title: The marijuana component cannabidiol inhibits beta-amyloid-induced tau protein hyperphosphorylation through Wnt/beta-catenin pathway rescue in PC12 cells.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. A massive accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide aggregates has been proposed as pivotal event in AD. Abeta-induced toxicity is accompanied by a variegated combination of events including oxidative stress. The Wnt pathway has multiple actions in the cascade of events triggered by Abeta, and drugs that rescue Wnt activity may be considered as novel therapeutics for AD treatment. Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive marijuana component, has been recently proposed as an antioxidant neuroprotective agent in neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, it has been shown to rescue PC12 cells from toxicity induced by Abeta peptide. However, the molecular mechanism of cannabidiol-induced neuroprotective effect is still unknown. Here, we report that cannabidiol inhibits hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in Abeta-stimulated PC12 neuronal cells, which is one of the most representative hallmarks in AD. The effect of cannabidiol is mediated through the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway rescue in Abeta-stimulated PC12 cells. These results provide new molecular insight regarding the neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol and suggest its possible role in the pharmacological management of AD, especially in view of its low toxicity in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carnuccio
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iuvone
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016875:tau Proteins
chemical_list: C494356:4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; C489131:Mapt protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013830:Thiadiazoles; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D051176:beta Catenin; D016875:tau Proteins; D002185:Cannabidiol; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D001205:Ascorbic Acid