Cannabinoid receptor type 1
The cannabinoid receptor type 1, often abbreviated as CB1, is a G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor located primarily in the central and peripheral nervous system. It is activated by the endocannabinoid neurotransmitters anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG); by plant cannabinoids, such as the compound THC, an active ingredient of the psychoactive drug cannabis; and by synthetic analogues of THC.
Contents
1 Structure 2 Mechanism 3 Expression 3.1 Brain 3.1.1 Hippocampal formation 3.1.2 Basal ganglia 3.1.3 Cerebellum and neocortex 3.2 Spine 3.3 Other 4 Function 4.1 Health and disease 4.2 Anxiety response to novelty 4.3 Liver 4.4 Gastrointestinal activity 4.5 Cardiovascular activity 4.6 Plasticity 4.7 Drug and behavioral addictions 4.8 Olfaction 5 Use of antagonists 6 Ligands 6.1 Agonists 6.1.1 Selective 6.1.2 Unspecified Efficacy 6.1.3 Inverse 6.1.4 Partial 6.1.4.1 Endogenous 6.1.4.2 Phyto/Synthetic 6.1.5 Full 6.1.5.1 Endogenous 6.1.5.2 Phyto/Synthetic 6.2 Antagonists 7 Binding affinities 8 Evolution
Contents
Structure
The CB1 receptor shares the structure characteristic of all G-protein-coupled receptors, possessing seven transmembrane domains connected by three extracellular and three intracellular loops, an extracellular N-terminal tail, and an intracellular C-terminal tail. These receptors may exist as homodimers or form heterodimers or oligomers when coexpressed with one or more classes of G-protein-coupled receptors. Observed heterodimers include A2ACB1, A2A, CB1D2, orexin 1/CB1, while many more may only be stable enough to exist in vivo. Recent evidence suggests that these receptors may also possess an allosteric binding site, which may become a target for enhancing the clinical modulatory effects of cannabinoids.
Mechanism
The CB1 receptor is a pre-synaptic heteroreceptor that modulates neurotransmitter release when activated in a dose-dependent, stereoselective and pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. The CB1 receptor is activated by cannabinoids, generated naturally inside the body (endocannabinoids) or introduced into the body as cannabis or a related synthetic compound.
Research suggests that the majority of CB1 receptors are coupled through Gi/o proteins. Upon activation, CB1 receptor exhibits its effects mainly through activation of Gi, which decreases intracellular cAMP concentration by inhibiting its production enzyme, adenylate cyclase, and increases mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) concentration. Alternatively, in some rare cases CB1 receptor activation may be coupled to Gs proteins, which stimulate adenylate cyclase. cAMP is known to serve as a second messenger coupled to a variety of ion channels, including the positively influenced inwardly rectifying potassium channels (=Kir or IRK), and calcium channels, which are activated by cAMP-dependent interaction with such molecules as protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), Raf-1, ERK, JNK, p38, c-fos, c-jun, and others. In terms of function, the inhibition of intracellular cAMP expression shortens the duration of pre-synaptic action potentials by prolonging the rectifying potassium A-type currents, which is normally inactivated upon phosphorylation by PKA. This inhibition grows more pronounced when considered with the effect of activated CB1 receptors to limit calcium entry into the cell, which does not occur through cAMP but by a direct G-protein-mediated inhibition. As presynaptic calcium entry is a requirement for vesicle release, this function will decrease the transmitter that enters the synapse upon release. The relative contribution of each of these two inhibitory mechanisms depends on the variance of ion channel expression by cell type.
The CB1 receptor can also be modulated by allosterically synthetic ligands in a positive and negative manner. In vivo exposure to THC impairs long-term potentiation and leads to a reduction of phosphorylated CREB.
In summary, CB1 receptor activity has been found to be coupled to certain ion channels, in the following manner:
Positively to inwardly rectifying and A-type outward potassium channels. Negatively to D-type outward potassium channels Negatively to N-type and P/Q-type calcium channels.
Expression
The CB1 receptor is encoded by the gene CNR1, located on human chromosome 6. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. CNR1 orthologs have been identified in most mammals.
The CB1 receptor is expressed pre-synaptically at both glutaminergic and GABAergic interneurons and, in effect, acts as a neuromodulator to inhibit release of glutamate and GABA. Repeated administration of receptor agonists may result in receptor internalization and/ or a reduction in receptor protein signalling.
The inverse agonist MK-9470 makes it possible to produce in vivo images of the distribution of CB1 receptors in the human brain with positron emission tomography.
