Comparative study of CNR1 and CNR2 cannabinoid receptors expression levels in COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes mellitus: Recommendations for future research targets.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted researchers to look for effective therapeutic targets. The effect of endocannabinoid system against infectious diseases is investigated for several years. In this study, we evaluated the expression level of CNR1 and CNR2 genes in patients with COVID-19 with and without diabetes to provide new insights regarding these receptors and their potential effect in COVID-19 disease. METHODS: In this study, peripheral blood monocytes cells (PBMCs) were isolated from eight different groups including COVID-19 patients, diabetic patients, and healthy individuals. RNA were extracted to evaluate the expression level of CNR1 and CNR2 genes using real-time PCR. The correlation between the expression levels of these genes in different groups were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 80 samples were divided into 8 groups, with each group consisting of ten samples. When comparing severe and moderate COVID-19 groups to healthy control group, the expression levels of the CNR1 and CNR2 genes were significantly higher in the severe and moderate COVID-19 groups. There were no significant differences between the mild COVID-19 group and the healthy control group. It was found that the expression levels of these genes in patients with diabetes who were infected with SARS-COV-2 did not differ across COVID-19 groups with varying severity, but they were significantly higher when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the possible role of endocannabinoid system during SARS-COV-2 pathogenicity as the expression of CNR1 and CNR2 were elevated during the disease.

Optimization of the Heterologous Expression of the Cannabinoid Type-1 (CB1) Receptor.

The G protein-coupled type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) mediates virtually all classic cannabinoid effects, and both its agonists and antagonists hold major therapeutic potential. Heterologous expression of receptors is vital for pharmacological research, however, overexpression of these proteins may fundamentally alter their localization pattern, change the signalling partner preference and may also spark artificial clustering. Additionally, recombinant CB1Rs are prone to intense proteasomal degradation, which may necessitate substantial modifications, such as N-terminal truncation or signal sequence insertion, for acceptable cell surface expression. We report here that tuning down the expression intensity of the full-length CB1R reduces proteasomal degradation and offers receptor levels that are comparable to those of endogenous CB1 receptors. As opposed to high-efficiency expression with conventional promoters, weak promoter-driven CB1R expression provides ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK signalling that closely resemble the activity of endogenous CB1Rs. Moreover, weakly expressed CB1R variants exhibit plasma membrane localization, preserve canonical Gi-signalling but prevent CB1R-Gs coupling observed with high-expression variants. Based on these findings, we propose that lowering the expression level of G protein-coupled receptors should always be considered in heterologous expression systems in order to reduce the pressure on the proteasomal machinery and to avoid potential signalling artefacts.

Endocannabinoid system expression in ovarian epithelial tumors according to the dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to confirm the expression of the endocannabinoid system in the human epithelial ovarian tumors, assessing the immunohistochemical expression of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase in benign, borderline and malignant tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase immunohistochemical expression was determined in 118 epithelial ovarian tumors sequentially treated during the last decade in our department: 36 benign, 34 borderline and 48 malignant neoplasms. Cannabinoid Receptor type 1 and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase expression resulted predominantly weak-moderate in the benign and borderline forms. RESULTS: concerning malignant tumors, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 expression resulted predominantly moderate-strong in Type I tumors and negative-weak in Type II tumors. Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase expression resulted, instead, independent by the tumor types. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase expression relatively to the tumoral stages. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed a variable expression of the endocannabinoid system in human ovarian tumors. Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 expression was significantly different in malignant epithelial ovarian tumors according to dualistic model of ovarian carcinogenesis. Thus, in the most aggressive types II ovarian tumors, Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 expression resulted predominantly negative or weak.

Acute Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol prompts rapid changes in cannabinoid CB1 receptor immunolabeling and subcellular structure in CA1 hippocampus of young adult male mice.

