoptotic, oxidative and inflammatory injury induced by hepatic I/R injury.

THC may serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in hepatic I/R injury during liver transplantation, liver resection and trauma.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26202357

Elucidating Cannabinoid Biology in Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

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“Although exogenous cannabinoids, like those contained in marijuana, are known to exert their effects by disrupting the endocannabinoid system, a dearth of knowledge exists about the potential toxicological consequences on public health.

Conversely, the endocannabinoid system represents a promising therapeutic target for a plethora of disorders because it functions to endogenously regulate a vast repertoire of physiological functions.

Accordingly, the rapidly expanding field of cannabinoid biology has sought to leverage model organisms in order to provide both toxicological and therapeutic insights about altered endocannabinoid signaling.

The primary goal of this manuscript is to review the existing field of cannabinoid research in the genetically tractable zebrafish model-focusing on the cannabinoid receptor genes, cnr1 and cnr2, and the genes that produce enzymes for synthesis and degradation of the cognate ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol.

Consideration is also given to research that has studied the effects of exposure to exogenous phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids that are known to interact with cannabinoid receptors.

These results are considered in the context of either endocannabinoid gene expression or endocannabinoid gene function, and are integrated with findings from rodent studies.

This provides the framework for a discussion of how zebrafish may be leveraged in the future to provide novel toxicological and therapeutic insights in the field of cannabinoid biology, which has become increasingly significant given recent trends in cannabis legislation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26192460

Activation of CB2 receptor is required for the therapeutic effect of ABHD6 inhibition in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

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“Alpha/beta-hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6) is a novel 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) hydrolytic enzyme, that can fine-tune the endocannabinoid signaling in the central nervous system.

Recently we and others have demonstrated the protective effect of ABHD6 inhibition in the animal models of traumatic brain injury and epileptic seizures. In this study, we investigated the role of targeting ABHD6 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS)…

These results suggest that inhibition of ABHD6 might be used as an ideal strategy for the treatment of MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26189763

Exploring structural requirements for peripherally acting 1,5-diaryl pyrazole-containing cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonists for the treatment of obesity.

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“Peripherally acting cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists are considered as potential therapeutics for the treatment of obesity with desired efficacy and reduced central nervous system side effects.

The prediction accuracy and reliability of the best developed CoMSIA model have been validated using well-established methods. Using the inputs from the best CoMSIA contour maps, several novel highly selective peripherally acting CB1 receptor antagonists have been designed and reported herein.”

Phytocannabinoids for Cancer Therapeutics: Recent Updates and Future Prospects.

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“Phytocannabinoids (pCBs) are lipid-soluble phytochemicals present in the plant, Cannabis sativa L. and non-cannabis plants which have a long history in traditional and recreational medicine.

The plant and constituents were central in the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, the most new target for drug discovery.

The endocannabinoid system includes two G protein-coupled receptors; the cannabinoid receptors-1 and -2 (CB1 and CB2) for marijuana’s psychoactive principle ∆(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), their endogenous small lipid ligands; namely anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), also known as endocannabinoids and the proteins for endocannabinoid biosynthesis and degradation such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL).

The endocannabinoid system has been suggested as a pro-homeostatic and pleiotropic signaling system activated in a time- and tissue-specific way during pathological conditions including cancer.

Targeting the CB1 receptors become a concern because of adverse psychotropic reactions. Hence, targeting the CB2 receptors or the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzyme by phytocannabinoids obtained from non-cannabis plant lacking psychotropic adverse reactions has garnered interest in drug discovery.

These pCBs derived from plants beyond cannabis appear safe and effective with a wider access and availability.

In recent years, several pCBs derived other than non-cannabinoid plants have been reported to bind to and functionally interact with cannabinoid receptors and appear promising candidate for drug development in cancer therapeutics.

Several of them also target the endocannabinoid metabolizing enzymes that control endocannabinoid levels. In this article, we summarize, critically discuss the updates and future prospects of the pCBs as novel and promising candidates for cancer therapeutics.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26179998

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

Endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol protects primary cultured neurons against homocysteine-induced impairments in rat caudate nucleus through CB1 receptor.

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“Homocysteine (Hcy) is a high risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Caudate nucleus (CN), the major component of basal ganglia in the brain, is also involved in many neurological disorders.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), the true natural ligand for cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors and the most abundant endogenous cannabinoid, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory action from proinflammatory stimuli in the hippocampus and CN.

In the present work, we explored that 2-AG significantly protects CN neurons in culture against Hcy-induced response.

2-AG is capable of inhibiting elevation of Hcy-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression associated with nuclear factor-kappaB/p38MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway through CB1 receptors-dependent way in primary cultured CN neurons.

