Project description:Rat primary astrocytes- were treated with vehicle or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), total RNA was isolated and gene expression in response to THC treatment was studied.
Project description:The study describes miRNA expression in intact duodenum following chronic delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) administration to SIV-infected rhesus macaques. Chronic Δ9-THC administration to uninfected macaques significantly and positively modulated intestinal miRNA expression by increasing the total number of differentially expressed miRNAs from 14 to 60 days post infection (DPI). At 60DPI, ~28% of miRNAs showed decreased expression in VEH/SIV compared to none in the THC/SIV group. Furthermore, compared to the VEH/SIV group, THC selectively upregulated the expression of miR-10a, miR-24, miR-99b, miR-145, miR-149 and miR-187 previously shown to target proinflammatory molecules. NOX4, a potent reactive oxygen species generator was confirmed as a direct miR-99b target. A significant increase in NOX4+ crypt epithelial cells was detected in VEH/SIV compared to the THC/SIV group. We speculate that miR-99b-mediated NOX4 downregulation may protect the intestinal epithelium from oxidative stress-induced damage.
Project description:The study describes miRNA expression in intact duodenum following chronic delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (M-NM-^T9-THC) administration to SIV-infected rhesus macaques. Chronic M-NM-^T9-THC administration to uninfected macaques significantly and positively modulated intestinal miRNA expression by increasing the total number of differentially expressed miRNAs from 14 to 60 days post infection (DPI). At 60DPI, ~28% of miRNAs showed decreased expression in VEH/SIV compared to none in the THC/SIV group. Furthermore, compared to the VEH/SIV group, THC selectively upregulated the expression of miR-10a, miR-24, miR-99b, miR-145, miR-149 and miR-187 previously shown to target proinflammatory molecules. NOX4, a potent reactive oxygen species generator was confirmed as a direct miR-99b target. A significant increase in NOX4+ crypt epithelial cells was detected in VEH/SIV compared to the THC/SIV group. We speculate that miR-99b-mediated NOX4 downregulation may protect the intestinal epithelium from oxidative stress-induced damage. Twelve age and weight matched male Indian rhesus macaques were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 (n=1) received vehicle (1:1:18 of emulphor : alcohol : saline) and no infection. Group 2 (THC only, n=3) animals received twice daily intramuscular injections of M-NM-^T9-THC and no infection. Group-3 THC/SIV, (n=4) animals received twice daily injections of vehicle and were infected intravenously with 100TCID50 of SIVmac251. Group-4 (VEH/SIV, n=4) animals received twice daily injections of M-NM-^T9-THC similar to group 1 for four weeks prior to SIV infection. Duodenal pinch biopsies were collected before infection and thereafter at 14 and 30 days post infection. All animals were necropsied at 60 days post SIV infection. ~100 ng of total RNA was first reverse transcribed and preamplified according to the manufacturerM-bM-^@M-^Ys recommendation. microRNA expression profiling was performed using TaqMan M-BM-.OpenArrayM-BM-. Human microRNA panels. Data analysis was performed using ExpressionSuiteM-BM-. software. Data was normalized to three endogenous controls (RNU44, RNU48 and snoU6). Delta CT values were calculated by subtracting individual miRNA CT values from an average of all three endogenous controls. Comparisons were made between preinfection and all three treatment groups at 14, 30 and 60 DPI. To determine the effect of chronic THC treatment during SIV infection, comparisons were also made between VEH/SIV and THC/SIV at all three time points.
Project description:We studied the effects of delta-9-tetrhydrocannabinol (THC) on mouse colon cells, 24 hours after a single administration of THC (10mg/kg) or Vehicle (VEH) control.
Project description:Cannabinoid administration before and after simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-inoculation ameliorated disease progression and decreased inflammation in male rhesus macaques. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) did not increase viral load in brain tissue or produce additive neuropsychological impairment in SIV-infected macaques. To determine if the neuroimmunomodulation of Δ9-THC involved differential microRNA (miR) expression, miR expression in the striatum of uninfected macaques receiving vehicle (VEH) or Δ9-THC (THC) and SIV-infected macaques administered either vehicle (VEH/SIV) or Δ9-THC (THC/SIV) was profiled using next generation deep sequencing.
Project description:The goal of the experiment is to identify gene expression changes in engineered heart tissues (EHT) composed of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells treatered with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or THC with genistein.
Project description:Increased availability of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing products necessitates the need for understanding how exposure to these compounds can affect development. Using cannabinoid receptor-null zebrafish (cnr1-/- and cnr2-/-), we conducted experiments to assess the roles of these receptors in ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) developmental and behavioral toxicity. THC increased mortality and deformities (pericardial and yolk sac edemas, a reduction in size) in cnr1-/- and cnr2-/- fish. Conversely, CBD-induced malformations and mortality were significantly reduced in the cnr1-/- and cnr2-/- larvae. THC and CBD exposure caused significantly decreased larval behavior (96 hpf), however, decreased distance travelled was protected in the cnr1-/- and cnr2-/- fish, suggesting these receptors are responsible for mediating behavioral toxicity. Transcriptomic profiling in cnr+/+ embryos developmentally exposed to 4 μM THC or 0.5 μM CBD revealed that a significant portion of differentially expressed genes were targets of PPARγ, a predicted upstream regulator. In Cnr-positive embryos, co-exposure to the PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 and THC or CBD, there was increased toxicity compared to exposure with THC or CBD alone. Co-treatment in the cnr2-/- fish with GW9662 did not alter the CBD-induced decrease in activity. However, co-treatment with GW9662 did remove the protective effect observed in cnr1-/- fish treated to CBD alone. Collectively, these results indicate that PPARγ, Cnr1, and Cnr2 all play crucial roles in the developmental toxicity of THC and CBD.