The use and abuse of cannabis can be associated with significant pathophysiology, however, it remains unclear whether (1) acute administration of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) during early adulthood alters the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1 ) receptor localization and expression in cells of the brain, and (2) THC produces structural brain changes. Here we use electron microscopy and a highly sensitive pre-embedding immunogold method to examine CB1 receptors in the hippocampus cornu ammonis subfield 1 (CA1) 30 min after male mice were exposed to a single THC injection (5 mg/kg). The findings show that acute exposure to THC can significantly decrease the percentage of CB1 receptor immunopositive terminals making symmetric synapses, mitochondria, and astrocytes. The percentage of CB1 receptor-labeled terminals forming asymmetric synapses was unaffected. Lastly, CB1 receptor expression was significantly lower at terminals of symmetric and asymmetric synapses as well as in mitochondria. Structurally, CA1 dendrites were significantly larger, and contained more spines and mitochondria following acute THC administration. The area of the dendritic spines, synaptic terminals, mitochondria, and astrocytes decreased significantly following acute THC exposure. Altogether, these results indicate that even a single THC exposure can have a significant impact on CB1 receptor expression, and can alter CA1 ultrastructure, within 30 min of drug exposure. These changes may contribute to the behavioral alterations experienced by young individuals shortly after cannabis intoxication.

Early-life stress exacerbates the effects of WIN55,212-2 and modulates the cannabinoid receptor type 1 expression.

Early-life stress induces an abnormal brain development and increases the risk of psychiatric diseases, including depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. We have developed a reliable model for maternal neglect, named maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW) in CD1 mice. In the present study, we evaluated the long-term effects on anxiety-like behaviours, nociception as well as the Iba1-positive microglial cells in this model in comparison to standard nest (SN) mice. Moreover, we investigated whether MSEW alters the cannabinoid agonist WIN55,212-2 effects regarding reward, spatial and emotional memories, tolerance to different cannabinoid responses, and physical dependence. Adult male offspring of MSEW group showed impaired responses on spatial and emotional memories after a repeated WIN55,212-2 treatment. These behavioural impairments were associated with an increase in basolateral amygdala and hippocampal CB1-expressing fibres and higher number of CB1-containing cells in cerebellum. Additionally, MSEW promotes a higher number of Iba1-positive microglial cells in basolateral amygdala and cerebellum. As for the cannabinoid-induced effects, rearing conditions did not influence the rewarding effects of WIN55,212-2 in the conditioned place preference paradigm. However, MSEW mice showed a delay in the development of tolerance to the cannabinoid effects. Moreover, CB1-positive fibres were reduced in limbic areas in MSEW mice after cannabinoid withdrawal precipitated with the CB1 antagonist SR141617A. These findings support that early-life stress promotes behavioural and molecular changes in the sensitivity to cannabinoids, which are mediated by alterations in CB1 signalling in limbic areas and it induces an increased Iba1-microglial marker which could interfere in emotional memories formation.

Expression of the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) in CCK-immunoreactive axon terminals in the basolateral amygdala of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Studies in rodents have shown that interactions between cholecystokinin (CCK) and the endogenous cannabinoid system in the basolateral nuclear complex of the amygdala (BNC) modulate anxiety-like behavior and fear learning/expression. One of the main cell types implicated is a CCK-immunoreactive (CCK+) basket cell that innervates the somata of pyramidal projection neurons (PNs) and expresses the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) in its axon terminals. Although numerous studies have elucidated the anatomy and physiology of these CCK+/CB1R + interneurons in rodents, it has not been determined if they exist in primates. The present investigation used immunohistochemical techniques in the monkey to answer this question. It was found that the monkey BNC, as in rodents, has a very high density of CB1R + axons, including CB1R + axon terminals that form basket-like plexuses contacting somata of PNs. These axons, as well as axons in the neuropil, exhibit extensive colocalization of CCK and CB1R. These findings suggest that the same synaptic mechanisms involved in CCK-CB1R interactions in rodents may also apply to primates, and that therapies that target the cannabinoid system in the BNC may be useful for treating fear and anxiety in human patients.

Effects of the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP-55,940 on incentive salience attribution.

RATIONALE: Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigms are used to characterize the nature of motivational behaviors in response to stimuli as either directed toward the cue (i.e., sign-tracking) or the site of reward delivery (i.e., goal-tracking). Recent evidence has shown that activity of the endocannabinoid system increases dopaminergic activity in the mesocorticolimbic system, and other studies have shown that sign-tracking behaviors are dependent on dopamine. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, we hypothesized that administration of a cannabinoid agonist would increase sign-tracking and decrease goal-tracking behaviors. METHODS: Forty-seven adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a low, medium, or high dose of the cannabinoid agonist CP-55,940 (N = 12 per group) or saline (N = 11) before Pavlovian conditioned approach training. A separate group of rats (N = 32) were sacrificed after PCA training for measurement of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) using in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Contrary to our initial hypothesis, CP-55,940 dose-dependently decreased sign-tracking and increased goal-tracking behavior. CB1 expression was higher in sign-trackers compared with that in goal-trackers in the prelimbic cortex, but there were no significant differences in CB1 or FAAH expression in the infralimbic cortex, dorsal or ventral CA1, dorsal or ventral CA3, dorsal or ventral dentate gyrus, or amygdala. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that cannabinoid signaling can specifically influence behavioral biases toward sign- or goal-tracking. Pre-existing differences in CB1 expression patterns, particularly in the prelimbic cortex, could contribute to individual differences in the tendency to attribute incentive salience to reward cues.

Endocannabinoid modulating drugs improve anxiety but not the expression of conditioned fear in a rodent model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a potential target for the treatment of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Similar to clinical PTSD, approximately 25-30% of rats that undergo cued fear conditioning exhibit impaired extinction learning. In addition to extinction-resistant fear, these "weak extinction" (WE) rats show persistent anxiety-like behaviors. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that behavioural differences between WE animals and those presenting normal extinction patterns (strong extinction; SE) could be mediated by the eCB system. Rats undergoing fear conditioning/extinction and fear recall sessions were initially segregated in weak and strong-extinction groups. Two weeks later, animals underwent a fear recall session followed by a novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) test. In acute experiments, WE rats were injected with either the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 or the CB1 agonist WIN55,212-2 1 h prior to long-term recall and NSF testing. SE animals were injected with the inverse CB1 receptor agonist AM251. In chronic experiments, WE and SE rats were given daily injections of URB597 or AM251 between short and long-term recall sessions. We found that acute administration of WIN55,212-2 but not URB597 reduced anxiety-like behaviour in WE rats. In contrast, AM251 was anxiogenic in SE animals. Neither treatment was effective in altering freezing expression during fear recall. The chronic administration of AM251 to SE or URB597 to WE did not alter fear or anxiety-like behaviour or changed the expression of FAAH and CB1. Together, these results suggest that systemic manipulations of the eCB system may alter anxiety-like behaviour but not the behavioural expression of an extinction-resistant associative fear memory.

A combination of dietary fat intake and nicotine exposure enhances CB1 endocannabinoid receptor expression in hypothalamic nuclei in male mice.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is a GPCR expressed widely in the brain as well as in peripheral metabolic organs. Although pharmacological blockade of CB1R has been effective for the treatment of obesity and tobacco addiction, precise distribution of CB1R within the brain and potential changes by obesity or nicotine exposure have not been thoroughly addressed. METHODS: To examine CB1R distribution within the central energy center, we performed immunostaining and qPCR analysis of micro-dissected hypothalamic nuclei from male C57BL/6 mice. To address the effect of nicotine on food intake and body weight, and on potential changes of CB1R levels in the hypothalamus, mice kept on a high fat diet (HFD) for four weeks were challenged with nicotine intraperitoneally. RESULTS: Validity of the micro-dissected samples was confirmed by the expression of established nucleus-enriched genes. The expression levels of CB1R in the arcuate and lateral nuclei of the hypothalamus were higher than paraventricular and ventral-dorsal medial nuclei. Nicotine administration led to a significant suppression of food intake and body weight either under standard or high fat diet. Neither HFD nor nicotine alone altered CB1R levels in any nucleus tested. By contrast, treatment of HFD-fed mice with nicotine led to a significant increase in CB1R levels in the arcuate, paraventricular and lateral nuclei. CONCLUSIONS: CB1R was widely distributed in multiple hypothalamic nuclei. The expression of CB1R was augmented only when mice were treated with HFD and nicotine in combination. These data suggest that the exposure to nicotine may provoke an enhanced endocannabinoid response in diet-induced obesity.

