title: Neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component from Cannabis sativa, on beta-amyloid-induced toxicity in PC12 cells.
abstract: Abstract Alzheimer's disease is widely held to be associated with oxidative stress due, in part, to the membrane action of beta-amyloid peptide aggregates. Here, we studied the effect of cannabidiol, a major non-psychoactive component of the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa) on beta-amyloid peptide-induced toxicity in cultured rat pheocromocytoma PC12 cells. Following exposure of cells to beta-amyloid peptide (1 micro g/mL), a marked reduction in cell survival was observed. This effect was associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipid peroxidation, as well as caspase 3 (a key enzyme in the apoptosis cell-signalling cascade) appearance, DNA fragmentation and increased intracellular calcium. Treatment of the cells with cannabidiol (10(-7)-10(-4)m) prior to beta-amyloid peptide exposure significantly elevated cell survival while it decreased ROS production, lipid peroxidation, caspase 3 levels, DNA fragmentation and intracellular calcium. Our results indicate that cannabidiol exerts a combination of neuroprotective, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects against beta-amyloid peptide toxicity, and that inhibition of caspase 3 appearance from its inactive precursor, pro-caspase 3, by cannabidiol is involved in the signalling pathway for this neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iuvone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Rosa
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D002185:Cannabidiol; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium