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Indiscernible Cannabinoid System Science ~ Publius’ February 2014 Roundup

2/27/2014

The Cannabis Papers: A citizen’s guide to cannabinoids (2011)
By Publius

This roundup links to seven 2014 PubMed articles on cannabinoids modulating other systems in our bodies, such as: the olfactory, endocrine, vanilloid, serotonin, opioid, dopamine, and nervous systems. There’s also a bit of systemic science ~ getting a good night’s sleep.

I. Olfactory System and CS
“Thus, CB1 receptor-dependent control of cortical feedback projections in olfactory circuits couples internal states to perception and behavior.”

The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via olfactory processes.
Soria-Gómez E, Bellocchio L, Reguero L, Lepousez G, Martin C, Bendahmane M, Ruehle S, Remmers F, Desprez T, Matias I,
Wiesner T, Cannich A, Nissant A, Wadleigh A, Pape HC, Chiarlone AP, Quarta C, Verrier D, Vincent P, Massa F, Lutz B,
Guzmán M, Gurden H, Ferreira G, Lledo PM, Grandes P, Marsicano G.
Nat Neurosci. 2014 Mar;17(3):407-15. doi: 10.1038/nn.3647. Epub 2014 Feb 9.
PMID: 24509429 [PubMed - in process]

II. Endocrine System (Hypothalamus-pituitary axis) and CS
“Whereas the effect on 3β-HSD was counteracted by SR141716A (Rimonabant) - a selective antagonist of CB1, thus indicating a CB1 dependent modulation - the effect on cyp17 was not, suggesting a possible involvement of receptors other than CB1, probably the type-1 vanilloid receptor (TRPV1), since AEA works as an endocannabinoid and an endovanilloid as well.”

Hypothalamus-pituitary axis: an obligatory target for endocannabinoids to inhibit steroidogenesis in frog testis.
Chianese R, Ciaramella V, Fasano S, Pierantoni R, Meccariello R.
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2014 Feb 21. pii: S0016-6480(14)00053-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.02.010. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24566122 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

III. Vanilloid System (Schizophrenia) and CS
“Our results indicate that the schizophrenia-like behaviors displayed by SHR [Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats] are differently altered by cannabinoid and vanilloid drugs when compared to control animals and suggest the endocannabinoid and the vanilloid systems as a potential target for the treatment of schizophrenia.”

Effects of cannabinoid and vanilloid drugs on positive and negative-like symptoms on an animal model of schizophrenia: The SHR strain.
Almeida V, Peres FF, Levin R, Suiama MA, Calzavara MB, Zuardi AW, Hallak JE, Crippa JA, Abílio VC.
Schizophr Res. 2014 Feb 17. pii: S0920-9964(14)00062-0. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.01.039. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24556469 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

IV. Serotonin, Opioid, and Dopamine Systems and CS
“In this review we highlight the evidence for the physiological role of such constitutive GPCR [G protein-coupled receptor] activity (in particular for cannabinoid 1, serotonin 2C and mu-opioid receptors) in the ventral tegmental area and in its output regions like the nucleus accumbens. We also address the behavioral relevance of constitutive GPCR signaling and discuss the repercussions of its abolition in dopamine-related psychiatric diseases.”

The vital role of constitutive GPCR activity in the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Meye FJ, Ramakers GM, Adan RA.
Transl Psychiatry. 2014 Feb 11;4:e361. doi: 10.1038/tp.2013.130.
PMID: 24518399 [PubMed - in process]

V. Sleep, Systems and CS
“Overall, these findings demonstrate that the EC [Endo-Cannabinoid] system actively regulates cortical up-states and important features of NREM sleep such as its duration and low frequency cortical oscillations.”

Endocannabinoid Modulation of Cortical Up-States and NREM Sleep.
Pava MJ, den Hartog CR, Blanco-Centurion C, Shiromani PJ, Woodward JJ.
PLoS One. 2014 Feb 10;9(2):e88672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088672. eCollection 2014.
PMID: 24520411 [PubMed - in process] Free PMC Article

VI. Central Nervous System and CS
“In the present study, we discovered that 2-AG significantly protects CN neurons in culture against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response.”

Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Protects Primary Cultured Neurons Against LPS-Induced Impairments in Rat Caudate Nucleus.
Lu Y, Peng F, Dong M, Yang H.
J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24510751 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

VII. Nervous System (Alzheimer’s/Dementia) and CS
“The altered CB1 levels appear, rather, to be age-and/or pathology-dependent, indicating an involvement of the endocannabinoid system in AD pathology and supporting the ECS as a potential novel therapeutic target for treatment of AD.”

Altered Expression of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.
Bedse G, Romano A, Cianci S, Lavecchia AM, Lorenzo P, Elphick MR, Laferla FM, Vendemiale G, Grillo C, Altieri F, Cassano
T, Gaetani S.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2014 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24496074 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

~.~
February's Video
What if Cannabinoids in Cannabis Cured Cancer & Other Diseases?

Posted by bwb.