Brain
Cnr1 is widely expressed in all major regions of the postnatal day 14 mouse brain, but is conspicuously absent in much of the thalamus. Allen Brain Atlases CB1 receptors are expressed most densely in the central nervous system and are largely responsible for mediating the effects of cannabinoid binding in the brain. Endocannabinoids released by a depolarized neuron bind to CB1 receptors on either pre-synaptic glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons, resulting in a respective decrease in either glutamate or GABA release. Limiting glutamate release causes reduced excitation, while limiting GABA release suppresses inhibition, a common form of short-term plasticity in which the depolarization of a single neuron induces a reduction in GABA-mediated inhibition, in effect exciting the postsynaptic cell.
Varying levels of CB1 expression can be detected in the olfactory bulb, cortical regions (neocortex, pyriform cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala), several parts of basal ganglia, thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, and other subcortical regions (e.g., the septal region), cerebellar cortex, and brainstem nuclei (e.g., the periaqueductal gray).
Hippocampal formation
CB1 mRNA transcripts are abundant in GABAergic interneurons of the hippocampus, indirectly reflecting the expression of these receptors and elucidating the established effect of cannabinoids on memory. These receptors are densely located in cornu ammonis pyramidal cells, which are known to release glutamate. Cannabinoids suppress the induction of LTP and LTD in the hippocampus by inhibiting these glutamatergic neurons. By reducing the concentration of glutamate released below the threshold necessary to depolarize the postynaptic receptor NMDA, a receptor known to be directly related to the induction of LTP and LTD, cannabinoids are a crucial factor in the selectivity of memory. These receptors are highly expressed by GABAergic interneurons as well as glutamatergic principal neurons. However, a higher density is found within GABAergic cells. The coexpression of CB1 This means that, although synaptic strength/frequency, and thus potential to induce LTP, is lowered, net hippocampal activity is raised. In addition, CB1 receptors in the hippocampus indirectly inhibit the release of acetylcholine. This serves as the modulatory axis opposing GABA, decreasing neurotransmitter release. An undetermined complex fractal-based, feedforward network allows the brain to weaken specific synapses while others are enhanced, allowing long-range structure to be formed. Cannabinoids also likely play an important role in the development of memory through their neonatal promotion of myelin formation, and thus the individual segregation of axons.
Basal ganglia
CB1 receptors are expressed throughout the basal ganglia and have well-established effects on movement in rodents. As in the hippocampus, these receptors inhibit the release of glutamate or GABA transmitter, resulting in decreased excitation or reduced inhibition based on the cell they are expressed in. Consistent with the variable expression of both excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA interneurons in both the basal ganglia's direct and indirect motor loops, synthetic cannabinoids are known to influence this system in a dose-dependent triphasic pattern. Decreased locomotor activity is seen at both higher and lower concentrations of applied cannabinoids, whereas an enhancement of movement may occur upon moderate dosages. However, these dose-dependent effects have been studied predominately in rodents, and the physiological basis for this triphasic pattern warrants future research in humans. Effects may vary based on the site of cannabinoid application, input from higher cortical centers, and whether drug application is unilateral or bilateral.
Cerebellum and neocortex
The role of the CB1 receptor in the regulation of motor movements is complicated by the additional expression of this receptor in the cerebellum and neocortex, two regions associated with the coordination and initiation of movement. Research suggests that anadamide is synthesized by Purkinje cells and acts on presynaptic receptors to inhibit glutamate release from granule cells or GABA release from the terminals of basket cells. In the neocortex, these receptors are concentrated on local interneurons in cerebral layers II-III and V-VI. Compared to rat brains, humans express more CB1 receptors in the cerebral cortex and amygdala and less in the cerebellum, which may help explain why motor function seems to be more compromised in rats than humans upon cannabinoid application.
Spine
Many of the documented analgesic effects of cannabinoids are based on the interaction of these compounds with CB1 receptors on spinal cord interneurons in the superficial levels of the dorsal horn, known for its role in nociceptive processing. In particular, the CB1 is heavily expressed in layers 1 and 2 of the spinal cord dorsal horn and in lamina 10 by the central canal. Dorsal root ganglion also express these receptors, which target a variety of peripheral terminals involved in nociception. Signals on this track are also transmitted to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the midbrain. Endogenous cannabinoids are believed to exhibit an analgesic effect on these receptors by limiting both GABA and glutamate of PAG cells that relate to nociceptive input processing, a hypothesis consistent with the finding that ananadamide release in the PAG is increased in response to pain-triggering stimuli.
