• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.143-144
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• 2003

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.168.1-168
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• 2003

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2006

Several plant-derived cannabinoids and endogenous ligands for cannabinoid receptors such as 2-arachidonyl-glycerol have been known to inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression. In the present study, we utilized arachidonylethanolamide (AEA), a putative endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors, to determine whether AEA modulated the expression of IL-2. AEA inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin (Io)-induced IL-2 protein secretion and mRNA expression in EL-4 mouse T-cells as determined by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. To further characterize the inhibitory mechanism of AEA at the transcriptional level, we performed promoter study for IL-2 gene in PMA/Io-stimulated EL-4 cells. AEA decreased the transcriptional activity of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NF-AT) as well as the IL-2 promoter activity. These results suggest that AEA suppresses IL-2 expression and that the inhibition is mediated, at least in part, through the down-regulation of NF-AT.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.146-147
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• 2006

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.48-55
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• 2021

Objective The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang in reducing inflammation through the endocannabinoid system (ECS) control in atopic dermatitis. Methods 8-week-old Balb/C mice were divided into 4 groups: contorl group (Ctrl), lipid barrier elimination group (ADE), palmitoylethanolamide treated group after lipid barrier elimination (PEA), and Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang applied group after lipid barrier elimination (GGRT). After inducing atopic dermatitis, cannabinoid receptor (CB) 1, CB2, CD68, phosphorylated inhibitor kappa B (p-IκB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), substance P and serotonin were observed to confirm the regulation of the ECS, macrophage activity and mast cell activity. Results CB1 and CB2 showed higher positive reactions in the GGRT than in the LBE and PEA. CD68, p-IκB and iNOS showed higher positive reaction in the LBE, PEA and GGRT than in the Ctrl, but the increase in the positive reaction was lower in the GGRT compared to the LBE and PEA. Substance P and serotonin showed higher positive reaction in the LBE, PEA and GGRT than in the Ctrl, but the increase in the positive reaction was lower in the GGRT compared to the LBE and PEA. Conclusions The effects of Galgeunhwanggeumhwangryeon-tang were confirmed though the regulation of the ECS, macrophage activity and mast cell activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2022

The effect of PHAR-DBH-Me, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on different cardiovascular responses in adult male rats was analyzed. The blood pressure was measured directly and indirectly. The coronary flow was measured by Langendorff preparation, and vasomotor responses induced by PHAR-DBH-Me in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PHEN) were analyzed. The intravenous injection of the compound PHAR-DBH-Me (0.018-185 ㎍/kg) resulted in decreased blood pressure; maximum effect was observed at the dose of 1,850 ㎍/kg. A concentrationdependent increase in the coronary flow was observed in a Langendorff preparation. In the aortic rings, with and without endothelium, pre-contracted with PHEN (10^-6 M), the addition of PHAR-DBH-Me to the superfusion solution (10^-12-10^-5 M), produced a vasodilator response, which depends on the concentration and presence of the endothelium. L-NAME inhibited these effects. Addition of CB₁ receptor antagonist (AM 251) did not modify the response, while CB₂ receptor antagonist (AM630) decreased the potency of relaxation elicited by PHAR-DBH-Me. Indomethacin shifted the curve concentration-response to the left and produced an increase in the magnitude of the maximum endothelium dependent response to this compound. The maximum effect of PHAR-DBH-Me was observed with the concentration of 10^-5 M. These results show that PHAR-DBH-Me has a concentration-dependent and endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect through CB₂ receptor. This vasodilation is probably mediated by the synthesis/release of NO. On the other hand, it is suggested that PHAR-DBH-Me also induces the release of a vasoconstrictor prostanoid.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 2024

The type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB₁R) is a potential therapeutic target in several pathological conditions, including neuropsychological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to their structural diversity, it is not easy to derive general structure-activity relationships (SARs) for CB₁R ligands. In this study, CB₁R ligands were classified into six structural families, and the corresponding SAR was determined for their affinities for CB₁R. In addition, we determined their functional activities for the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). Among derivatives of indol-3-yl-methanone, the highest ligand affinity was observed when a pentyl and a naphthalenyl group were attached to the N1 position of the indole ring and the carbon site of the methanone moiety, respectively. In the case of adamantane indazole-3-carboxamide derivatives, the presence of fluorine in the pentyl group, the substituent at the N1 position of the indazole ring, strongly increased the affinity for CB₁R. For (naphthalen-1-yl) methanone derivatives, the presence of 4-alkoxynaphthalene in the methanone moiety was more beneficial for the affinity to CB₁R than that of a heterocyclic ring. The functional activities of the tested compounds, evaluated through ERK assay, were correlated with their affinity for CB₁R, suggesting their agonistic nature. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insight for designing novel ligands for CB₁R, which can be used to control psychiatric disorders and drug abuse.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2014