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Cannabinoid System Stops Cancer ~ Publius’ February 2014 Prevention Awareness

2/26/2014

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The Cannabis Papers: A citizen’s guide to cannabinoids (2011)
By Publius

Cancer prevention awareness and the cannabinoid system are the focus of February’s health update from Publius and The Cannabis Papers: A citizen’s guide to cannabinoids (2011). This month: PubMed science on inflammation, a unique receptor, GPR55, and the ability of one’s cannabinoid system to induce apoptosis, programmed cancer cell death.

2014 ~ Inflammation (HIV-1) and CS/GPR55
“Receptors for THC, CB1, CB2, and GPR55, are differentially expressed on multiple cell types including monocytes and macrophages, which are important modulators of inflammation in vivo and target cells for HIV-1 infection.”

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment During Human Monocyte Differentiation Reduces Macrophage Susceptibility to HIV-1 Infection.
Williams JC, Appelberg S, Goldberger BA, Klein TW, Sleasman JW, Goodenow MM.
J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2014 Feb 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 24562630 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

2013 ~ Alcohol, Dentric Cells and CS/GPR55
"Our results provide insights into alcohol mechanisms of DC [dentric cell] regulation and show, for the first time, that alcohol is inducing CNR2 [CB2] and GPR55 in human DCs."

Differential expression and functional role of cannabinoid genes in alcohol users.
Agudelo M, Yndart A, Morrison M, Figueroa G, Muñoz K, Samikkannu T, Nair MP.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Dec 1;133(2):789-93. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.08.023. Epub 2013 Sep 5.
PMID: 24060590 [PubMed - in process]

2013 ~ Inflammation (Cancer) and CS/GPR55
“GPR55 has been shown to have a role in cancer and gastrointestinal inflammation, as well as in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).”

A potential role for GPR55 in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
Simcocks AC, O'Keefe L, Jenkin KA, Mathai ML, Hryciw DH, McAinch AJ.
Drug Discov Today. 2013 Dec 24. pii: S1359-6446(13)00423-6. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.12.005. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
PMID: 24370891 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

2013 ~ CS Synergistic Against Cancer
“The observed synergistic effect with cannabinoid agonists implicates an involvement of the cannabinoid system.”

Cytotoxic effect of efavirenz is selective against cancer cells and associated with the cannabinoid system.
Hecht M, Harrer T, Büttner M, Schwegler M, Erber S, Fietkau R, Distel LV.
AIDS. 2013 Aug 24;27(13):2031-40. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283625444.
PMID: 23612009 [PubMed - in process]

2011 ~ GPR55 Driving Cancer Cell Migration
“It has now been revealed that LPI [L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol] activates GPR55, a G protein-coupled receptor that couples to G(12/13) and G(q) proteins, which direct oncogenic signalling. New evidence indicates that LPI and GPR55 are key partners in driving cancer cell proliferation and migration.”

L-α-lysophosphatidylinositol meets GPR55: a deadly relationship.
Ross RA.
Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2011 May;32(5):265-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2011.01.005. Epub 2011 Mar 1.
PMID: 21367464 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2010 ~ Breast Cancer and CS/GPR55
“LPI and GPR55 play a role in the modulation of migration, orientation and polarization of breast cancer cells in response to the tumour microenvironment.”

A role for L-alpha-lysophosphatidylinositol and GPR55 in the modulation of migration, orientation and polarization of human breast cancer cells.
Ford LA, Roelofs AJ, Anavi-Goffer S, Mowat L, Simpson DG, Irving AJ, Rogers MJ, Rajnicek AM, Ross RA.
Br J Pharmacol. 2010 Jun;160(3):762-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00743.x.
PMID: 20590578 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article

2006 ~ Evolution and CS/GPR55
“Within this limited number of twelve organisms, the endocannabinoid genes exhibited heterogeneous evolutionary trajectories, with functional orthologs limited to mammals (TRPV1 and GPR55), or vertebrates (CB2 and DAGLbeta), or chordates (MAGL and COX2), or animals (DAGLalpha and CB1-like receptors), or opisthokonta (animals and fungi, NAPE-PLD), or eukaryotes (FAAH).”

Evolutionary origins of the endocannabinoid system.
McPartland JM, Matias I, Di Marzo V, Glass M.
Gene. 2006 Mar 29;370:64-74. Epub 2006 Jan 23.
PMID: 16434153 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

~ posted by bwb

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Birthday Present for George Washington: Bring Hemp Back to Mt. Vernon

2/21/2014

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By Stephen Young

Distillers continue their work at Mt. Vernon, the home of George Washington, trying to make whiskey like the first US President used to make it.

As initially reported by Reason a couple years ago (and recently updated as, Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday, Drink Some Whiskey), a group using historical recipes and methods have been patiently testing ways to accurately recreate the drink that helped fuel a revolution.

I appreciate efforts to preserve history in a way that is interesting, so cheers to anyone who attempts to make history literally intoxicating.

But I propose a more family-oriented way to relive the past that gives a different sense of Washington’s entrepreneurial spirit: bring back hemp to Mt. Vernon.