Other
CB1 is expressed on several types of cell in pituitary gland, thyroid gland, and possibly in the adrenal gland. CB1 is also expressed in several cells relating to metabolism, such as fat cells, muscle cells, liver cells (and also in the endothelial cells, Kupffer cells and stellate cells of the liver), and in the digestive tract. These receptor also expressed in the lungs and the kidney.
CB1 is present on Leydig cells and human sperms. In females, it is present in the ovaries, oviducts myometrium, decidua, and placenta. It has also been implicated in the proper development of the embryo.
Function
Health and disease
Several studies have implicated the CB1 receptor in the maintenance of homeostasis in health and disease. In a rodent neuropathic pain model, increased expression of these receptors was seen in thalamic neurons, the spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion. In addition, increased receptor expression has been found in human hepatocellular carcinoma tumor samples and other human prostate cancer cells. The expression of these receptors is believed to modulate neurotransmitter release in a manner that prevents the development of excessive neuronal activity, reducing pain and other inflammatory symptoms. This finding is consistent with the localization of CB1 receptors to the terminals of central and peripheral neurons, and the established mediation of both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-HT, GABA, glutamate, D-aspartate, and cholecystokinin. Through its primary action as a Gi coupled receptor, CB1 inhibits production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), metabotropically inhibiting all NT release.
Enhanced receptor expression following disease has been found to result in a leftward shift in the log dose-response curve of cannabinol, and also an increase in the size of its maximal effects.
Anxiety response to novelty
A CB1 receptor knock-out mouse study examined the effect that these receptors play on exploratory behavior in novel situations. Researchers selectively targeted glutamatergic and GABAergic cortical interneurons and studied results in open field, novel object, and sociability tests. Eliminating glutamaterigic cannabinoid receptors led to decreased object exploration, social interactions, and increased aggressive behavior. In contrast, GABAergic cannabinoid receptor-knockout mice showed increased exploration of objects, socialization, and open field movement. These opposing effects reveal the importance of the endocannabinoid system in regulating anxiety-dependent behavior. Glutamatergic CB1receptors not only are responsible for mediating aggression but produce anxiolytic-like function by inhibiting excessive arousal, which prevented the mice from exploring both animate and inanimate objects. In contrast, GABAergic CB1 receptors appear to control an anxiogenic-like function by limiting inhibitory transmitter release. Taken together, these results illustrate the regulatory function of the CB1 receptor on the organism's overall sense of arousal during novel situations and suggest that investigatory drive is associated with impulsive behavior.
Another study found that differential synthesis of anandamide and 2-AG in response to stress mediated beneficial effects of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. These effects were eliminated by the application of the CB1 antagonist AM251, illustrating that this receptor is essential for modulating the function of the stress response.
Liver
In the liver, activation of the CB1 receptor is known to increase de novo lipogenesis, Activation of presynaptic CB1 receptors is also known to inhibit sympathetic innervation of blood vessels and contributes to the suppression of the neurogenic vasopressor response in septic shock.
Gastrointestinal activity
Inhibition of gastrointestinal activity has been observed after administration of THC or anandamide. This effect is assumed to be CB1-mediated, since this receptor is expressed by the peptide hormone cholecystokinin, and application of the CB1-specific antagonist SR 141716A (Rimonabant) blocks the effect. Another report, however, suggests that inhibition of intestinal motility may also have a CB2-mediated component.
The CB1 receptor inverse agonist rimonabant has been found to reduce intake of food or sweet solutions in both humans and mice. Targeting this receptor with rimonabant has been found to prevent the THC-induced enhancement of DA release in the nucleus accumbens shell from food, suggesting that these receptors may be involved in determining the hedonic value of food. In addition, CB1 inhibits ghrelin release, normally happening when the stomach is stretched. In the presence of a relatively active system, overeating is promoted. This is the genesis of its appetite-stimulating effects, colloquially called "the munchies."
Cardiovascular activity
Cannabinoids are well known for their cardiovascular activity. Activation of peripheral CB1 receptors contributes to hemorrhagic and endotoxin-induced hypotension. Anandamide and 2-AG, produced by macrophages and platelets, respectively, may mediate this effect. A likely candidate for this function is the heterodimer of CB1 and adenosine 2a. Through an opposing mechanism of action (A2A elevates cAMP), together, they may serve to regulate cardiac blood supply, and thus output.
