Allyn C. Howlett

International Union of Pharmacology. XXVII. Classification of Cannabinoid Receptors

Two types of cannabinoid receptor have been discovered so far, CB1 (2.1: CBD:1:CB1:), cloned in 1990, and CB2(2.1:CBD:2:CB2:), cloned in 1993. Distinction between these receptors is based on differences in their predicted amino acid sequence, signaling mechanisms, tissue distribution, and sensitivity to certain potent agonists and antagonists that show marked selectivity for one or the other receptor type. Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 exhibit 48% amino acid sequence identity. Both receptor types are coupled through G proteins to adenylyl cyclase and mitogen-activated protein kinase. CB1 receptors are also coupled through G proteins to several types of calcium and potassium channels. These receptors exist primarily on central and peripheral neurons, one of their functions being to inhibit neurotransmitter release. Indeed, endogenous CB1 agonists probably serve as retrograde synaptic messengers. CB2 receptors are present mainly on immune cells. Such cells also express CB1receptors, albeit to a lesser extent, with both receptor types exerting a broad spectrum of immune effects that includes modulation of cytokine release. Of several endogenous agonists for cannabinoid receptors identified thus far, the most notable are arachidonoylethanolamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether. It is unclear whether these eicosanoid molecules are the only, or primary, endogenous agonists. Hence, we consider it premature to rename cannabinoid receptors after an endogenous agonist as is recommended by the International Union of Pharmacology Committee on Receptor Nomenclature and Drug Classification. Although pharmacological evidence for the existence of additional types of cannabinoid receptor is emerging, other kinds of supporting evidence are still lacking.

The cannabinoid receptor: biochemical, anatomical and behavioral characterization

The actions of the active principle of marihuana, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are mimicked by synthetic cannabinoid agonists showing high potency and enantio-selectivity in behavioral assays. These drugs have been used to characterize cannabinoid receptor binding, biochemistry and pharmacology, leading to a better understanding of the effects of cannabinoids in the CNS of humans and experimental animals.

Cannabinoid receptor binding and messenger RNA expression in human brain : an in vitro receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization histochemistry study of normal aged and Alzheimer's brains

The distribution and density of cannabinoid receptor binding and messenger RNA expression in aged human brain were examined in several forebrain and basal ganglia structures. In vitro binding of [3H]CP-55,940, a synthetic cannabinoid, was examined by autoradiography in fresh frozen brain sections from normal aged humans (n = 3), patients who died with Alzheimers disease (n = 5) and patients who died with other forms of cortical pathology (n = 5). In the structures examined--hippocampal formation, neocortex, basal ganglia and parts of the brainstem--receptor binding showed a characteristic pattern of high densities in the dentate gyrus molecular layer, globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata, moderate densities in the hippocampus, neocortex, amygdala and striatum, and low densities in the white matter and brainstem. In situ hybridization histochemistry of human cannabinoid receptor, a ribonucleotide probe for the human cannabinoid receptor messenger RNA, showed a pattern of extremely dense transcript levels in subpopulations of cells in the hippocampus and cortex, moderate levels in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and neurons of the striatum, amygdala and hypothalamus, and no signal over dentate gyrus granule cells and most of the cells of the thalamus and upper brainstem, including the substantia nigra. In Alzheimers brains, compared to normal brains, [3H]CP-55,940 binding was reduced by 37-45% in all of the subfields of the hippocampal formation and by 49% in the caudate. Lesser reductions (20-24%) occurred in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus, internal segment. Other neocortical and basal ganglia structures were not different from control levels. Levels of messenger RNA expression did not differ between Alzheimers and control brains, but there were regionally discrete statistically significant losses of the intensely expressing cells in the hippocampus. The reductions in binding did not correlate with or localize to areas showing histopathology, estimated either on the basis of overall tissue quality or silver staining of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Reduced [3H]55,940 binding was associated with increasing age and with other forms of cortical pathology, suggesting that receptor losses are related to the generalized aging and/or disease process and are not selectively associated with the pathology characteristic of Alzheimers disease, nor with overall decrements in levels of cannabinoid receptor gene expression.

Methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate: a potent irreversible inhibitor of anandamide amidase

Anandamide amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) is responsible for the hydrolysis of arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide). Relatively selective and potent enzyme reversible inhibitors effective in the low micromolar range, such as arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (Arach-CF3), have been described (Koutek et al., J Biol Chem 269: 22937-22940, 1994). In the current study, methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP), an arachidonyl binding site directed phosphonylation reagent, was tested as an inhibitor of anandamide amidase and as a ligand for the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. MAFP was 800 times more potent than Arach-CF3 and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) as an amidase inhibitor in rat brain homogenates. In intact neuroblastoma cells, MAFP was also approximately 1000-fold more potent than Arach-CF3. MAFP demonstrated selectivity towards anandamide amidase for which it was approximately 3000 and 30,000-fold more potent than it was towards chymotrypsin and trypsin, respectively. MAFP displaced [3H]CP-55940 binding to the CB1 cannabinoid receptor with an IC50 of 20 nM vs 40 nM for anandamide. It bound irreversibly and prevented subsequent binding of the cannabinoid radioligand [3H]CP-55940 at that locus. These studies suggest that MAFP is a potent and specific inhibitor of anandamide amidase and, in addition, can interact with the cannabinoid receptors at the cannabinoid binding site. This is the first report of a potent and relatively selective irreversible inhibitor of arachidonoyl ethanolamide amidase.

Cannabinoid Receptors and Modulation of Cyclic AMP Accumulation in the Rat Brain

Abstract: The mechanism by which cannabinoid compounds produce their effects in the rat brain was evaluated in this investigation. Cannabinoid receptors, quantitated by [3H]CP‐55,940 binding, were found in greatest abundance in the rat cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and striatum, with smaller but significant binding also found in the hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. Using rat brain slice preparations, we evaluated the effect of desacetyllevonantradol on basal and forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in the regions exhibiting the greatest cannabinoid receptor density. Desacetyllevonantradol (10 μM) reduced cyclic AMP levels in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum. In the cerebellum, however, the response to desacetyllevonantradol was biphasic with cyclic AMP accumulation being decreased at lower and increased at higher concentrations. Desacetyllevonantradol reduced cyclic AMP accumulation in isoproterenol‐stimulated slices in the cortex and cerebellum, but not in the hippocampus. Cells that responded to vasoactive intestinal peptide with an increase in cyclic AMP accumulation in the hippocampus and cortex also responded to desacetyllevonantradol. The modulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by desacetyllevonantradol could be attenuated following stereotaxic implantation of pertussis toxin, supporting the involvement of a G protein in the cannabinoid response in the brain. However, other actions of cannabinoid compounds may also affect the cyclic AMP levels in brain slice preparations.

Cellular signal transduction by anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol.

Anandamide (arachidonylethanolamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol mediate many of their actions via either CB(1) or CB(2) cannabinoid receptor subtypes. These agonist-receptor interactions result in activation of G proteins, particularly those of the G(i/o) family. Signal transduction pathways that are regulated by these G proteins include inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, regulation of ion currents (inhibition of voltage-gated L, N and P/Q Ca(2+)-currents; activation of K(+) currents); activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and induction of immediate early genes; and stimulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Other effects of anandamide and/or 2-arachidonoylglycerol that are not mediated via cannabinoid receptors include inhibition of L-type Ca(2+) channels, stimulation of VR(1) vanilloid receptors, transient changes in intracellular Ca(2+), and disruption of gap junction function. Cardiovascular regulation by anandamide appears to occur by a variety of receptor-mediated and non-receptor-mediated mechanisms. This review will describe and evaluate each of these signal transduction pathways and mechanisms.

The ontogeny of cannabinoid receptors in the brain of postnatal and aging rats

It is recognized that a number of the biological effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be attributed to a cannabinoid receptor found in abundance in the brain. Due to observations that cannabinoid drugs exert some developmental toxicity, it was of interest to examine the developmental pattern of cannabinoid receptors in the brain of neonatal rats through young adulthood, and then to further examine the cannabinoid receptor during the aging process in the brain of rats 3 to 32 months of age. Using radioligand binding assays, this study demonstrated that cannabinoid receptor binding capacity increases progressively from birth to postnatal day (PND) 60. Within the striatum, a significant increase in binding occurred between PNDs 14 and 21. In the cerebellum, cannabinoid receptor binding capacity doubled at 7-day postnatal intervals until adulthood. Cannabinoid receptor binding in the cortex doubled between PNDs 7 and 14. Within the hippocampus, there were small incremental increases until the final adult level was reached at PND 21. There was no significant alteration in the affinity for CP-55940 during development. These findings might reflect an increased differentiation of neurons into cells possessing cannabinoid receptors, or an increase in the number of cannabinoid receptors on cell bodies or projections in regions undergoing developmental changes. Once the adult cannabinoid receptor levels have been reached, binding activity in the whole brain preparation neither increased nor declined during the normal aging process.

Inhibition of neuroblastoma adenylate cyclase by cannabinoid and nantradol compounds

This study was undertaken to ascertain the effects of cannabinoid drugs on prostanoid-stimulated adenylate cyclase in neuroblastoma cells. This report demonstrates that delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and levonantradol could decrease initial rate cyclic AMP accumulation in response to prostacyclin in intact cells. Basal accumulation was also diminished. Prostanoid-stimulated adenylate cyclase in a membrane preparation from these cells was inhibited by cannabinoid and nantradol compounds. However, this inhibition was not competitive with prostaglandin E1 or prostacyclin. Further, inhibition was also observed when the enzyme was stimulated by peptide hormones at the secretin receptor. In contrast, enzyme activated by NaF was not inhibited by cannabinoid compounds. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in subcellular fractions was unaltered by these agents. These data demonstrate that cannabinoid and nantradol compounds decrease cyclic AMP accumulation in neuronally derived cells, and that this results from an inhibition of basal and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.

Stereochemical effects of 11-OH-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl to inhibit adenylate cyclase and bind to the cannabinoid receptor

The recent preparation of the enantiomers of 11-OH-delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl (THC-DMH), recrystallized to absolute enantiomeric purity, has made it possible to examine the requirement for stereospecificity for the interaction of this component with the cannabinoid receptor, defined by the binding of [3H]CP-55,940 and the adenylate cyclase enzyme. The enantiomer (-)11-OH-delta 8-THC-DMH exhibited a fully efficacious and potent (IC50 = 1.8 nM) inhibition of the accumulation of cAMP in intact N18TG2 cells. The (-)enantiomer was as efficacious and potent (Kinh = 7.2 nM) as desacetyllevonantradol in inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity in membrane preparations. The (-)enantiomer was able to compete fully for the specific binding of [3H]CP-55,940 to membranes from the brain of the rat in homologous displacement studies (Ki = 234 pM). The potency ratios exhibited by the (-) to (+)enantiomers of 11-OH-delta 8-THC-DMH exceeded 1000 for each of these activities.

Signal transduction interactions between CB1 cannabinoid and dopamine receptors in the rat and monkey striatum

Signal transduction interactions between the CB1 cannabinoid and 1 and D2 dopamine receptor systems were studied in rat (Sprague Dawley) and monkey (Macaca fascilaris) striatal membranes. The D2 agonist quinelorane inhibited forskolin (10 microM)-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in a dose-dependent manner (26% and 20% maximal inhibition; EC50 = 2 and 0.5 microM, in rats and monkeys, respectively) and maximal inhibition was completely blocked by the D2 antagonist sulpiride (10 microM). The CB1 agonist desacetyllevonantradol inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (18% and 36% maximal inhibition; EC50 = 160 and 73 nM, in rats and monkeys, respectively) and the CB1 antagonist SR141716A (10 microM) completely blocked the maximal inhibition. Combined addition of > EC(90) concentrations of quinelorane (10, 30 microM) and desacetyllevonantradol (1 microM) resulted in no greater inhibition than that produced by either drug alone, indicative of signal transduction convergence between the D2 and CB1 receptor systems. The D1 agonist 6-Br-APB (3-allyl-6-bromo-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepin) produced a dose-dependent stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (45% and 26% stimulation; EC50 = 24 and 32 nM, in rat and monkey, respectively), and maximal stimulation was completely blocked by the D1 antagonist SCH23390 (1 microM). D1 agonist-stimulated activity could be inhibited to basal levels with desacetyllevonantradol (1 microM), indicative of D1 and CB1 signal transduction convergence. The data suggest that CB1 receptors are co-localized with D1 or D2 receptors on the same population of striatal membranes and can interact at the level of G-protein/adenylyl cyclase signal transduction. Similar results obtained with both rat and monkey membranes indicate that striatal dopamine and cannabinoid interactions are conserved for these two species.