Objectives Previous studies suggest that the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene could be an important candidate gene for schizophrenia. According to linkage studies, this gene is located on chromosome 6q14-q15, which is known to harbor the schizophrenia susceptibility locus (locus 5, SCZ5, OMIM 803175). The pharmacological agent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (${\Delta}$-9-THC) seems to elicit the symptoms of schizophrenia. The association between CNR1 polymorphisms and schizophrenia is actively being investigated, and some studies have linked the AAT-trinucleotide repeats in CNR1 to the onset of schizophrenia. In this study, we have investigated the association between the AAT-trinucleotide repeats in CNR1 and schizophrenia by studying schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals from Korea. Methods DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 394 control subjects and 337 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria). After polymerase chain reaction amplification, a logistic regression analysis, with age and gender as the covariates, was performed to study the variations in the AAT-repeat polymorphisms between the two groups. Results In total, 8 types of trinucleotide repeats were identified, each containing 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 repeats, respectively. $(AAT)_{13}$ allele was most frequently observed, with a frequency of 33.6% and 31.6% in the patient and control groups, respectively. The frequency of the other repeat alleles in the patient group (in the decreasing order) was as follows : $(AAT)_{13}$ 33.6%, $(AAT)_{14}$ 21.6%, $(AAT)_{12}$ 18.5%, and $(AAT)_{7}$ 11.1%. The frequency of the repeat alleles in the control group (in the decreasing order) was as follows : $(AAT)_{13}$ 31.6%, $(AAT)_{14}$ 24.5%, $(AAT)_{12}$ 17.2%, and $(AAT)_{7}$ 11.6%. However, there were no significant differences in the AAT-repeat polymorphisms of the CNR1 gene between the patient group and the control group. Conclusions Although our study revealed no significant association of the AAT-repeat polymorphism of the CNR1 gene with schizophrenia, it will serve as a good reference for future studies designed to examine the cannabinoid hypothesis of schizophrenia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1506-1513
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• 2009

RGS proteins have been identified as negative regulators of G protein signalling pathways and attenuate the activity of GPCR receptors. However, information on the regulatory effects of RGS proteins in the activity of cannabinoid receptors is limited. In this study, the role of RGS proteins on the signal transduction of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor was investigated in HEK293 cells co-transfected with CB2-receptors and plasmids encoding RGS2, RGS3, RGS4 and RGS5. Treatment of cells with WIN55, 212-2, a CB2 receptor agonist, inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP response element (CRE) activity in CB2-transfected HEK293 (CB2-HEK293) cells. This inhibitory effect of WIN 55, 212-2 on CRE activity was reversed by co-transfection of CB2-HEK293 cells with RGS3, but not with RGS2, RGS4 and RGS5. However, endogenous RGS3 protein knocked down by a small interfering siRNA targeting RGS3 gene enhanced inhibition of forskolin induced CRE activity via agonist induced CB2 receptor signal transduction. These results indicate the functional role of endogenous RGS protein in cannabinoid signaling pathways and define receptor-selective roles of endogenous RGS3 in modulating CRE transcriptional responses to agonist induced CB2 receptor activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

A major predictor of the efficacy of natural or synthetic cannabinoids is their binding affinity to the cannabinoid type I receptor ($CB_1$) in the central nervous system, as the main psychological effects of cannabinoids are achieved via binding to this receptor. Conventionally, receptor binding assays have been performed using isotopes, which are inconvenient owing to the effects of radioactivity. In the present study, the binding affinities of five cannabinoids for purified $CB_1$ were measured using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique as a putative non-isotopic receptor binding assay. Results were compared with those of a radio-isotope-labeled receptor binding assay. The representative natural cannabinoid ${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol and four synthetic cannabinoids, JWH-015, JWH-210, RCS-4, and JWH-250, were assessed using both the SPR biosensor assay and the conventional isotopic receptor binding assay. The binding affinities of the test substances to $CB_1$ were determined to be (from highest to lowest) $9.52{\times}10^{-3}M$ (JWH-210), $6.54{\times}10^{-12}M$ (JWH-250), $1.56{\times}10^{-11}M$ (${\Delta}^9$-tetrahydrocannabinol), $2.75{\times}10^{-11}M$ (RCS-4), and $6.80{\times}10^{-11}M$ (JWH-015) using the non-isotopic method. Using the conventional isotopic receptor binding assay, the same order of affinities was observed. In conclusion, our results support the use of kinetic analysis via SPR in place of the isotopic receptor binding assay. To replace the receptor binding affinity assay with SPR techniques in routine assays, further studies for method validation will be needed in the future.