Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways Research Articles

Astroglial Cells: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) represents a significant health concern, necessitating advanced therapeutic interventions. This detailed review explores the critical roles of astrocytes, key cellular constituents of the central nervous system (CNS), in both the pathophysiology and possible rehabilitation of TBI. Following injury, astrocytes exhibit reactive transformations, differentiating into pro-inflammatory (A1) and neuroprotective (A2) phenotypes. This paper elucidates the interactions of astrocytes with neurons, their role in neuroinflammation, and the potential for their therapeutic exploitation. Emphasized strategies encompass the utilization of endocannabinoid and calcium signaling pathways, hormone-based treatments like 17β-estradiol, biological therapies employing anti-HBGB1 monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy targeting Connexin 43, and the innovative technique of astrocyte transplantation as a means to repair damaged neural tissues.

Study on transcriptome characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in children by RNA sequencing

To explore the biological characteristics related to the pathogenesis and severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis by RNA sequencing of white blood cells in children with RSV bronchiolitis. This study is a case-control study. A total of 87 children diagnosed with bronchiolitis and RSV antigen positive and/or RSV nucleic acid positive in the pediatric respiratory department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from October 2019 to April 2022 were selected as the case group. The case group was divided into three groups based on the condition: mild, moderate, and severe, and there were two groups according to the presence or absence of atopic symptoms: the atopic group and the non-atopic group, forty healthy children in the same period were selected as the control group. The whole blood leukocyte RNA of the children in the case group and the control group was extracted for RNA sequencing, and the data were analyzed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, the immunobiological pathways and genes related to the pathogenesis, disease condition, and atopy were screened through Gene Ontology (GO) annotation, Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) annotation, and protein interaction network (PPI) construction methods. Construct the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) module to identify potential biological indicators related to disease severity.Compared with the control group, the case group had a total of 1 782 DEGs, including 1 586 upregulated genes and 196 downregulated genes. The GO pathway enrichment of DEGs is mainly enriched in molecular functions such as peroxidase activity and oxidoreductase activity. In the cytological components, it is mainly enriched in cytoplasmic vesicle lumen and secretory granule lumen. In biological processes, it is mainly enriched in processes such as neutrophil activation involved in immune responses, neutrophil degranulation, and neutrophil activation. KEGG analysis is mainly concentrated in the signal pathway of the viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor. A PPI network was constructed to screen four genes at the core position, including CCL2, IL-10, MMP9 and JUN. The DEGs obtained by comparing different disease groups with the control group are mainly enriched in retrograde endocannabinoid signaling and cell apoptosis pathways. WGCNA analysis showed that the brown module related to oxygen saturation was most closely related to the disease, and its gene was mainly enriched in the RNA helicase retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I) like receptor signal pathway. There are 230 specific DEGs in the atopic group and 444 in the non-atopic group. KEGG enrichment analysis results show that both groups are enriched to NF-κB signaling pathway, the characteristic does not cause significant changes in immune response and transcriptome characteristics in children with RSV bronchiolitis. In conclusion, neutrophil activation, degranulation pathway and signal pathway of interaction between viral protein and cytokine and cytokine receptor are involved in the immune response of RSV bronchiolitis host. CCL2, IL-10, MMP9 and JUN genes may be associated with the pathogenesis. They might be potential biomarkers related to disease severity in RIG-I like receptors, cell apoptosis, and endogenous cannabinoid related signaling pathways.

Electroacupuncture attenuates inflammatory pain via peripheral cannabinoid receptor type 1 signaling pathway in mice

Pain is strongly associated with neuro-immune activation. Thus, the emerging role of the endocannabinoid system in neuro-inflammation is important. Acupuncture has been used for over 2500 years and is widely accepted for the management of pain. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on the regulation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 within the peripheral nervous system. Inflammatory pain was induced by injecting Complete Freund’s adjuvant to induce mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Electroacupuncture significantly attenuated the mechanical and thermal sensitivities, and AM251, a cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonist, eliminated these effects. Dual immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that electroacupuncture elevated expression of cannabinoid receptor type 1, co-localized with Nav 1.8. Furthermore, electroacupuncture significantly reduced levels of Nav 1.8 and COX-2 by western blot analysis, but not vice versa as AM251 treatment. Our data indicate that electroacupuncture mediates antinociceptive effects through peripheral endocannabinoid system signaling pathway and provide evidence that electroacupuncture is beneficial for pain treatment.

Dysregulation of immune and metabolism pathways in maternal immune activation induces an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders

AimsMaternal immune activation (MIA) via infection during pregnancy is known to be an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring, but it still remains elusive that the molecular relevance between infection-induced abnormal neurodevelopmental events and an increased risk for ASD development. Main methodsFully considering the extremely high genetic heterogeneity of ASD and the universality of risk-gene with minimal effect-sizes, the gene and pathway-based association analysis was performed with the transcriptomic and DNA methylation landscapes of temporal human embryonic brain development and ASD, and the time-course transcriptional profiling of MIA. We conducted the transcriptional profiling of mouse abnormal neurodevelopment two days following induced MIA via LPS injection at E10.5. Key findingsA novel evidence was proved that illustrated altering four immune and metabolism-related risk pathways, including starch and sucrose metabolism, ribosome, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway, which were prominent involvement in the process of MIA regulating abnormal fetal brain development to induce an increased risk of ASD. Here, we have observed that almost all key genes within these risk pathways are significantly differentially expressed at embryonic days (E) 10.5–12.5, which is considered to be the optimal coincidence window of mouse embryonic brain development to study the intimate association between MIA and ASD using mouse animal models. SignificanceThere search establishes that MIA causes dysregulation of immune and metabolic pathways, which leads to abnormal embryonic neurodevelopment, thus promoting development of ASD symptoms in offspring.

Genetic variations in the retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway in Chinese patients with major depressive disorder.

The retrograde endocannabinoid (eCB) pathway is closely associated with the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) at both pathophysiological and genetic levels. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of genetic mutations in the eCB pathway and underlying mechanisms in Han Chinese patients with MDD. A total of 96 drug-naïve patients with first-episode MDD and 62 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify the gene mutation profiles in patients with MDD. Results were filtered to focus on low-frequency variants and rare mutations (minor allele frequencies <0.05) related to depressive phenotypes. Enrichment analyses were performed for 146 selected genes to examine the pathways in which the most significant enrichment occurred. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed to explore the biological functions of the eCB pathway. Finally, based on current literature, a preliminary analysis was conducted to explore the effect of genetic mutations on the function of this pathway. Our analysis identified 146 (15.02%) depression-related genetic mutations in patients with MDD when compared with HCs, and 37 of the mutations were enriched in the retrograde eCB signaling pathway. Seven hub genes in the eCB pathway were closely related to mitochondrial function, including Complex I genes (NDUFS4, NDUFV2, NDUFA2, NDUFA12, NDUFB11) and genes associated with protein (PARK7) and enzyme (DLD) function in the regulation of mitochondrial oxidative stress. These results indicate that genetic mutations in the retrograde eCB pathway represent potential etiological factors associated with the pathogenesis of MDD.

Mechanisms of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in the treatment of coronary heart disease based on integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology approach

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has become the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability worldwide. Though the therapeutic effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZY) on CHD has been demonstrated in China, the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms of XFZY have not been elucidated. The purpose of the current study is to explore the molecular mechanisms of XFZY in the treatment of CHD via network pharmacology, metabolomics, and experimental validation. First, we established a CHD rat model by permanently ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and evaluated the therapeutic effect of XFZY by hemorheology and histopathology. Second, network pharmacology was employed to screen the active ingredients and potential targets of XFZY for the treatment of CHD. Metabolomic was applied to identify the molecules present in the serum after XFZY treatment. Third, the results of network pharmacology and metabolomics were further analyzed by Cytoscape to elucidate the core ingredients and pathways. Finally, the obtained key pathways were verified by transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that XFZY was effective in the treatment of CHD in the rat model, and the highest dose exerted the best effect. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 215 active ingredients and 129 key targets associated with XFZY treatment of CHD. These targets were enriched in pathways of cancer, lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, proteoglycans in cancer, chemical carcinogenesis - receptor activation, HIF-1 signaling, et al. Serum metabolomic identified 1081 metabolites involved in the therapeutic effect of XFZY on CHD. These metabolites were enriched in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, histidine metabolism, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathways, et al. Cytoscape analysis combining the data from serum metabolomic and network pharmacology revealed that energy metabolism as the core pathway for XFZY treatment of CHD. Electron microscope observation identified changes in the level of autophagy in the mitochondrial structure of cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescence assay showed that the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3-B and P62/SQSTM1 were consistent with the levels of autophagy observed in mitochondria. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the possible mechanisms of XFZY in the treatment of CHD are reducing the level of autophagy, improving energy metabolism, and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis in cardiomyocytes. Our study also shows that the combined strategies of network pharmacology, metabolomics, and experimental validation may provide a powerful approach for TCM pharmacology study.

Fingolimod effects on the brain are mediated through biochemical modulation of bioenergetics, autophagy, and neuroinflammatory networks.

Fingolimod (FTY720) is an oral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for management of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, which has also shown beneficial effects against Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases pathologies. Although an extensive effort has been made to identify mechanisms underpinning its therapeutic effects, much remains unknown. Here, we investigated Fingolimod induced proteome changes in the cerebellum (CB) and frontal cortex (FC) regions of the brain which are known to be severely affected in MS, using a tandem mass tag (TMT) isobaric labeling-based quantitative mass-spectrometric approach to investigate the mechanism of action of Fingolimod. This study identified 6749 and 6319 proteins in CB and FC, respectively, and returned 2609 and 3086 differentially expressed proteins in mouse CB and FC, respectively, between Fingolimod treated and control groups. Subsequent bioinformatics analyses indicated a metabolic reprogramming in both brain regions of the Fingolimod treated group, where oxidative phosphorylation was upregulated while glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway were downregulated. In addition, modulation of neuroinflammation in the Fingolimod treated group was indicated by upregulation of retrograde endocannabinoid signaling and autophagy pathways, and downregulation of neuroinflammation related pathways including neutrophil degranulation and the IL-12 mediated signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that Fingolimod may exert its protective effects on the brain by inducing metabolic reprogramming and neuroinflammation pathway modulation.

AHA's new statement focuses on cannabis and brain health

AHA's new statement focuses on cannabis and brain health

Effects of the Lipid Metabolites and the Gut Microbiota in ApoE−/− Mice on Atherosclerosis Co-Depression From the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

Background: The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of atherosclerosis co-depression are poor, so it is urgent to explore new targets. Based on the “microbiota-gut-brain axis,” this study aimed to investigate the changes of lipid metabolites in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions and the characteristics of the gut microbiota in ApoE−/− mice with atherosclerosis co-depression. Methods: ApoE−/− mice (hyperlipid feeding combined with binding, HFB group, n = 14, male) fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks with binding stimulation were used as an animal model for atherosclerosis co-depression. The depression degree of mice was evaluated by body weight, sucrose preference test, open field test, and tail suspension test. Oil-red O staining, HE staining, and biochemical parameters were used to evaluate the damage degree of atherosclerosis in mice. LC-MS/MS technique for non-targeted lipidomics analysis was used to analyze the differential lipid metabolites in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions of mice. 16S rDNA amplification sequencing was used to screen the differential gut microbial, and association analysis was performed with the differential lipid metabolites. Results: Compared with the normal control group (NC group), the HFB group showed depression-like behaviors and atherosclerosis-related pathological indicators. The differential lipid metabolites in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus regions were mainly LPC, LPE, LPS, PC, PE, PS, PI, and GD1a, and were mainly enriched in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and the retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway. At the same time, there were significant differences in the structure of the gut microbial community between the two groups. The abundance of Deferribacteres and Proteobacteria in the HFB group increased, while the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria decreased at the phylum level; the abundance of Desulfovibrio, Clostridium_IV, Helicobacter and Pseudoflavonifractor increased, while the abundance of Akkermansia decreased at the genus level. Conclusion: Atherosclerosis co-depression of ApoE−/− mice of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus lipid metabolism pathways of disorder and the changes of to the gut microbiota, which leads to abnormal white matter and synaptic dysfunction, increased gut inflammation, and decreased gut permeability, leading to the release of inflammatory cytokines, there is a strong correlation between both, it further confirmed the existence of the “microbiota-gut-brain axis.”

Molecular Signatures of Mitochondrial Complexes Involved in Alzheimer's Disease via Oxidative Phosphorylation and Retrograde Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways.

Objective The inability to intervene in Alzheimer's disease (AD) forces the search for promising gene-targeted therapies. This study was aimed at exploring molecular signatures and mechanistic pathways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of AD. Methods Microarray datasets were collected to filter differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AD and nondementia controls. Weight gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to analyze the correlation of coexpression modules with AD phenotype. A global regulatory network was established and then visualized using Cytoscape software to determine hub genes and their mechanistic pathways. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to estimate the diagnostic performance of hub genes in AD prediction. Results A total of 2,163 DEGs from 13,049 background genes were screened in AD relative to nondementia controls. Among the six coexpression modules constructed by WGCNA, DEGs of the key modules with the strongest correlation with AD were extracted to build a global regulatory network. According to the Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) method, five hub genes associated with mitochondrial complexes were chosen. Further pathway enrichment analysis of hub genes, such as oxidative phosphorylation and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, was identified. According to the area under the curve (AUC) of about 70%, each hub gene exhibited a good diagnostic performance in predicting AD. Conclusions Our findings highlight the perturbation of mitochondrial complexes underlying AD onset, which is mediated by molecular signatures involved in oxidative phosphorylation (COX5A, NDUFAB1, SDHB, UQCRC2, and UQCRFS1) and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling (NDUFAB1) pathways.

Effects of matrigel on growth and development of cerebral organoids

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is very important in cerebral organoids culture because it affects organoids growth and development. The most common ECM is Matrigel. To study the effect of Matrigel on cerebral organoids, diameter analysis, live/dead staining and RNA sequencing were performed on cerebral organoids using two common Matrigel, Matrigel 354277 and Matrigel 356230 (low growth factors). The morphology and diameter of the organoids were analyzed, which revealed that the average size and the relative area of the neuroepithelium of 356230-group were slightly larger than that of 354277-group. Besides, it showed that there was essentially no difference in the activity of organoids between the two groups by live-dead staining at day 15. Finally, RNA sequencing was used to analyze gene expression at day 10, day 20 and day 30. There were 738, 2190 and 689 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) respectively. 14, 14 and 19 KEGG biological pathways involved in the DEGs were selected to study. At day 10, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells was important and the downregulation of it in 354277-group affected ectodermal development. At day 20, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway were the key pathways and the upregulation of key genes indicated that 354277-group might have more apoptosis than 356230-group. Besides, at day 30, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway and GABAergic synapse were critical and downregulation of related genes affected synaptic signaling. Above all, types of Matrigel affected ectoderm differentiation, cell apoptosis and neurological function and Matrigel 356230 is a better choice than Matrigel 354277 for generating cerebral organoids.

Key Genes and Biochemical Networks in Various Brain Regions Affected in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most complicated progressive neurodegenerative brain disorders, affecting millions of people around the world. Ageing remains one of the strongest risk factors associated with the disease and the increasing trend of the ageing population globally has significantly increased the pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. The pathogenesis of AD is being extensively investigated, yet several unknown key components remain. Therefore, we aimed to extract new knowledge from existing data. Ten gene expression datasets from different brain regions including the hippocampus, cerebellum, entorhinal, frontal and temporal cortices of 820 AD cases and 626 healthy controls were analyzed using the robust rank aggregation (RRA) method. Our results returned 1713 robust differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between five brain regions of AD cases and healthy controls. Subsequent analysis revealed pathways that were altered in each brain region, of which the GABAergic synapse pathway and the retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway were shared between all AD affected brain regions except the cerebellum, which is relatively less sensitive to the effects of AD. Furthermore, we obtained common robust DEGs between these two pathways and predicted three miRNAs as potential candidates targeting these genes; hsa-mir-17-5p, hsa-mir-106a-5p and hsa-mir-373-3p. Three transcription factors (TFs) were also identified as the potential upstream regulators of the robust DEGs; ELK-1, GATA1 and GATA2. Our results provide the foundation for further research investigating the role of these pathways in AD pathogenesis, and potential application of these miRNAs and TFs as therapeutic and diagnostic targets.

Implications of dysregulated endogenous cannabinoid family members in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

To determine the involvement of the endocannabinoid (EC) family member in the pathophysiology of endometriosis (EMS). Mass spectrometry analysis of plasma and tissue samples from patients with EMS, controls, and a mouse model of EMS and messenger RNA and immunohistochemistry analysis of the samples from patients with EMS and controls. Academic teaching hospital and university. Patients with EMS and healthy fertile control subjects. None. Endocannabinoid analysis in patient plasma, EMS lesions, and healthy endometrial samples. Circulating ECs were detected in the plasma samples, whereas no significant changes were observed in patients with EMS compared with healthy fertile controls. However, the palmitoylethanolamide levels were significantly higher in the EMS lesions than in the endometrium from patients with EMS. Similarly, genes involved in the EC signaling pathways were differentially expressed in the EMS lesions. Analysis of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in the EMS lesions revealed a significantly lower cannabinoid 2 receptor expression, whereas no significant changes were observed in cannabinoid 1 receptor expression compared with those in the endometrium from both patients with EMS and healthy fertile controls. The palmitoylethanolamide levels were significantly elevated in plasma from EMS mice compared with that from sham controls and in EMS lesions compared with uterine samples. Together, we provide evidence toward dysregulation of members of the ECs in both patients with EMS and the mouse model of EMS. These findings will advance the knowledge of the role of ECs in EMS and their potential implications as therapeutic targets.

Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the hub genes related to hypoxic adaptation in yak (Bos grunniens).

As a mammal living at the highest altitude in the world, the yak has strong adaptability to the harsh natural environment (such as low temperature, scarce food, especially low oxygen) of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) after a long process of natural selection. Here, we used Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA), a systematic biology method, to identify hypoxic adaptation-related modules and hub genes. The research of the adaptability of yak against hypoxia is of great significance to identify the genetic characteristics and yak breeding. Based on the transcriptome sequencing data (PRJNA362606), the R package DESeq2 and WGCNA were conducted to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and construct the gene co-expression network. The module hub genes were identified and characterized by the correlation of gene and trait, module membership (kME). In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were used to explore the functions of hub genes. Our results revealed that 1098, 1429, and 1645 DEGs were identified in muscle, spleen, and lung, respectively. Besides, a total of 13 gene co-expression modules were detected, of which two hypoxic adaptation-related modules (saddlebrown and turquoise) were found. We identified 39 and 150 hub genes in these two modules. Functional enrichment analyses showed that 12 GO terms and 18 KEGG pathways were enriched in the saddlebrown module while 85 GO terms and 22 KEGG pathways were enriched in the turquoise module. The significant pathways related to hypoxia adaptation include FoxO signaling pathway, Thermogenesis pathway, and Retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway, etc. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained two hypoxia-related specific modules and identified hub genes based on the connectivity by constructing a weighted gene co-expression network. Function enrichment analysis of two modules revealed mitochondrion is the most important organelle for hypoxia adaptation. Moreover, the insulin-related pathways and thermogenic-related pathways played a major role. The results of this study provide theoretical guidance for further understanding the molecular mechanism of yak adaptation to hypoxia.

Endocannabinoid signaling pathways: beyond CB1R and CB2R.

The search for cannabinoid receptors other than CB1R and CB2R has been ongoing for over a decade. A number of orphan receptors have been proposed as potential cannabinoid receptors primarily based on phylogenic arguments and reactivity towards known endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids. Seven putative cannabinoid receptors are described and discussed, and evidence for and against their inclusion in this category are presented.

Transcriptome Analysis of Choroid and Retina From Tree Shrew With Choroidal Neovascularization Reveals Key Signaling Moieties.

Pathological neovascularization in choroid, a leading cause of blindness, is a characteristic of many fundus diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The present study aimed to elucidate the key signaling pathways in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by analyzing the mRNA profiles of choroid and retina in tree shrews with CNV. We induced choroidal angiogenesis by laser photocoagulation in 15 tree shrews and obtained mRNA profiles of their choroids and retinas by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Hierarchical cluster analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, CD31 immunohistochemistry (IHC), and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were performed. After laser photocoagulation, we obtained a total of 350 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the choroid, including 59 genes in Module-FASN (“ME-FASN”) module and 28 genes in Module-RPL (“ME-RPL”) module. A total of 69 DEGs in retina, including 20 genes in Module-SLC (“ME-SLC”) module. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that DEGs in choroid were mainly involved in membrane transport; DEGs in “ME-RPL” were prominent in pathways associated with IgA production, antigen presentation, and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) signaling. DEGs in “ME-FASN” were involved in fatty acid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathway, while DEGs in “ME-SLC” were involved in GABAergic synapse, neuroactive life receptor interaction, cholinergic synapse, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway. PPI network analysis demonstrated that the ribosomal protein family genes (RPL31, RPL7, RPL26L1, and RPL19) are key factors of “ME-RPL,” acyl-CoA superfamily genes (ACACA, ACAT1, ACAA2, and ACACB) and FASN are key factors of “ME-FASN” and superfamily of solid carrier genes (SLC17A6, SLC32A1, SLC12A5, and SLC6A1) and complement genes (C4A, C3, and C2) are key factors of “ME-SLC.” In conclusion, the present study discovered the important signal transductions (fatty acid metabolic pathway and CAMs signaling) and genes (ribosomal protein family and the complement system) in tree shrew CNV. We consider that our findings hold implications in unraveling molecular mechanisms that underlie occurrence and development of CNV.

