title: Ajulemic acid, a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid acid, suppresses osteoclastogenesis in mononuclear precursor cells and induces apoptosis in mature osteoclast-like cells.
abstract: Oral administration of ajulemic acid (AjA), a cannabinoid acid devoid of psychoactivity, prevents joint tissue injury in rats with adjuvant induced arthritis. Because activation of osteoclasts is central to the pathogenesis of bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated the influence of AjA on osteoclast differentiation and survival. Osteoclast cultures were established by stimulation of RAW264.7 cells and primary mouse bone marrow cultures with receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). Simultaneous addition of AjA (15 and 30 microM) and RANKL to both culture systems significantly suppressed development of multinucleated osteoclasts (osteoclastogenesis) in a dose dependent manner, as determined by quantification of multinuclear, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells. AjA impaired growth of RAW264.7 monocytes and prevented further osteoclast formation in cultures in which osteoclastogenesis had already begun. Reduction by AjA of both monocyte growth and osteoclast formation was associated with apoptosis, assayed by annexin V and propidium iodide staining, and caspase activity. The anti-osteoclastogenic effects of AjA did not require the continuous presence of AjA in the cell cultures. Based on these findings, we propose that AjA or other nonpsychoactive synthetic analogs of Cannabis constituents may be useful therapy for diseases such as RA and osteoporosis in which bone resorption is a central feature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester Massachusetts 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Kerri L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Saltman
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Jane B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zurier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects