Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Published: September 2022
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Endocannabinoids at nanomolar physiological concentrations cross cellular membranes by facilitated diffusion, a process that can be studied by measuring transport kinetics and endocannabinoid trafficking employing radioligands and mass spectrometry. Here, we describe radiosubstrate-based assays using arachidonoyl[1-H]ethanolamine and 2-arachidonoyl[1,2,3-H]glycerol to measure cellular endocannabinoid uptake in a three-phase assay with human U937 cells. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS)-based lipidomics was used to interrogate the roles of serum and albumin for endocannabinoid trafficking in U937 cells.
Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, CH-8093, Switzerland.
Purpose: The monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) plays a pivotal role in modulating the endocannabinoid system and is considered an attractive therapeutic target for diseases in both the central nervous system and periphery. The current study aimed to develop and evaluate a suitable carbon-11 labeled tracer for imaging MAGL in preclinical studies.
Methods: (R)-YH168 was synthesized via a multi-step pathway and its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) values were measured using an enzymatic assay.
Background: Pain is the leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life worldwide. Despite the increasing burden for patients and healthcare systems, pain research remains underfunded and under focused. Having stakeholders identify and prioritize areas that need urgent attention in the field will help focus funding topics, reduce 'research waste', improve the effectiveness of pain research and therapy and promote the uptake of research evidence.
Neuroinflammation has recently emerged as a crucial factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiopathogenesis. Microglial cells play an important function in the inflammatory response; specifically, the emergence of disease-associated microglia (DAM) has offered new insights into the conflicting perspectives on the detrimental or beneficial roles of microglia. We previously showed that modulating the endocannabinoid tone by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inactivation renders beneficial effects in an amyloidosis context, paradoxically accompanied by an exacerbated neuroinflammatory response and the enrichment of DAM population.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are dietary components participating in neurotransmission and cell signaling. Pollen is a source of PUFAs for honeybees, and disruptions in dietary PUFAs reduce the cognitive performance of honeybees. We reveal that gut bacteria of honeybees contribute to fatty acid metabolism, impacting reward learning.
Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit (TNU), Department of Clinical Medicine, Health Faculty, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address:
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread and debilitating condition affecting a significant portion of the global population. Traditional treatment for MDD has primarily involved drugs that increase brain monoamines by inhibiting their uptake or metabolism, which is the basis for the monoaminergic hypothesis of depression. However, these treatments are only partially effective, with many patients experiencing delayed responses, residual symptoms, or complete non-response, rendering the current view of the hypothesis as reductionist.