Exogenous microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide treatment alters social behaviors: Involvement of hippocampal metabolic adaptation

Increasing evidence indicates that gut microbiota and its metabolites can influence the brain function and the related behaviors. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), an indirect metabolite of gut microbiota, has been linked to aging, cognitive impairment, and many brain disorders. However, the potential effects of TMAO on social behaviors remain elusive. The present study investigated the effects of early life systemic TMAO exposure and intra-hippocampal TMAO infusion during adulthood on social behaviors in mice. We also analyzed the effects of intra-hippocampus infusion of TMAO during adulthood on levels of metabolites. The results showed that both systemic TMAO exposure in the post-weaning period and intra-hippocampal TMAO infusion during adulthood decreased social rank and reduced sexual preference in adult mice. Data from LC-MS metabolomics analysis showed that intra-hippocampal TMAO infusion induced a total 207 differential metabolites, which belongs to several metabolic or signaling pathways, especially FoxO signaling pathway and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway. These data suggest that TMAO may affect social behaviors by regulating metabolites in the hippocampus, which may provide a new insight into the role of gut microbiota in regulating social behaviors.

Functional analysis of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in Huntington's disease.

The aim of this study is to determine the molecular functions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in Huntington’s disease (HD). A total of 1,675 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were overlapped from HD versus control and BDNF-low versus high groups. Five co-expression modules were constructed using weight gene correlation network analysis, among which the blue and turquoise modules were most strongly correlated with HD and low BDNF. Functional enrichment analyses revealed DEGs in these modules significantly enriched in GABAergic synapse, phagosome, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), renin-angiotensin system (Ras), Ras-associated protein-1 and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathways. The intersection pathways of BDNF, such as cAMP, MAPK and Ras signaling pathways, were identified in global regulatory network. Further performance evaluation of low BDNF accurately predicted HD occurrence according to the area under the curve of 82.4%. In aggregate, our findings highlighted the involvement of low BDNF expression in HD pathogenesis, potentially mediated by cAMP, MAPK and Ras signaling pathways.

Modulation of mRNA Expression of Monoacylglycerol Lipase, Diacylglycerol Lipase and Cannabinoid Receptor-1 in Mice Experimentally Infected with T. gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, infects more than 30% of world's population. This parasite is considered to be neurotropic, and has high tropism for the central nervous system, and potentially induces cryptogenic epilepsy by no clear mechanism. The current study aimed to investigate the alteration of the main components of the endocannabinoid signaling systems in T. gondii-infected mice. For this purpose, the levels of mRNA expression of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1), were measured by quantitative real time PCR.The mRNA expression level of MAGL was increased by ~ 8-fold in the brains of the Toxoplasma-infected group in comparison with non-infected mice (P<0.0001). The mRNA expression of CB1 gene in the brain of the infected mice was ~ 2 times higher than that measured in control group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression level of DAGL remained unchanged in the infected mice. Overall a substantial increase in MAGL and CB1 expression without any changes in DAGL, in the brain of infected mice suggests that T. gondii disturbs the endocannabinoid signaling pathways, which are known as neurotransmitter modulators involved in epilepsy.

Regulatory status of pesticide residues in cannabis: Implications to medical use in neurological diseases

Medical cannabis represents a potential route of pesticide exposure to susceptible populations. We compared the qualifying conditions for medical use and pesticide testing requirements of cannabis in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Movement disorders were the most common neurological category of qualifying conditions, including epilepsy, certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, and any cause of symptoms leading to seizures or spasticity. Different approaches of pesticide regulation were implemented in cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Six states imposed the strictest U.S. EPA tolerances (i.e. maximum residue levels) for food commodities on up to 400 pesticidal active ingredients in cannabis, while pesticide testing was optional in three states. Dimethomorph showed the largest variation in action levels, ranging from 0.1 to 60 ppm in 5 states. We evaluated the potential connections between insecticides, cannabinoids, and seizure using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. Twenty-two insecticides, two cannabinoids, and 63 genes were associated with 674 computationally generated chemical-gene-phenotype-disease (CGPD) tetramer constructs. Notable functional clusters included oxidation-reduction process (183 CGPD-tetramers), synaptic signaling pathways (151), and neuropeptide hormone activity (46). Cholinergic, dopaminergic, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathways were linked to 10 genetic variants of epilepsy patients. Further research is needed to assess human health risk of cannabinoids and pesticides in support of a national standard for cannabis pesticide regulations.