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Selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor-mediated inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression in C6 rat glioma cells.

We have studied the effects of two cannabinoid receptor agonists, WIN 55,212-2 and cannabinol, on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the C6 glioma cell line. After 24 h of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 microg/mL) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (300 U/mL) stimulation, a significant increase in NO production, evaluated as nitrite, was observed in the culture medium. WIN 55,212-2 (0.1-10000 nM) and cannabinol (0.3-30000 nM), dose-dependently inhibited nitrite production showing a different potency (WIN 55,212-2 EC(50): 4.2 nM; cannabinol EC(50): 700 nM). WIN 55,212-2 (100 nM), given concomitantly to the stimulus also inhibited iNOS expression but had no effect when added to the cells 2 h after LPS/IFN-gamma, indicating a possible interference at the protein synthesis level or at an earlier step, as gene transcription. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, SR141716A (0.1-100 nM), but not the cannabinoid CB2 receptor antagonist, SR144528 (0.1-100 nM), reduced in a dose-related manner WIN 55,212-2-and cannabinol-induced inhibition of nitrite production. SR141161A also reversed the WIN 55,212-2-induced inhibition of iNOS expression. These data suggest that selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation, by inhibiting iNOS expression and NO overproduction in glial cells, might be helpful in NO-mediated inflammation leading to neurodegeneration.

Analgesics↗

Central and peripheral cannabinoid modulation of gastrointestinal transit in physiological states or during the diarrhoea induced by croton oil.

We have evaluated the effect of cannabinoid drugs, administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) on upper gastrointestinal transit in control and in croton oil-treated mice. The cannabinoid agonists, WIN 55,212-2 (2-239 nmol mouse(-1)) and cannabinol (24-4027 nmol mouse(-1)), decreased while the CB(1) antagonist SR141716A (2-539 nmol mouse(-1)) increased transit in control mice. WIN 55,212-2, cannabinol and SR141716A had lower ED(50) values when administered i.c.v., than when administered i.p. The CB(2) antagonist SR144528 (52 nmol mouse(-1), i.p.) was without effect. During croton oil (0.01 ml mouse(-1), p.o.)-induced diarrhoea, the ED(50) values of i.p. -injected WIN 55,212-2 and cannabinol (but not SR141716A) were significantly decreased (compared to control mice). However, the ED(50) values of WIN 55,212-2 were similar after i.p. or i.c.v. administration. The inhibitory effects of WIN 55,212-2 and cannabinol were counteracted by SR141716A (16 nmol mouse(-1), i.p.) but not by SR144528 (52 nmol mouse(-1), i.p.) both in control and croton-oil treated mice. Ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium (69 nmol mouse(-1), i.p.) did not modify the inhibitory effect of i.p. -injected cannabinoid agonists either in control or in croton-oil treated mice. The lower ED(50) values of cannabinoid drugs after i.c.v. administration suggest a central (CB(1)) site of action. However, a peripheral site of action is suggested by the lack of effect of hexamethonium. In addition, croton oil-induced diarrhoea enhances the effect of cannabinoid agonists by a peripheral mechanism.

Animals↗

Evidence for cannabinoid receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms of action in leukocytes.

Cannabinoids exhibit immunosuppressive actions that include inhibition of interleukin-2 production in response to a variety of T cell activation stimuli. Traditionally, the effects of these compounds have been attributed to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, both of which are expressed in mouse splenocytes. Therefore, N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorphenyl)-4-methyl-H-pyrazole-3 carboxyamidehydrochloride (SR141716A), a CB1 antagonist, and N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3,-trimethyl-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528), a CB2 antagonist, were used to investigate the role of cannabinoid receptors in the cannabinoid-induced inhibition of phorbol ester plus calcium ionophore (PMA/Io)-stimulated interleukin-2 production by mouse splenocytes. PMA/Io-stimulated interleukin-2 production was inhibited by cannabinol, cannabidiol, and both WIN 55212-2 stereoisomers with a rank order potency of R-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazinyl]-(1-napthanlenyl) methanone mesylate (WIN 55212-2) approximately cannabidiol > S-(-)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazinyl]-(1-napthanlenyl) methanone mesylate (WIN 55212-3) approximately cannabinol. Cannabinoid-induced inhibition of PMA/Io-stimulated interleukin-2 was not attenuated by the presence of both SR144528 and SR141716A. Using pertussis toxin to address the role of G protein-coupled receptors in this response, it was determined that pertussis toxin treatment did not attenuate cannabinol-induced inhibition of PMA/Io-stimulated interleukin-2. With the demonstration that cannabinoid-induced inhibition of PMA/Io-stimulated interleukin-2 was not mediated via CB1 or CB2, alternative targets of cannabinoids in T cells were examined. Specifically, it was demonstrated that cannabinoids elevated intracellular calcium concentration in resting splenocytes and that the cannabinol-induced elevation in intracellular calcium concentration was attenuated by treatment with both SR144528 and SR141716A. Interestingly, pretreatment of splenocytes with agents that elevate intracellular calcium concentration inhibited PMA/Io-stimulated interleukin-2 production, suggesting that an elevation in intracellular calcium concentration might be involved in the mechanism of interleukin-2 inhibition. These studies suggest that immune modulation produced by cannabinoids involves multiple mechanisms, which might be both cannabinoid receptor-dependent and -independent.

Animals↗

Psychoactive cannabinoids increase mortality and alter acute phase cytokine responses in mice sublethally infected with Legionella pneumophila.

Marijuana contains both psychoactive and nonpsychoactive cannabinoids which have varying effects on the immune response system. Previous studies with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component of marijuana, showed that this substance augmented the susceptibility of mice to infection with the opportunistic pathogen Legionella pneumophila. The present study compared the enhancement of Legionella-induced mortality in mice due to two other major of marijuana components, cannabinol and cannabidiol, as well as the synthetic psychoactive cannabinoid CP 55,940. Inbred BALB/c mice, relatively resistant to infection with Legionella, were given the marijuana component 1 day before and 1 day after a sublethal intravenous infection with Legionella. Unlike the effect of THC, an 8 mg/kg dose of either cannabinol or cannabidiol did not affect mortality of the mice sublethally infected with Legionella. Mice given a 16 mg/kg dose of these components of marijuana, however, showed a slight to moderately increased mortality following the sublethal infection with Legionella. In contrast, a dose of 6 mg/kg of the synthetic psychoactive cannabinoid CP 55,940 given 1 day before and 1 day after infection with Legionella resulted in about 50% of the animals dying, the same level of augmentation of lethality induced by THC. Liver, spleen, and lung tissues were removed from the surviving mice 24 hr after the second THC injection and tested for the presence of viable Legionella using a standard CFU assay. The mice injected with THC before and after infection showed significantly higher levels of bacteria in their lung than mice that were not given any cannabinoid but were infected sublethally with the Legionella. Mice injected with the other cannabinoids, including the synthetic cannabinoid, showed a much smaller increase in the number of Legionella in their lung when infected with Legionella and treated with the drug. The number of bacteria recovered from the kidney and liver of the mice regardless of treatment with a cannabinoid, including with THC, did not show significant changes. RNA isolated from the spleen of the THC- and Legionella-treated animals was examined to determine at the molecular level whether acute phase pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were altered following drug treatment and infection, since previous studies had shown there were increased serum levels of these cytokines in the mice. It was found that the mRNA levels for IL-1 remained generally constant regardless of whether the infected animals were treated with a cannabinoid. However, the mRNA level for IL-6 was markedly increased following treatment of the infected animals with THC, suggesting the possible involvement of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in increased mortality. The mRNA level for TNF-alpha was generally low and not significantly altered in the drug treated animals. Mice given other cannabinoids, including cannabinol and cannabidiol, as well as the synthetic CP 55,940, showed no significant change in the level of mRNA for any of the cytokines tested.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

NMR assignments of the major cannabinoids and cannabiflavonoids isolated from flowers of Cannabis sativa.

The complete 1H- and 13C-NMR assignments of the major Cannabis constituents, delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabigerol, cannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabidiolic acid, cannflavin A and cannflavin B have been determined on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra including 1H- and 13C-NMR, 1H-1H-COSY, HMQC and HMBC. The substitution of carboxylic acid on the cannabinoid nucleus (as in tetrahydrocannabinolic acid and cannabidiolic acid) has a large effect on the chemical shift of H-1" of the C5 side chain and 2'-OH. It was also observed that carboxylic acid substitution reduces intermolecular hydrogen bonding resulting in a sharpening of the H-5' signal in cannabinolic acid in deuterated chloroform. The additional aromaticity of cannabinol causes the two angular methyl groups (H-8 and H-9) to show identical 1H-NMR shifts, which indicates that the two aromatic rings are in one plane in contrast to the other cannabinoids. For the cannabiflavonoids, the unambiguous assignments of C-3' and C-4' of cannflavin A and B were determined by HMBC spectra.

Cannabinoids↗

Capillary electrochromatography of cannabinoids.

The applicability of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) with photodiode array UV detection for the analysis of cannabinoids is presented. Baseline separation of seven cannabinoids (cannabigerol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabichromene, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is obtained using a 3-micron CEC Hypersil C18 capillary with an acetonitrile/phosphate (pH 2.57) mobile phase. The effects of acetonitrile concentration, buffer concentration, voltage, temperature, stationary phase, and column length on the separation of the cannabinoids were investigated. Good short- and long-term precision in retention times are observed, with significant improvement obtained using relative retention times with cannabinol as reference compound. Although short- and long-term peak area precisions are poor, satisfactory reproducibility is obtained using relative peak areas with cannabinol as reference compound. The applicability of the CEC methodology to drug seizures was demonstrated on marijuana and hashish. Using a high-sensitivity UV flow cell with an extended path length of 1.2 mm, concentration sensitivities approaching HPLC were obtained.

Acetonitriles↗

Evidence for inverse agonism of SR141716A at human recombinant cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors.

The cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716A has been suggested to be an inverse agonist at CB1 receptors in some isolated intact tissues. We found that the basal incorporation of [35S]-GTPgammaS in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human recombinant CB1 and CB2 receptors was inhibited by SR141716A (mean pEC50s 8.26 and 6.00, respectively), whereas cannabinol (10 microM) had no significant effect at hCB1 receptors but inhibited the binding at hCB2 receptors. As cannabinol had no effect on basal [35S]-GTPmicroS binding at hCB1 at a concentration 100 fold higher than its binding affinity (K = 0.1 microM), we conclude that endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonists are not a confounding factor and suggest the actions of SR141716A at the hCB1 receptor, and the actions of SR141716A and cannabinol at the hCB2 receptor, are due to inverse agonism.

Animals↗

Interaction of cannabis and general anaesthetic agents in mice.

1 A cannabis extract (I) (in a concentration equivalent to 10 mg Delta(9)-tetrahydro-cannabinol(THC)/kg) prolonged pentobarbitone anaesthesia in mice maximally 20 min to 2 h after medication. The effect was still significant after 8 h, but less than at 2 hours.2 The cannabis extract (I) (equivalent to 10 mg Delta(9)-THC/kg) prolonged both pentobarbitone and ether anaesthesia in mice when administered 20 min before the anaesthetic. After eight consecutive daily doses of cannabis, the pentobarbitone anaesthesia was still significantly longer than a control group, while ether anaesthesia was not significantly prolonged.3 A second cannabis extract (II) with a different ratio of cannabinoids (also administered in dosage equivalent to 10 mg Delta(9)-THC/kg) failed to affect pentobarbitone anaesthesia in mice. This extract presented about 4% the dose of cannabidiol as extract I.4 Delta(8)-THC, Delta(9)-THC and cannabidiol prolonged pentobarbitone anaesthesia with cannabidiol being generally more active than Delta(9)-THC. Cannabinol (10 mg/kg) was inactive.5 The effects of cannabidiol and Delta(9)-THC were found to be additive, and there was a consistent trend for cannabinol to reduce the effectiveness of Delta(9)-THC and cannabidiol when given in combination.6 Premedication with phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine, propranolol, iproniazid, protriptyline, desipramine, reserpine, alpha-methyl tyrosine or parachlorophenylalanine did not affect the extract I-induced prolongation of pentobarbitone anaesthesia.7 It is concluded that cannabis may affect pentobarbitone and ether anaesthesia in mice at least partially by a direct depressant effect, and that the cannabis-induced prolongation of anaesthesia is probably unrelated to any effect on central 5-hydroxytryptamine or catecholamine neurones.