As noted in The Cannabis Papers, a book I helped to write, Washington succeeded at his hemp business, and he expressed interest in it that seemed to go beyond mere profit. In his journals Washington described visiting the hemp plots regularly and seemed disappointed when he missed certain aspects of the crop’s growth.

That interest is easy to understand today: hemp was crucial to the colonies just as it was very important to a young nation. And hemp could be crucial now to the current American economy, if only it were allowed to be grown by American farmers. What better place to start a new tradition than at Mt. Vernon? Sure, the crop could be restarted at other estates of founding fathers, say Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello for example, but the first should be the first.

In the wake of discoveries about cannabinoids, hemp has even more potential uses than in the late 18th Century. Even uncultivated wild hemp, once derisively referred to as ditch weed, is now seen as life-saving medicine packed with therapeutic CBD that can stop maladies from epilepsy to cancer.

Washington played many roles with great success, such great success that he must be considered visionary. His revolutionary tactics baffled his enemies in battle. His understanding of representation aimed to ensure a continuing Republic. He put his efforts into businesses he knew would succeed. It’s clear Washington recognized the practical applications of hemp in his time, but I wouldn't be surprised if also he had some sense how important hemp would be in the future.

More Hemp from Mr. Young:

Part I ~ Government Grown: How Polo Illinois Helped Win the War

Part II ~ Government Grown: How Polo Illinois Helped Win the War

posted by bwb

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George Washington, John F. Kennedy and Hannah Arendt’s Constitutio Libertatis

2/16/2014

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Hannah Arendt is (surprise) a constitutionalist. She wouldn’t mind the tag too much – others are Marxist and feminist – German and American: she was lots of things.

Arendt (1906-1975) was trained in Europe before World War II, working with the likes of Karl Jaspers, Martin Heidegger and Walter Benjamin. She fled Germany to France in 1933: the Germans wouldn’t let her teach in their universities because she was a Jew. When the Nazis took over France in 1939, she was interned in a camp and labeled an enemy alien; soon after she escaped, making her way to the United States and New York City in 1941. Arendt became an American citizen in 1950.

The tag of constitutionalist is from Arendt’s chapter four in On Revolution (1963), “Foundation I, Constitutio Libertatis” – meaning orders (regulations) and legal status.

The Latin phrase jumped out at me; at first I thought she might be saying something negative … then I read a bit of the chapter: one page really, page 142. Arendt notes the stages of rebellion and revolution are different by contrasting the historian to the political scientist; she argues the historian looks at “the violent stage of rebellion” while the political scientist looks to “the quieter stage of revolution and constitution.”

That caught my attention: she’s saying revolution by constitution is quiet. I had to read it again – here it is:

“If, however, one keeps in mind that the end of rebellion is liberation, while the end of revolution is the foundation of freedom, the political scientist will at least know how to avoid the pitfall of the historian who tends to place his emphasis upon the first and violent stage of the rebellion and liberation, on the uprising against tyranny, to the detriment of the quieter second stage of revolution and constitution, because all the dramatic aspects of his story seem to be contained in the first stage and, perhaps, also because the turmoil of liberation has so frequently defeated the revolution.”

Arendt argues the French Revolution (1789-99) failed because it lost its way; the American Revolution (1776-83), with its “fever of constitution-making,” highlights her idea of success:

“This temptation, which befalls the historian because he is a storyteller, is closely connected to the much more harmful theory that the constitutions and fever of constitution-making, far from expressing truly the revolutionary spirit of the country, were in fact due to forces of reaction and either defeated the revolution or prevented its full development, so that – logically enough – the Constitution of the United States, the true culmination of this revolutionary process, is understood as the actual result of counter-revolution.”

Arendt refers to the US Constitution as, “the true culmination of this revolutionary process.” She is not running for office – she’s theorizing:

“The basic misunderstanding lies in the failure to distinguish between liberation and freedom; there is nothing more futile than rebellion and liberation unless they are followed by the constitution of the newly won freedom.”

Constitution again … then Arendt finishes the paragraph by quoting a founder:

“For ‘neither morals, nor riches, nor discipline of armies, nor all these together will do without a constitution’ (John Adams).”

Arendt’s On Revolution was published in 1963, the year of President Kennedy’s assassination (a moment of violence); she wrote of his death for the New York Review of Books that December: The Fate of the Union: Kennedy and After.

Arendt was born into a monarchy, fled fascism, wrote of quiet revolution by constitution, and then lived through America’s turbulent 1960s. It’s no wonder Arendt was fond of America’s revolutionaries, men like George Washington and John Adams. She knew their faults. She also knew they understood Constitutio Libertatis and lived it – just like Hannah Arendt did.

Happy Presidents Day America ~ And Happy Birthday George!

Bryan W. Brickner

Hannah Arendt Movie Trailer (2013)

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Indiscernible Cannabinoid System Science ~ Publius’ February 2014 Roundup

Cannabinoid System Stops Cancer ~ Publius’ February 2014 Prevention Awareness

Birthday Present for George Washington: Bring Hemp Back to Mt. Vernon

George Washington, John F. Kennedy and Hannah Arendt’s Constitutio Libertatis

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