Our study reveals the therapeutic potential for 2-AG for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25007951

Effect of Homocysteine on Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Currents in Primary Cultured Rat Caudate Nucleus Neurons and Its Modulation by 2-Arachidonylglycerol.

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“Homocysteine (Hcy) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Caudate nucleus (CN), the largest nucleus in the brain, is also implicated in many neurological disorders.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), the most abundant endogenous cannabinoid, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects from many stimuli in the central nervous system (CNS).

Furthermore, it has been reported that voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are the common targets of many neuronal damages and drugs.

However, it is still not clear whether VGSCs are involved in the neurotoxicity of Hcy and the neuroprotective effect of 2-AG in CN neurons. In the present study, whole-cell patch clamp recording was used to invest the action of Hcy on sodium currents in primary cultured rat CN neurons and its modulation by 2-AG.

The results showed that in cultured CN neurons, pathological concentration of Hcy (100 μM) significantly increased the voltage-gated sodium currents (I Na) and produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the activation-voltage curve of I Na.

The further data demonstrated 2-AG is capable of suppressing elevation of Hcy-induced increase in I Na and hyperpolarizing shift of activation curves most partly through CB1 receptor-dependent way.

Our study provides a better understanding of Hcy-associated neurological disorders and suggests the therapeutic potential for 2-AG for the treatment of these diseases.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26179279

Anandamide exerts its antiproliferative actions on cholangiocarcinoma by activation of the GPR55 receptor

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“We have previously shown that AEA exerts growth-suppressing effects on cholangiocarcinoma by inducing apoptosis.

At the time, we assumed that AEA was acting via a receptor-independent mechanism.

However, given the recent discovery and characterization of GPR55 as a novel AEA receptor, our data need to be reassessed to determine if GPR55 activation can decrease cholangiocarcinoma cell proliferation.

Thus, our aims are to determine if these AEA-mediated effects on cholangiocarcinoma cell growth can be attributed to the activation of GPR55.

This data represent the first evidence that GPR55 activation by anandamide can lead to the recruitment and activation of the Fas death receptor complex and that targeting GPR55 activation may be a viable option for the development of therapeutic strategies to treat cholangiocarcinoma.

In conclusion, we have clearly demonstrated a role for GPR55 in the antiproliferative effects of AEA in vivo andin vitro…

Cholangiocarcinoma has a very poor prognosis and survival rate; therefore we propose that the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target GPR55 may prove beneficial for the treatment of this devastating disease.

Consistent with our observation that AEA has antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic properties, cannabinoids of various origins (endogenous, plant-derived or synthetic analogues) have been shown to suppress cancer cell growth in vitro as well as in vivo.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3126905/

 

The endocannabinoid anandamide inhibits cholangiocarcinoma growth via activation of the noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway.

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“Cholangiocarcinomas are cancers that have poor prognosis and limited treatment options.

Marijuana and its derivatives have been used in medicine for many centuries.

…cannabinoids might be effective antitumoral agents because of their ability to inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cell lines in culture and in laboratory animals.

Indeed, we have recently demonstrated that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) has antiproliferative effects on cholangiocarcinoma cell lines in vitro via a cannabinoid receptor-independent pathway involving the stabilization of lipid raft-membrane structures and the recruitment of death-receptor complexes into the lipid rafts.

Modulation of the endocannabinoid system may be important in cholangiocarcinoma treatment.

The antiproliferative actions of the noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway warrants further investigation to dissect the mechanism by which this may occur.

We propose that the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the endocannabinoid system, or mimicking the mode of action of AEA, would prove beneficial for the treatment of this devastating disease.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2604798/

 

Opposing actions of endocannabinoids on cholangiocarcinoma growth is via the differential activation of Notch signaling

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“Cholangiocarcinomas are devastating cancers of intrahepatic and extrahepatic origin that are increasing in both their worldwide incidence and mortality rates.

Conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not effective in prolonging long-term survival; therefore it is important to understand the cellular mechanisms of cholangiocarcinoma cell growth with a view to develop novel chemopreventive strategies.

We have recently demonstrated that the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) exert opposing effects on cholangiocarcinoma cell growth in vitro via cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanisms.

AEA increased presenilin 1 expression and recruitment into the γ-secretase complex whereas 2-AG increased expression and recruitment of presenilin 2.

The development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the endocannabinoid system, or mimicking the mode of action of AEA on Notch signaling pathways would prove beneficial for cholangiocarcinoma management.

We propose that the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the endocannabinoid system, or mimicking the mode of action of AEA on Notch signaling pathways would prove beneficial for the treatment of this devastating disease.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2872061/