Cannabinoid receptors and neurodegenerative diseases (original) (raw)
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Possibilities of therapeutic action of cannabinoids in neurodegenerative diseases
Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry and Neurology
important of which is anandamide and enzymes for the synthesis and biodegradation of endocannabinoids. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which define the progressive activity associated with the further loss of specific subpopulation of neurons and disorders of multiple brain neurotransmitters. These diseases also include pathological protein accumulation (such as tau proteins), impairment of the lysosomal system, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory features of the nervous system. The endocannabinoid system can modulate phenomena with neurodegeneration. It is caused by the action of cannabinoid receptors-CB1, causing the normalization of glutamatergic transmission and autophagy, activation of CB2 receptors, limiting the weakening of action, and lowering the level of emission reduction-the independence of cannabinoid receptors. The article presents data on the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases obtained in experimental studies in animal models (AD, PD, HD, ALS), as well as in clinical studies (AD, PD, HD). Conclusions. The results of research, mainly experimental and clinical, may indicate a beneficial effect of cannabinoids, reducing some of the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. These results are promising prerequisites for further research.
Biochemical pharmacology, 2018
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) exerts a modulatory effect of important functions such as neurotransmission, glial activation, oxidative stress, or protein homeostasis. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a common neuropathological hallmark in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The broad spectrum of actions of cannabinoids allows targeting different aspects of these multifactorial diseases. In this review, we examine the therapeutic potential of the ECS for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. First, we describe the localization of the molecular components of the ECS and how they are altered under neurodegenerative conditions, either contributing to or protecting cells from degeneration. Second, we address recent advances in the modulation of the ECS using experimental models through d...
Endocannabinoid Modulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: In Pursuit of Certainty
Biology
Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasing cause of global morbidity and mortality. They occur in the central nervous system (CNS) and lead to functional and mental impairment due to loss of neurons. Recent evidence highlights the link between neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases of the CNS. These are typically associated with several neurological disorders. These diseases have fundamental differences regarding their underlying physiology and clinical manifestations, although there are aspects that overlap. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is comprised of receptors (type-1 (CB1R) and type-2 (CB2R) cannabinoid-receptors, as well as transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)), endogenous ligands and enzymes that synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids (ECBs). Recent studies revealed the involvement of the ECS in different pathological aspects of these neurodegenerative disorders. The present review will explore the roles of cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and pharmacologic...
Endocannabinoid system in neurodegenerative disorders
Journal of Neurochemistry, 2017
Most neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are characterized by cognitive impairment and other neurological defects. The definite cause of and pathways underlying the progression of these NDDs are not well-defined. Several mechanisms have been proposed to contribute to the development of NDDs. These mechanisms may proceed concurrently or successively, and they differ among cell types at different developmental stages in distinct brain regions. The endocannabinoid system, which involves cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R), endogenous cannabinoids and the enzymes that catabolize these compounds, has been shown to contribute to the development of NDDs in several animal models and human studies. In this review, we discuss the functions of the endocannabinoid system in NDDs and converse the therapeutic efficacy of targeting the endocannabinoid system to rescue NDDs.
Endocannabinoids and neurodegenerative diseases
Pharmacological Research, 2007
The cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, the endogenous endocannabinoid (EC) ligands anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylethanolamide, and the degradative enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoglyceride lipase (ML) are key elements of the EC system implicated in different physiological functions including cognition, motor activity and immune responses. Thus, both the possible neuroprotective role of ECs and their modulating action on neurotransmitter systems affected in several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently under investigation. Accumulating data show an unbalance in the EC system (i.e. decrease of neuronal cannabinoid CB1 receptors, increase of glial cannabinoid CB2 receptors and over-expression of FAAH in astrocytes) in experimental models of AD as well as in post-mortem brain tissue of AD patients, suggesting its possible role in inflammatory processes and in neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms of the EC modulation of immune response are not fully understood.
The endocannabinoid system: a putative role in neurodegenerative diseases
International journal of high risk behaviors & addiction, 2013
Following the characterization of the chemical structure of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of marijuana, researchers have moved on with scientific valuable explorations. The aim of this review is to highlight the role of endocannabinoid system in neurodegenerative diseases. The article is a critical analysis of the most recent data currently present in scientific literature on the subject; a qualitative synthesis of only the most significant articles has been performed. In central nervous system, endocannabinoids show a neuromodulatory function, often of retrograde type. This way, they play an important role in synaptic plasticity and in cognitive, motor, sensory and affective processes. In addition, in some acute or chronic pathologies of central nervous system, such as neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, endocannabinoids can perform a pro-homeostatic and neuroprotective function, through the activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors. Scien...
British Journal of …, 2012
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid with therapeutic properties for numerous disorders exerted through molecular mechanisms that are yet to be completely identified. CBD acts in some experimental models as an anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-oxidant, anti-emetic, anxiolytic and antipsychotic agent, and is therefore a potential medicine for the treatment of neuroinflammation, epilepsy, oxidative injury, vomiting and nausea, anxiety and schizophrenia, respectively. The neuroprotective potential of CBD, based on the combination of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, is of particular interest and is presently under intense preclinical research in numerous neurodegenerative disorders. In fact, CBD combined with D 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol is already under clinical evaluation in patients with Huntington's disease to determine its potential as a disease-modifying therapy. The neuroprotective properties of CBD do not appear to be exerted by the activation of key targets within the endocannabinoid system for plant-derived cannabinoids like D 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol, i.e. CB1 and CB2 receptors, as CBD has negligible activity at these cannabinoid receptors, although certain activity at the CB 2 receptor has been documented in specific pathological conditions (i.e. damage of immature brain). Within the endocannabinoid system, CBD has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the inactivation of endocannabinoids (i.e. inhibition of FAAH enzyme), thereby enhancing the action of these endogenous molecules on cannabinoid receptors, which is also noted in certain pathological conditions. CBD acts not only through the endocannabinoid system, but also causes direct or indirect activation of metabotropic receptors for serotonin or adenosine, and can target nuclear receptors of the PPAR family and also ion channels.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, contains a pool of secondary plant metabolites with therapeutic effects. Besides D9-tetrahydrocannabinol that is the principal psychoactive constituent of Cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant nonpsychoactive phytocannabinoid and may represent a prototype for antiinflammatory drug development for human pathologies where both the inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) play an important role to their etiology and progression. To this regard, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common neurodegenerative disorders, are characterized by extensive oxidative damage to different biological substrates that can cause cell death by different pathways. Most cases of neurodegenerative diseases have a complex etiology with a variety of factors contributing to the progression of the neurodegenerative processes; therefore, promising treatment strategies should simultaneously target multiple substrates in order to stop and/ or slow down the neurodegeneration. In this context, CBD, which interacts with the eCB system, but has also cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanism, might be a good candidate as a prototype for anti-oxidant drug development for the major neurodegenerative disorders, such as PD and AD. This review summarizes the multiple molecular pathways that underlie the positive effects of CBD, which may have a considerable impact on the progression of the major neurodegenerative disorders.
Function of the Endocannabinoid System in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancers
American Journal of Plant Sciences
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive degeneration and/or death of neuronal cells and results in a wide array of cognitive impairments and other serious neurological defects. The signaling pathways and definite cause underlying the development of neurodegenerative nerve diseases have not been well defined. There is evidence of mechanisms within the endocannabinoid system that may suggest important pathways involved the progression of neurodegenerative diseases as well as some cancers. The endocannabinoid system is an endogenous ubiquitous neuromodulatory system that plays a critical in the development of the central nervous system (CNS), synaptic plasticity, as well as other primary neuronal functions. The recent identification of various cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous lipid ligands has generated an interest and significant increase in research of the endocannabinoid system and its role in human health and diseases. The Endocannabinoid system possesses essential endogenous receptors-cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R)which are involved in mechanisms that contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and some cancers. In this review, we discuss the role of the endocannabinoid system in various neurodegenerative diseases as well as some cancers, and its promise as a targeted pharmacological therapy for patients of neurodegenerative diseases.
Cannabidiol: A Promising Drug for Neurodegenerative Disorders?
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 2009
Neurodegenerative diseases represent, nowadays, one of the main causes of death in the industrialized country. They are characterized by a loss of neurons in particular regions of the nervous system. It is believed that this nerve cell loss underlies the subsequent decline in cognitive and motor function that patients experience in these diseases. A range of mutant genes and environmental toxins have been implicated in the cause of neurodegenerative disorders but the mechanism remains largely unknown. At present, inflammation, a common denominator among the diverse list of neurodegenerative diseases, has been implicated as a critical mechanism that is responsible for the progressive nature of neurodegeneration. Since, at present, there are few therapies for the wide range of neurodegenerative diseases, scientists are still in search of new therapeutic approaches to the problem. An early contribution of neuroprotective and antiinflammatory strategies for these disorders seems particularly desirable because isolated treatments cannot be effective. In this contest, marijuana derivatives have attracted special interest, although these compounds have always raised several practical and ethical problems for their potential abuse. Nevertheless, among Cannabis compounds, cannabidiol (CBD), which lacks any unwanted psychotropic effect, may represent a very promising agent with the highest prospect for therapeutic use.