Bone cell-autonomous contribution of type 2 cannabinoid receptor to breast cancer induced osteolysis.

“The cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2) has previously been implicated as a regulator of tumour growth, bone remodelling and bone pain.

However, very little is known about the role of the skeletal CB2 receptor in the regulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts changes associated with breast cancer. Here, we found that the CB2 selective agonists HU308 and JWH133 reduced the viability of a variety of parental and bone-tropic human and mouse breast cancer cells at high micro-molar concentrations…

When combined with published work, these findings suggest that breast cancer and bone cells exhibit differential responses to treatment with CB2 ligands, depending upon cell type and concentration used.

We therefore conclude that both, CB2 selective activation and antagonism have potential efficacy in cancer associated bone disease but further studies are warranted and ongoing.”

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

“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

The effects of dronabinol during detoxification and the initiation of treatment with extended release naltrexone.

“Evidence suggests that the cannabinoid system is involved in the maintenance of opioid dependence. We examined whether dronabinol, a cannabinoid receptor type 1 partial agonist, reduces opioid withdrawal and increases retention in treatment with extended release naltrexone (XR-naltrexone).

CONCLUSION:

Dronabinol reduced the severity of opiate withdrawal during acute detoxification but had no effect on rates of XR-naltrexone treatment induction and retention. Participants who elected to smoke marijuana during the trial were more likely to complete treatment regardless of treatment group assignment.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26187456

Time-Dependent Protection of CB2 Receptor Agonist in Stroke.

“Recent studies have indicated that type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) agonists reduce neurodegeneration after brain injury through anti-inflammatory activity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the time-dependent interaction of CB2R and inflammation in stroke brain.

In conclusion, our data support a time-dependent neuroprotection of CB2 agonist in an animal model of stroke.

Delayed post- treatment with PPAR-γ agonist induced behavioral recovery and microglial suppression; early treatment with CB2R agonist suppressed neurodegeneration in stroke animals.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26186541

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

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

“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.”

Endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol protects primary cultured neurons against LPS-induced impairments in rat caudate nucleus.

“Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many diseases in the central nervous system.

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 and the true natural ligand for CB1 receptors, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory action from proinflammatory stimuli in hippocampus.

In the present study, we discovered that 2-AG significantly protects CN neurons in culture against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response.

Our study suggests the therapeutic potential of 2-AG for the treatment of some inflammation-induced neurological disorders and pain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24510751

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

“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.

“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

A comprehensive patents review on cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonists as antiobesity agents.

“Obesity is a rapidly expanding worldwide health problem.

Various targets are investigated presently for the treatment of obesity, but there remains an unmet need for an effective drug therapy with acceptable efficacy levels and reduced side effects.

Targeting peripherally located cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors is an attractive strategy as these receptors play a vital role in energy homeostasis.

Areas covered: CB1 receptor antagonists constitute one of the most important categories of compounds of interest for the control of obesity.

In this review, the authors focus on recent advances (since 2007) in diverse chemical classes of patented compounds belonging to the category of CB1 receptor antagonists.

Expert opinion: Safer CB1 receptor antagonists for the treatment of obesity can be discovered by developing such compounds that act peripherally. Increasing the polar service area, decreasing the lipophilicity and designing of neutral antagonists and allosteric inhibitors are some interesting strategies that could offer promising results.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26161824

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

Logo of nihpa

“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/