Characterisation and localisation of the endocannabinoid system components in the adult human testis.

Heavy use of cannabis (marijuana) has been associated with decreased semen quality, which may reflect disruption of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the male reproductive tract by exogenous cannabinoids. Components of ECS have been previously described in human spermatozoa and in the rodent testis but there is little information on the ECS expression within the human testis. In this study we characterised the main components of the ECS by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on archived testis tissue samples from 15 patients, and by in silico analysis of existing transcriptome datasets from testicular cell populations. The presence of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the human testis was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging analysis. Endocannabinoid-synthesising enzymes; diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), were detected in germ cells and somatic cells, respectively. The cannabinoid receptors, CNR1 and CNR2 were detected at a low level in post-meiotic germ cells and Leydig- and peritubular cells. Different transcripts encoding distinct receptor isoforms (CB1, CB1A, CB1B and CB2A) were also differentially distributed, mainly in germ cells. The cannabinoid-metabolising enzymes were abundantly present; the α/ß-hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2) in all germ cell types, except early spermatocytes, the monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) in Sertoli cells, and the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in late spermatocytes and post-meiotic germ cells. Our findings are consistent with a direct involvement of the ECS in regulation of human testicular physiology, including spermatogenesis and Leydig cell function. The study provides new evidence supporting observations that recreational cannabis can have possible deleterious effects on human testicular function.

Inhibitory Control Deficits Associated with Upregulation of CB1R in the HIV-1 Tat Transgenic Mouse Model of Hand.

In the era of combined antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 infected individuals are living longer lives; however, longevity is met with an increasing number of HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) diagnoses. The transactivator of transcription (Tat) is known to mediate the neurotoxic effects in HAND by acting directly on neurons and also indirectly via its actions on glia. The Go/No-Go (GNG) task was used to examine HAND in the Tat transgenic mouse model. The GNG task involves subjects discriminating between two stimuli sets in order to determine whether or not to inhibit a previously trained response. Data reveal inhibitory control deficits in female Tat(+) mice (p = .048) and an upregulation of cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R) in the infralimbic (IL) cortex in the same female Tat(+) group (p < .05). A significant negative correlation was noted between inhibitory control and IL CB1R expression (r = -.543, p = .045), with CB1R expression predicting 30% of the variance of inhibitory control (R2 = .295, p = .045). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) frequencies in Tat(+) compared to Tat(-) mice (p = .008, across sexes). The increase in sEPSC frequency was significantly attenuated by bath application of PF3845, a fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitor (p < .001). Overall, the GNG task is a viable measure to assess inhibitory control deficits in Tat transgenic mice and results suggest a potential therapeutic treatment for the observed deficits with drugs which modulate endocannabinoid enzyme activity. Graphical Abstract Results of the Go/No-Go operant conditioning task reveal inhibitory control deficits in female transgenic Tat(+) mice without significantly affecting males. The demonstrated inhibitory control deficits appear to be associated with an upregulation of cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R) in the infralimbic (IL) cortex in the same female Tat(+) group.

Somatostatin and cannabinoid receptors crosstalk in protection of huntingtin knock-in striatal neuronal cells in response to quinolinic acid.

