Ocular Cannabinoid Receptor (CB2) and Iris Inflammation

“Uveitis can lead to blindness. The inflammation associated with this not-uncommon condition may well be determined through CB2R agonism.”

- Dr. David Hepburn

Abstract:

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea which consists of the iris, ciliary body and the choroid of the eye. Uveitis can lead to impaired vision and is responsible for 10% of all cases of blindness globally.

Usinganendotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) rodent model, a previous data implicated the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) in the amelioration of many of the components of the inflammatory response.

Thisinvestigationteststhehypothesisthat the reduction in inflammatory mediators in the EIU model by the CB2 agonist, HU308, is associated with changes in ECS endogenous ligands as well as related lipids, prostaglandins (PGs), 2-acylglycerols, and lipoamines. Analysis of leukocytes and neutrophils, CB2 mRNA, and 26 lipids in the eye of WT mice after EIU induction and HU308 treatment were compared to the same analyses in the CB2knock-out (CB2 KO) mouse.

Read full article here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30232034

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Dr. Dave Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

Renal (kidney) Cancer cells Die When Cannabinoid Receptor Activated

“Add kidney cancer (RCC) to the growing list of individual cancers where the ECS is actively expressed in an attempt to decrease cancer growth. In RCC, specifically CB2R and not CB1R activation cause the cancer cell to die.”

-    Dr. David Hepburn

Abstract:

The anti-tumor properties of cannabinoids have been investigated in many in vitro and in vivo studies. Many of these anti-tumor effects are mediated via cannabinoid receptor types 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2), comprising the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

In thisstudy, the ECS isinvestigatedbasedon CB1 and CB2 receptor gene and protein expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines. In view of their further use for potential treatments, then the roles of CB1 and CB2 receptorswereinvestigatedin the anti-proliferative action and signal transduction triggered by synthetic cannabinoid agonists [such as JWH-133 and WIN 55,212–2 (WIN-55)] in RCC cell lines.

Read the full article here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5966919/

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Dr. Dave Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

Early Life Stress and the ECS

“Levels of eCBs (AEA and 2AG) and the entire ECS, in fact, change in the hippocampus (memory) amygdala (fear) and PFC (executive) after early life stress. These continue in some of these regions into adulthood. Collectively, these data demonstrate that early life stress can alter the normative development (ontogeny) of the eCB system, resulting in a sustained deficit in function, particularly within the hippocampus, in adulthood.”

- Dr. David Hepburn 

Abstract:

Early-life stress modulates the development of cortico-limbic circuits and increases vulnerability to adult psychopathology. Given the important stress-buffering role of endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling, this is a comprehensive investigation of the developmental trajectory of the eCB system and the impact of exposure to early life stress induced by repeated maternal separation (MS; 3 h/day) from postnatal day 2 (PND2) to PND12.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30496752

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Dr. David Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

THC: Brain Benefits or Bust Depends on Age

“Findings presented at Neuroscience 2018 show that cannabis can either harness or hijack our endocannabinoid system. Takentoosoonit can hijack and interfere with the brain intended ECS development. But taken as we get older, cannabis can enhance our ECS and restore, repair, replace and regenerate some of the loss of brain function (including memory) that can accompany aging.”

- Dr. David Hepburn

Summary:

Research released underscores both the dangers and the therapeutic promise of marijuana, revealing different effects across the lifespan.

Marijuana exposure in the womb or during adolescence may disrupt learning and memory, damage communication between brain regions, and disturb levels of key neurotransmitters and metabolites in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, however, compounds found in marijuana, such as the psychoactive compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may improve memory and mitigate some of the disease's symptoms.

Read the full article here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181106150418.htm

Dr. David Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

Endocannabinoids Worsen Heart Function After Heart Attack

“The ECS reacts to try to balance our inner milieu when that milieu is disturbed. Sometimes, as our body tries to help itself, it can end up doing some damage. Endocannabinoids do not cause heart attacks, of course, but they are releases in response to this major stressor.”

-   Dr. David Hepburn.

Intravenous administration of endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol into wildtype C57BL6 mice induced a rapid increase of blood neutrophil and monocyte counts as measured by flow cytometry.

This effect was blunted when using cannabinoid receptor 2 knockout mice. In response to myocardial infarction induced in wildtype mice, the lipidomic analysis revealed significantly elevated plasma and cardiac levels of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol 24 h after infarction, but no changes in anandamide, palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide.

Read full article here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30295758

Dr. Dave Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com

Aging, Exercise and Cannabis

“The science of exercise has matured to a level of importance in the life cycle to reduce pain with aging and include new investigations on the ECS to explain its role in the well-being and improved quality of life in later years. A natural high as the number of  birthday candles get high.”

 - Dr. David Hepburn

Abstract:

Investigators have reported increases in circulating levels of eCB after exercise, with some eCB exerting analgesic effects from exercise. The focus of this review is to discuss evidence for the role of eCB and the complexities of the ECS in exercise and pain.

Some aspects presented are the production of ECB and activation of the cannabinoid receptors in the brain following exercise; eCB, pain, and physical activity; oxylipins; and joint pain.

As we age, an exercise in the form of play has evolved with the exploration of our body from walking to running, recreational, and competitive sports, to midlife physical activity focusing on maintaining fitness and healthy body weight.

Read full article here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30290200

Dr. Dave Hepburn website: https://doctordavidhepburn.com