Project description:This study aims to identify the proteomic targets of THC in the early postnatal hippocampus of developing mice. Therefore, early postnatal C57Bl/6 mice (P5) were exposed daily and for 30 days to plant extracted THC (either 1 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) or vehicle solution (saline with 3% Tween® 80) for the control group. All animals stayed with their mothers until P25 and after the initial drug exposure time (until P35) animals were given a drug-free resting period. The animals were sacrificed, and their hippocampus was dissected and prepared for the following proteomic analysis at either P48 or after an extended resting period at P120. We found 31 proteins to be changed after THC exposure compared to vehicle at P48 and 186 proteins showing modifications at P120. Gene ontology classification of protein targets revealed a substantial amount of proteins involved in metabolic processes of neurons after THC exposure. The results highlight the vulnerability of the developing hippocampus towards THC exposure and identify the mitochondrial as well as other cell metabolic processes as potential drug targets.
Project description:The study describes miRNA expression in colon tissue following delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) administration to chronically SIV-infected rhesus macaques. To identify the underlying molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects, we simultaneously profiled miRNA and mRNA expression in colon of chronically simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) administered either vehicle (VEH/SIV; n=9) or Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; THC/SIV; n=8). Relative to controls, differentially expressed miRNAs were ~2 fold higher in VEH/SIV than THC/SIV RMs. Proinflammatory miR-130a, miR-222 and miR-29b, Lipopolysaccharide-responsive miR-146b-5p and SIV-induced miR-190b were significantly upregulated in VEH/SIV RMs. Compared to VEH/SIV RMs, 10 miRNAs were significantly upregulated in THC-SIV RMs, among which miR-204 was confirmed to directly target MMP8, an extracellular matrix-degrading collagenase that was significantly downregulated in THC/SIV RMs. Moreover, THC/SIV RMs failed to upregulate proinflammatory miR-21, miR-141 and miR-222 and alpha/beta defensins, suggesting attenuated intestinal inflammation. Further, THC/SIV RMs showed higher expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-3), anti-inflammatory MUC13, keratin-8 (stress protection), PROM1 (epithelial proliferation) and anti-HIV CCL5. Trichrome mason staining detected significant collagen deposition (fibrosis) in the paracortex and B cell follicular zones of axillary lymph nodes from all VEH/SIV but none of the THC/SIV RMs, thus demonstrating the ability of THC to prevent lymph node fibrosis, a serious irreversible consequence of HIV induced chronic inflammation. Furthermore, using flow cytometry, we showed that THC suppressed intestinal T cell proliferation/activation (Ki67/HLADR) and exhaustion (PD1) and increased the percentages of anti-inflammatory CD163+ macrophages. Finally, while THC did not affect CD4+ T cell levels, it significantly reduced CD8+ T cell percentages in blood at 150 and 180 days post SIV infection. These translational findings strongly support a role for differential miRNA/gene induction and T cell activation in THC-mediated suppression of intestinal inflammation in HIV/SIV and potentially other chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine.
Project description:Drug exposure during critical periods of development is known to have lasting effects, increasing one’s risk for developing mental health disorders. Emerging evidence has also indicated the possibility for drug exposure to even impact subsequent generations. Our previous work demonstrated that adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of marijuana (Cannabis sativa), in a Long-Evans rat model affects reward-related behavior and gene regulation in the subsequent (F1) generation unexposed to the drug. Questions, however, remained regarding potential epigenetic consequences. In the current study, using the same rat model, we employed Enhanced Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing to interrogate the epigenome of the nucleus accumbens, a key brain area involved in reward processing. This analysis compared 16 animals with parental-THC exposure and 16 without to characterize relevant systems-level changes in DNA methylation. We identified 1,027 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with parental THC exposure in F1 adults, each represented by multiple CpGs. These DMRs fell predominantly within introns, exons, and intergenic intervals, while showing a significant depletion in gene promoters. From these, we identified a network of DMR-associated genes involved in glutamatergic synaptic regulation, which also exhibited altered mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens. These data provide novel insight into drug-related cross-generational epigenetic effects, and serve as a useful resource for investigators to explore novel neurobiological systems underlying drug abuse vulnerability. Study consisted of a total of 32 F1 individuals (Long-Evan rats); 16 animals (8 female, 8 male) were offspring from THC-exposed parents, and the remaining 16 animals (8 female, 8 male) were offspring from saline-exposed parents ("controls"; "VEH-exposed").