In the present study, we describe the status of somatostatin receptor 2 and 5 (SSTR2 and SSTR5) as well as cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) in Huntingtin (Htt) knock-in striatal neuronal cells. In mutant Htt (mHtt) knock-in (STHdhQ111/111) and wild type (STHdhQ7/7) striatal neuronal cells, SSTRs and CB1R exhibit prominent cytoplasmic expression and respond to agonist in a receptor specific manner. In response to quinolinic acid (QUIN)-induced toxicity, STHdhQ111/111 cells are more vulnerable and display suppressed cell survival signaling pathways. Receptor-specific agonists protect cells from QUIN-induced toxicity and activate ERK1/2 in both STHdh cells. Co-activation of SSTRs and CB1R resulted in loss of protective effects, delayed ERK1/2 phosphorylation and altered receptor complex composition. These results provide firsthand evidence in support of the protective role of SSTRs in STHdh cells and the possible crosstalk between SSTRs and CB1R in the modulation of excitotoxicity in Huntington's disease.

CB1 agonism prolongs therapeutic window for hormone replacement in ovariectomized mice.

Hormone therapy (HT) is reported to be deficient in improving learning and memory in older postmenopausal women according to recent clinical studies; however, the reason for failure is unknown. A "window of opportunity" for estrogen treatment is proposed to explain this deficiency. Here, we found that facilitation of memory extinction and long-term depression by 17ß-estradiol (E2) was normal in mice 1 week after ovariectomy (OVXST), but it was impaired in mice 3 months after ovariectomy (OVXLT). High-throughput sequencing revealed a decrease of miR-221-5p, which promoted cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) ubiquitination by upregulation of Neurl1a/b in E2-treated OVXLT mice. Blood samples from postmenopausal women aged 56-65 indicated decreases of miR-221-5p and 2-arachidonoylglycerol compared with samples from perimenopausal women aged 46-55. Replenishing of miR-221-5p or treatment with a CB1 agonist rescued the impairment of fear extinction in E2-treated OVXLT mice. The present study demonstrates that an HT time window in mice can be prolonged by cotreatment with a CB1 agonist, implying a potential strategy for HT in long-term menopausal women.

Voluntary oral consumption of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol by adolescent rats impairs reward-predictive cue behaviors in adulthood.

Few preclinical approaches are available to study the health impact of voluntary consumption of edibles containing the psychoactive drug Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We developed and validated such approach by measuring voluntary oral consumption of THC-containing gelatin by rats and used it to study if and how THC consumption during adolescence impacts adult behavior. We found that adolescent rats of both sexes consumed enough THC to trigger acute hypothermia, analgesic, and locomotor responses, and that 15 days of access to THC-gelatin in adolescence resulted in the down-regulation of cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1Rs) in adulthood in a sex and brain area specific manner. Remarkably, THC consumption by adolescent male rats and not female rats led to impaired Pavlovian reward-predictive cue behaviors in adulthood consistent with a male-specific loss of CB1R-expressing vGlut-1 synaptic terminals in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Thus, voluntary oral consumption of THC during adolescence is associated with sex-dependent behavioral impairment in adulthood.

Opposing roles of dorsomedial hypothalamic CB1 and TRPV1 receptors in anandamide signaling during the panic-like response elicited in mice by Brazilian rainbow Boidae snakes.

RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in the organization of panic-like defensive behavior. Threatening situations stimulate brain areas, such as the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH). However, there is a lack of studies addressing the role of the DMH endocannabinoid system in panic-like responses. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to verify which mechanisms underlie anandamide-mediated responses in the DMH. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that the anandamide produces panicolytic-like effects, we treated mice with intra-DMH microinjections of vehicle or increasing doses of anandamide (0.5, 5, or 50 pmol) and then performed confrontation with the South American snake Epicrates cenchria assisi. RESULTS: Intra-DMH anandamide treatment yielded a U-shaped dose-response curve with no effect of the lowest (0.5 pmol) or the highest (50 pmol) dose and significant inhibition of panic-like responses at the intermediate (5 pmol) dose. In addition, this panicolytic-like effect was prevented by pretreatment of the DMH with the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (100 pmol). However, pretreatment of the DMH with the TRPV1 receptor antagonist 6-iodo-nordihydrocapsaicin (3 nmol) restored the panicolytic-like effect of the highest dose of anandamide. Immunohistochemistry revealed that CB1 receptors were present primarily on axonal fibers, while TRPV1 receptors were found almost exclusively surrounding the perikarya in DMH. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that anandamide exerts a panicolytic-like effect in the DMH by activation of CB1 receptors and that TRPV1 receptors are related to the lack of effect of the highest dose of anandamide.

