title: Neuroprotective effects of phytocannabinoid-based medicines in experimental models of Huntington's disease.
abstract: We studied whether combinations of botanical extracts enriched in either Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), which are the main constituents of the cannabis-based medicine Sativex, provide neuroprotection in rat models of Huntington's disease (HD). We used rats intoxicated with 3-nitropropionate (3NP) that were given combinations of Δ(9)-THC- and CBD-enriched botanical extracts. The issue was also studied in malonate-lesioned rats. The administration of Δ(9)-THC- and CBD-enriched botanical extracts combined in a ratio of 1:1 as in Sativex attenuated 3NP-induced GABA deficiency, loss of Nissl-stained neurons, down-regulation of CB(1) receptor and IGF-1 expression, and up-regulation of calpain expression, whereas it completely reversed the reduction in superoxide dismutase-1 expression. Similar responses were generally found with other combinations of Δ(9)-THC- and CBD-enriched botanical extracts, suggesting that these effects are probably related to the antioxidant and CB(1) and CB(2) receptor-independent properties of both phytocannabinoids. In fact, selective antagonists for both receptor types, i.e., SR141716 and AM630, respectively, were unable to prevent the positive effects on calpain expression caused in 3NP-intoxicated rats by the 1:1 combination of Δ(9)-THC and CBD. Finally, this combination also reversed the up-regulation of proinflammatory markers such as inducible nitric oxide synthase observed in malonate-lesioned rats. In conclusion, this study provides preclinical evidence in support of a beneficial effect of the cannabis-based medicine Sativex as a neuroprotective agent capable of delaying disease progression in HD, a disorder that is currently poorly managed in the clinic, prompting an urgent need for clinical trials with agents showing positive results in preclinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Onintza
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sagredo
authors.forename: M Ruth
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pazos
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Satta
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pertwee
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011699:Putamen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol; C587251:nabiximols