Anesthesia, General↗

UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities of rabbit liver microsomes for cannabinoids.

UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities for delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol were examined using liver microsomes of rabbits. The activities for cannabidiol and cannabinol were 2.5 and 19 times higher, respectively, than those for delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Thus, the present study supports the view that glucuronide formation plays an important role in the metabolism of cannabinol, but does only a minor role in that of delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Animals↗

Emotional response to intravenous delta9tetrahydrocannabinol during oral surgery.

The administration of delta9THC intravenously as a premedicant to oral surgery resulted in acute pronounced elevations in anxiety states, a predominance of dysphoria over euphoria, and varying degrees of psychotic-like paranoiac thought. Neural effects that appeared to promote these effects included distortions of perception with sensory delusions, and heightened sensory receptiveness including antalgesic impressions of surgery; autonomic and visceral arousal greater than control or placebo levels; lack of overt behavioral signals of distress due to depersonalization; and time disintegration leading to fear-inducing misinformation about real surgical events. Introverted subjects who generally were inclined to rely on drug solutions to their problems tended to respond poorly to surgical pain and anxiety with delta9THC. These results, obtained from subjects considered to have levels of presurgical apprehension that were average or below average, suggest that the environment in which high doses of cannabinols are experienced is a potent factor in determining the quality of the emotional response. A surgical environment containing even the mild stress of outpatient oral surgery appears to have the potential to precipitate undesirable emotional responses among cannabinol-intoxicated patients. There is continued high-level social use of cannabinols inour society, with an estimate of 40% to 55% among the college-age group seen frequently by oral surgeons. Results of this study suggest that clinicians should be prepared to detect the subtle signs of marijuana intoxication to protect their patients from further psychophysiologic complications during surgery.

Adolescent↗

Membrane associated antitumor effects of crocine-, ginsenoside- and cannabinoid derivates.

In the present work a systematic study was initiated with crocine, ginsenoside and cannabinoid derivatives on multidrug resistant mouse lymphoma cells, viral tumor antigen expression and some human leukocyte functions. Among saffron derivatives, crocin and picrocrocin, triglucosyl and diglucosyl crocetin were ineffective on the reversal of multidrug resistance of lymphoma cells. Ginsenoside increased drug accumulation and tumor antigen expression at 2.0-20.0 micrograms/mL. Some cannabinoid derivatives such as cannabinol, cannabispirol and cannabidiol increased drug accumulation, while cannabidiolic acid, delta-9-THC and tetrahydro-cannabidiolic acid reduced drug accumulation of the human mdr1-gene transfected mouse lymphoma cells. The reversal of multidrug resistance is the result of the inhibition of the efflux pump function in the tumor cells. Crocetin esters were less potent than crocin itself in the inhibition of EBV early antigen expression. However crocin and diglucosylcrocetin inhibited early tumor antigen expression of adenovirus infected cells, but triglucosylcrocetin was less effective at 0.01-1.0 microgram/mL. The crocin had no antiviral effect [on HSV-2 infected vero cells] up to 25 micrograms/mL concentration. Ginsenosides had a moderate inhibitory effect except ginsenoside Rb1 (was the less effective) on the drug efflux pump. Among the cannabinoid derivatives the cannabinol and cannabispirol increased drug accumulation, while cannabidiolic acid and delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC and tetrahydro-cannabinol reduced drug accumulation in multidrug resistant mouse lymphoma cells. It is interesting that ginsenosides had a chemical structure-dependent immunomodulating effect by enhancing the activity of NK-cells and ADCC activities.