The expression of cannabinoid type 1 receptor and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol synthesizing/degrading enzymes is altered in basal ganglia during the active phase of levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

Management of levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) is one of the main challenges in the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients. Mechanisms involved in the appearance of these involuntary movements are not well known but modifications in the activity of different neurotransmitter pathways seem to play an important role. The objective of this study was to determine differences in the expression levels of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) elements that would support a role in LID. The basal ganglia nuclei, putamen, external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe), internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi), subthalamic nucleus (STN) and substantia nigra (SN) were dissected out from cryostat sections obtained from two groups of parkinsonian monkeys treated with levodopa to induce dyskinesias. One group of dyskinetic animals was sacrificed under the effect of levodopa, during the active phase of LID, and the other group 24 h after the last levodopa dose (OFF levodopa). Biochemical analysis by real-time PCR for ECS elements was performed. CB1 receptor expression was upregulated in the putamen, GPe and STN during the active phase of dyskinesia and downregulated in the same nuclei and in the SN when dyskinetic animals were OFF levodopa. Changes in the 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) synthesizing/degrading enzymes affecting the pallidal-subthalamic projections in dyskinetic animals OFF levodopa would suggest that 2-AG may play a role in LID. Anandamide (AEA) synthesizing/degrading enzymes were altered specifically in the GPe of untreated parkinsonian monkeys, suggesting that increased AEA levels may be a compensatory mechanism. These results indicate that the expression of the ECS elements is influenced by alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission. On one hand, changes in CB1 receptor expression and in the 2-AG synthesizing/degrading enzymes suggest that they could be a therapeutic target for the active phase of LID. On the other hand, AEA metabolism could provide a non-dopaminergic target for symptomatic relief. However, further research is needed to unravel the mechanism of action of the ECS and how they could be modulated for a therapeutic purpose.

Effects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on human amniotic epithelial cell proliferation and migration.

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effects of cannabis consumption for fertility and pregnancy outcome are recognized for years. The main psychoactive molecule of cannabis, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is able to cross the placenta barrier and cause alterations in fetal growth, low birth weight and preterm labor. However, the effects of THC on the human placenta amnion are still unknown. METHODS: The distributions of CB1R and CB2R in human amnion tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Human amniotic epithelial cell proliferation and migration in response to THC treatment were measured by MTS and transwell assays, respectively. The PCR array was performed to study the key regulators involved in the cell migration. The protein levels of CB1R, CB2R in amnion tissues and MMP2, MMP9 in cells were detected by western blotting. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were used to knockdown MMP2 and MMP9 in WISH cells. RESULTS: Our results indicated that both CB1R and CB2R primarily identified in the epithelial layer of human placental amnion tissue. The CB1R expression in the amnion tissue was higher in the preterm group than normal control. High-dose of THC (30uM, but not 20 and 10uM) significantly inhibited (p<0.01) human amniotic epithelial cell lines (WISH) proliferation. Meanwhile, THC at both 10uM and 20uM (p<0.05) significantly suppressed cells migration in both WISH and primary human amniotic epithelial cells. The PCR array data and siRNA experiments demonstrated that MMP2/9 were tightly involved in the regulation of THC-inhibited cell migration in WISH cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that THC inhibited the migration of human amniotic epithelial cell through the regulation of MMP2 and MMP9, which in turn altered the development of the amnion during the gestation and partially resulted in preterm labor and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells secrete endocannabinoids that stimulate in vitro hematopoietic stem cell migration effectively comparable to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a well-known hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-mobilizing agent used in both allogeneic and autologous transplantation. However, a proportion of patients or healthy donors fail to mobilize a sufficient number of cells. New mobilization agents are therefore needed. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are endogenous lipid mediators generated in the brain and peripheral tissues and activate the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. We suggest that eCBs may act as mobilizers of HSCs from the bone marrow (BM) under stress conditions as beta-adrenergic receptors (Adrß). This study demonstrates that BM mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) and the peripheral blood (PB) and BM microenvironment contain AEA and 2-AG. 2-AG levels are significantly higher in PB of the G-CSF-treated group compared with BM plasma. BM mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD34+ HSCs express CB1, CB2, and Adrß subtypes. CD34+ HSCs had higher CB1 and CB2 receptor expression in G-CSF-untreated and G-CSF-treated groups compared with MSCs. MNCs but not MSCs expressed CB1 and CB2 receptors based on qRT-PCR and flow cytometry. AEA- and 2-AG-stimulated HSC migration was blocked by eCB receptor antagonists in an in vitro migration assay. In conclusion, components of the eCB system and their interaction with Adrß subtypes were demonstrated on HSCs and MSCs of G-CSF-treated and G-CSF-untreated healthy donors in vitro, revealing that eCBs might be potential candidates to enhance or facilitate G-CSF-mediated HSC migration under stress conditions in a clinical setting.