Plasticity
A recent study compared the endocannabinoid induction of LTD and STD in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and striatum. Results found that both short- and long-term effects were dependent on CB1 receptor activation in the striatum, whereas LTD induction in the BNST relied on TRPV1 receptor. Effects vary based on the endocannabinoid molecule: 2-AG was found to act on presynaptic CB1 receptors to mediate retrograde short-term depression following activation of L-type calcium currents, whereas anandamide was synthesized after mGluR5 activation and triggered autocrine signalling that induced long-term depression. These findings demonstrate the CB1 receptor as a direct mechanism for the brain to selectively inhibit neuronal excitability over variable time scales. By selectively internalizing different receptors, the brain may limit the production of specific endocannabinoids to favor a time scale in accordance with its needs. mGlu5 forms a heterodimer with A2A, which allows endocannabinoids to regulate their own levels, as they inhibit cAMP production, thus increase free adenosine to agonise A2A. This forms a feedback loop between the positive and negative metabotropic receptors, which can maintain a relatively similar homeostasis with any neuron connected through an electrical synapse.
Drug and behavioral addictions
Several recent reviews on CB1 receptors and addiction have indicated that CB1 receptor activation reinstates drug seeking behavior in addicts. In humans, this results from the influence that limbic CB1 receptors have on mesolimbic dopamine neurons, specifically dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens. As a consequence, CB1 receptor antagonists reduce drug seeking behavior in addicts.
Olfaction
The CB1 receptor is expressed by a number of neurons that project from the anterior olfactory nucleus to the ipsilateral main olfactory bulb. However, the effects of cannabinoids on synaptic activity in these neurons has not been well-studied and its effects on olfaction warrant further research in rodents. Cannabinoids are not known to have effects on olfaction in humans. However, as with the rest of the brain, it plays a crucial role in modulation of NT release.
Use of antagonists
Selective CB1 agonists may be used to isolate the effects of the receptor from the CB2 receptor, as most cannabinoids and endocannabinoids bind to both receptor types. CB1 selective antagonists are used for weight reduction and smoking cessation (see Rimonabant). A substantial number of antagonists of the CB1 receptor have been discovered and characterized. TM38837 has been developed as a CB1 receptor antagonist that is restricted to targeting only peripheral CB1 receptors.
Ligands
Agonists
Selective
Epigallocatechin Epicatechin Kavain Yangonin
Unspecified Efficacy
N-Arachidonoyl dopamine Cannabinol HU-210 11-Hydroxy-THC Levonantradol
Inverse
Rimonabant Taranabant
Partial
Endogenous 2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether Phyto/Synthetic JWH-073 Tetrahydrocannabinol
Full
Endogenous 2-Arachidonoylglycerol
Phyto/Synthetic AM-2201 CP 55,940 JWH-018 WIN 55,212-2
Antagonists
Cannabigerol Ibipinabant Otenabant Tetrahydrocannabivarin Virodhamine (Endogenous CB1 antagonist and CB2 agonist)
Binding affinities
CB1 affinity (Ki) Efficacy towards CB1 CB2 affinity (Ki) Efficacy towards CB2 Type
2-Arachidonoylglycerol 58.3 nM Full agonist 145 nM Full agonist Endogenous
2-Arachidonyl glyceryl ether 21 nM Full agonist 480 nM Full agonist Endogenous
AM-1221 52.3 nM Agonist 0.28 nM Agonist Synthetic
AM-1235 1.5 nM Agonist 20.4 nM Agonist Synthetic
AM-2232 0.28 nM Agonist 1.48 nM Agonist Synthetic
Anandamide 78 nM Full agonist 370 nM Partial agonist Endogenous
EGCG 33.6 μM Agonist >50 μM ? Phytogenic
JWH-007 9.0 nM Agonist 2.94 nM Agonist Synthetic
JWH-015 383 nM Agonist 13.8 nM Agonist Synthetic
JWH-018 9.00 ± 5.00 nM Full agonist 2.94 ± 2.65 nM Full agonist Synthetic
N-Arachidonoyl dopamine 250 nM Agonist 12000 nM ? Endogenous
Tetrahydrocannabinol 10 nM Partial agonist 24 nM Partial agonist Phytogenic
UR-144 150 nM Full agonist 1.8 nM Full agonist Synthetic
Evolution
The CNR1 gene is used in animals as a nuclear DNA phylogenetic marker. This intronless gene has first been used to explore the phylogeny of the major groups of mammals, and contributed to reveal that placental orders are distributed into five major clades: Xenarthra, Afrotheria, Laurasiatheria, Euarchonta, and Glires. CNR1 has also proven useful at lower taxonomic levels, such as rodents, and for the identification of dermopterans as the closest primate relatives.