Animals↗

Marijuana smoking: effects of varying puff volume and breathhold duration.

Two studies were conducted to quantify biological and behavioral effects resulting from exposure to controlled doses of marijuana smoke. In one study, puff volume (30, 60 and 90 ml) and in a second study, breathhold duration (0, 10 and 20 sec) were systematically varied while holding constant other smoking topography parameters (number of puffs = 10, interpuff interval = 60 sec and inhalation volume = 25% of vital capacity). Each study also varied levels of delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol marijuana cigarette content (1.75% and 3.55%). Regular marijuana users served as subjects (n = 7 in each experiment). Subjects smoked 10 puffs in each of six sessions; a seventh, nonsmoking session (all measures recorded at the same times as in active smoking sessions) served as a control. Variations in puff volume produced significant dose-related changes in postsmoking plasma delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol levels, carbon monoxide boost and subjective effects (e.g., "high"). In contrast, breathholding for 10 or 20 sec versus 0 sec increased plasma delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol levels but not CO boost or subjective effects. Task performance measures were not reliably influenced by marijuana smoke exposure within the dosing ranges examined. These findings confirm the utility of the controlled smoking technology, support the notion that cumulative puff volume systematically influences biological exposure and subjective effects, but cast doubt on the common belief that prolonged breathholding of marijuana smoke enhances classical subjective effects associated with its reinforcing value in humans.

Adult↗

Effect of some cannabinoids on naloxone-precipitated abstinence in morphine-dependent mice.

Mice were rendered morphine-dependent by the subcutaneous implantation of a pellet containing 75 mg of morphine base; 72 h after the implantation, the animals were injected intraperitoneally either with vehicle or with various doses of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, or 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Thirty minutes after injection of the cannabinoids, the antagonist, naloxone HC1, was administered to induce the stereotyped withdrawal jumping syndrome. The dose of naloxone needed to induce withdrawal jumping in 50% of the animals (ED50) was determined for each dose of the cannabinoids. All of the cannabinoids inhibited the naloxone-precipitated morphine abstinence as evidenced by an increase in the naloxone ED50. Two additional signs of morphine abstinence, defecation and rearing behavior, were also suppressed by the cannabinoids. The relative effectiveness of the cannabinoids in inhibiting morphine abstinence appeared to be in the following order: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than 11-hydroxy-delta8-tetrahydrocannabinol greater than cannabidiol greater than cannabinol. These data suggest that cannabinoids may be useful in facilitating narcotic detoxification.

Animals↗

Cannabinoid CB1-receptor mediated regulation of gastrointestinal motility in mice in a model of intestinal inflammation.

1. We have studied the effect of cannabinoid agonists (CP 55,940 and cannabinol) on intestinal motility in a model of intestinal inflammation (induced by oral croton oil in mice) and measured cannabinoid receptor expression, endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol) and anandamide amidohydrolase activity both in physiological and pathophysiological states. 2. CP 55,940 (0.03 - 10 nmol mouse(-1)) and cannabinol (10 - 3000 nmol mouse(-1)) were more active in delaying intestinal motility in croton oil-treated mice than in control mice. These inhibitory effects were counteracted by the selective cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist SR141716A (16 nmol mouse(-1)). SR141716A (1 - 300 nmol mouse(-1)), administered alone, increased intestinal motility to the same extent in both control and croton oil-treated mice. 3. Croton oil-induced intestinal inflammation was associated with an increased expression of CB(1) receptor, an unprecedented example of up-regulation of cannabinoid receptors during inflammation. 4. High levels of anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol were detected in the small intestine, although no differences were observed between control and croton oil-treated mice; by contrast anandamide amidohydrolase activity increased 2 fold in the inflamed small intestine. 5. It is concluded that inflammation of the gut increases the potency of cannabinoid agonists possibly by 'up-regulating' CB(1) receptor expression; in addition, endocannabinoids, whose turnover is increased in inflamed gut, might tonically inhibit intestinal motility.

Analgesics↗