Increased expression of type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor among patients with rotator cuff lesions and shoulder stiffness.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder stiffness is a disease manifested by pain, limited range of motion, and functional disability. The inflammatory and fibrosis processes play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of shoulder stiffness. The CB1 receptor has been recognized to mediate the processes of pathologic fibrosis. This study investigated the role of the CB1 pathway in pathogenesis of rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness. METHODS: All of the patients undergoing repair surgery for rotator cuff lesions were recruited and subcategorized into subjects with and without shoulder stiffness. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was used to evaluate the expression level of CB1 and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) in the subacromial bursae, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the concentration of CB1 and IL-1ß in the subacromial fluid. Tenocytes treated with CB1 agonists and antagonists were also studied for the relationship of CB1 and the inflammatory cytokine IL-1ß. RESULTS: The patients with shoulder stiffness had higher messenger RNA (mRNA) expression (P = .040) and immunohistochemistry staining (P < .001) of CB1 in the subacromial bursa and higher CB1 concentration in the subacromial fluid (P = .008). Tenocytes treated with the CB1 agonist WIN 55,212-2 and antagonist AM251 showed increased expression of IL-1ß mRNA (P = .049) and suppressed expression of IL-1ß mRNA (P = .001), respectively. DISCUSSION: The CB1 pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of shoulder stiffness. It may be a promising target for the treatment of rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness.

Indoxyl sulfate upregulates the cannabinoid type 1 receptor gene via an ATF3/c-Jun complex-mediated signaling pathway in the model of uremic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The risk of cardiovascular disease is notably increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) plays an important role in the development of uremic cardiomyopathy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the uremic toxin-induced upregulation of CB1R remains elusive. METHODS: The expression of the ATF3/c-Jun complex and CB1R in both in vivo and in vitro models of CKD were measured. We also determined the impact of the ATF3/c-Jun complex on CB1R expression by transfecting H9c2 cells with dominant negative mutants of ATF3 or c-Jun. Inhibitors of organic anion transport, specific MAPK pathways and oxidative DNA damage were also used to assess the pathways mediating the effects of indoxyl sulfate (IS). RESULTS: CB1R upregulation was associated with increased ATF3 expression and c-Jun phosphorylation in CKD both in vivo and in vitro. Expression of dominant-negative ATF3 or c-Jun mutants in IS-treated cells significantly reduced CB1R mRNA levels. Moreover, Co-IP revealed that the ATF3/c-Jun complex is formed and ChIP confirmed its binding to the CB1R promoter, suggesting that this complex directly stimulates CB1R transcription in CKD. Blocking the cellular entry of IS using an organic anion transport inhibitor, as well as inhibiting the ERK1/2 and/or JNK pathways, abrogated the effects of IS on CB1R, ATF3, and c-Jun expression. The IS-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in the mitochondria. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that uremic toxins induce ATF3/c-Jun complex-mediated CB1R expression both in vivo and in vitro, possibly by modulating the ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways and ROS.