Cannabinoids and their therapeutic applications in mental disorders
Mental disorders represent a significant public health burden worldwide due to their high prevalence, chronically disabling nature, and substantial impact on quality of life.
Despite growing knowledge of the pathological mechanisms that underlie the development of these disorders, a high percentage of patients do not respond to first-line clinical treatments; thus, there is a strong need for alternative therapeutic approaches.
During the past half-century, after the identification of the endocannabinoid system and its role in multiple physiological processes, both natural and synthetic cannabinoids have attracted considerable interest as putative medications in pathological conditions such as, but not exclusive to, mental disorders.
Here, we provide a summary of cannabinoid effects in support of possible therapeutic applications for major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia. Considering this evidence, highlighted benefits and risks of cannabinoid use in the management of these illnesses require further experimental study.
Impact of Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response as New Adaptive Mechanisms Underlying Old Pathologies: Sarcopenia and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Mitochondria are the first-line defense of the cell in the presence of stressing processes that can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Under these conditions, the activation of two axes is accomplished, namely, (i) the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) to promote cell recovery and survival of the mitochondrial network; (ii) the mitophagy process to eliminate altered or dysfunctional mitochondria.
For these purposes, the former response induces the expression of chaperones, proteases, antioxidant components and protein import and assembly factors, whereas the latter is signaled through the activation of the PINK1/Parkin and BNIP3/NIX pathways.
These adaptive mechanisms may be compromised during aging, leading to the development of several pathologies including sarcopenia, defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and performance; and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These age-associated diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of organ function due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage to biomolecules, since the ability to counteract the continuous and large generation of ROS becomes increasingly inefficient with aging, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction as a central pathogenic mechanism.
Nevertheless, the role of the integrated stress response (ISR) involving UPRmt and mitophagy in the development and progression of these illnesses is still a matter of debate, considering that some studies indicate that the prolonged exposure to low levels of stress may trigger these mechanisms to maintain mitohormesis, whereas others sustain that chronic activation of them could lead to cell death. In this review, we discuss the available research that contributes to unveil the role of the mitochondrial UPR in the development of sarcopenia, in an attempt to describe changes prior to the manifestation of severe symptoms; and in NAFLD, in order to prevent or reverse fat accumulation and its progression by means of suitable protocols to be addressed in future studies.
Cannabinoids and their therapeutic applications in mental disorders
Display Characteristics and Their Impact on Digital Pathology: A Current Review of Pathologists’ Future “Microscope”
Digital displays (monitors) are an indispensable component of a pathologists’ daily workflow, from writing reports, viewing whole-slide images, or browsing the Internet. Due to a paucity of literature and experience surrounding display use and standardization in pathology, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) has currently restricted FDA-cleared whole-slide imaging systems to a specific model of display for each system, which at this time consists of only medical-grade (MG) displays.
Further, given that a pathologists’ display will essentially become their new surrogate “microscope,” it becomes exceedingly important that all pathologists have a basic understanding of fundamental display properties and their functional consequences. This review seeks to: (a) define and summarize the current and emerging display technology, terminology, features, and regulation as they pertain to pathologists and review the current literature on the impact of different display types (e.g. MG vs. consumer off the shelf vs. professional grade) on pathologists’ diagnostic performance and (b) discuss the impact of the recent digital pathology device componentization and the coronavirus disease 2019 public emergency on the pixel pathway and display use for remote digital pathology.
Display technology has changed dramatically over the past 20 years and continues to change at a rapid rate. There is a paucity of published studies to date that investigate how display type affects pathologist performance, with more research necessary in order to develop standards and minimum specifications for displays in digital pathology.
Description: Interleukin-2 Human Recombinant produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated, Polypeptide chain containing 133 amino acids fragment (21-153) having a molecular weight of 20kDa and fused with a 4.5kDa amino-terminal hexahistidine tag. _x000D_ The IL-2 His is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques._x000D_
BMP-2 Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Human Recombinant Protein, Monomer
Description: Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Human Recombinant produced in E.Coli is a monomeric, non-glycosylated, Polypeptide chain containing 115 amino acids (283-396) and having a molecular mass of 13009 Dalton. ;The BMP-2 is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
PinPoint-HR System for Platform Cell Line Generation & Retargeting of AAVS1 Safe Harbor Locus (includes PIN410A-1, GE601A-1, PIN200A-1, PIN510A-1, & PIN600A-1)
PinPoint-HR System for Platform Cell Line Generation & Retargeting of AAVS1 Safe Harbor Locus (includes PIN410A-1, CAS601A-1, PIN200A-1, PIN510A-1, & PIN600A-1)
Description: The Trefoil Factor peptides (TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3) are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, and appear to play an important role in intestinal mucosal defense and repair. TFF2 has been shown to inhibit gastrointestinal motility and gastric acid secretion. Recent data suggests a potential role for TFF2 in acute and chronic asthma (Nikolaidis, N.M. et al. Am. Journal Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. (2003) 4: 458-464). Recombinant human TFF2 is a 12.0 kDa polypeptide of 107 amino acid residues, which includes a 40-amino acid trefoil motif containing three conserved intramolecular disulfide bonds.
Description: Relaxin-2 is a peptide hormone structurally related to insulin, which is expressed in the placenta, decidua, prostate, and in the ovary during pregnancy. Of the three known relaxin genes, Relaxin-2 is the only relaxin known to circulate in the blood. Relaxin-2 binds specifically to the LGR7 and LGR8 receptors, previously identified as an “orphan” G protein coupled receptors. Signaling by Relaxin-2 through its target receptors enhances the growth of pubic ligaments and ripening of the cervix during birth. Recombinant Relaxin-2 is a nonglycosylated 6.0 kDa disulfide linked heterodimeric protein consisting of a 24 amino acid A-chain and a 29 amino acid B-chain.
Description: IL-2 is a powerful immunoregulatory lymphokine produced by T-cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. IL-2/IL-2R signaling is required for T-cell proliferation and other fundamental functions which are essential for the immune response. IL-2 stimulates growth and differentiation of B-cells, NK cells, lymphokine activated killer cells, monocytes, macrophages and oligodendrocytes. Recombinant murine IL-2 is a 17.2 kDa protein, containing 149 amino acid residues.
Description: PAI-2 is an inhibitory serpin expressed mainly in keratinocytes, activated monocytes, and placental trophoblasts. It exists predominantly as a 47 kDa nonglycosylated intracellular protein which can be induced to be secreted as 60 kDa glycoprotein. The glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of PAI-2 are equally effective as inhibitors of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), the only established physiological target of this serpin. PAI-2 has a unique ability to form dormant polymers spontaneously and reversibly under physiological conditions. The physiological relevance of this property, which is neither a consequence of any mutation in the PAI-2 gene nor associated with any known disorder, is still unclear. However, it appears that the formation of intracellular dormant polymers may be important for the controlled release of the inhibitor from PAI-2 producing cells. Plasma levels of PAI-2 are usually low or undetectable, except during pregnancy and in some forms of monocytic leukemia. Secretion of PAI-2 from the placenta normally occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy and accounts for the dramatic increase in PAI-2 levels (up to 250 ng/ml), which are maintained at these levels until postpartum, and then rapidly decline. In addition to its vital role in protecting the placenta from degradation by uPA and/or uPA-activated proteases, PAI-2 has been shown to be essential for the prevention of metastatic spread of neck, lung and breast cancers. The beneficial effect of PAI-2 seen in these studies is presumed to stem from its ability to inhibit uPA-dependent cell dissemination. PAI-2 has also been reported to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation, and to participate in the innate immune response during viral infection. Recombinant human PAI-2 is a 415-residue nonglycosylated protein.
Description: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endoproteases that require zinc and calcium for expressing catalytic activity. These enzymes play a central role in the maintenance and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Elevated expression of their activity, caused either by up-regulation of their expression or down-regulation of their cognate inhibitors, has been implicated in various degenerative disorders, including arthritis, cardiovascular disease, skeletal growth-plate disorders, and cancer metastasis. MMP-2 is a secreted collagenase with specificity toward Type IV, V, VII, and X collagens. Recombinant human MMP-2 is a 62.0 kDa protein containing the entire catalytic N-terminal domain and the C-terminal domain (552 amino acids).
Description: FGF basic (FGF2) is a multipotential fibroblast growth factor that stimulates and supports proliferation, migration and differentiation. Mouse FGF basic (FGF-2) Recombinant Protein is purified FGF basic (FGF-2) produced in yeast.
Description: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine produced by T-helper cells in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimulation. It is required for T-cell proliferation and other activities crucial to the regulation of the immune response. Chicken IL-2 Recombinant Protein is purified interleukin-2 produced in yeast.
Description: Defensins (alpha and beta) are cationic peptides with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity that comprise an important arm of the innate immune system. The α-defensins are distinguished from the β-defensins by the pairing of their three disulfide bonds. To date, six human β-defensins have been identified; BD-1, BD-2, BD-3, BD-4, BD-5 and BD-6. β-defensins are expressed on some leukocytes and at epithelial surfaces. In addition to their direct antimicrobial activities, they can act as chemoattractants towards immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. The β-defensin proteins are expressed as the C-terminal portion of precursors and are released by proteolytic cleavage of a signal sequence and in some cases, a propeptide sequence. β-defensins contain a six-cysteine motif that forms three intra-molecular disulfide bonds. Recombinant human BD-2 is a 4.3 kDa protein containing 41 amino acid residues.
Description: ErbB-2 Human Recombinant is a 43.4 kDa protein containing 397 amino acid residues of the human Herstatin, and an extra Methionine at N-Terminal (underlined), produced in E.coli.
Description: The three mammalian isoforms of TGF-β, TGF-β1, β2, β3, signal through the same receptor and elicit similar biological responses. They are multifunctional cytokines that regulate cell proliferation, growth, differentiation and motility as well as synthesis and deposition of the extracellular matrix. They are involved in various physiological processes including embryogenesis, tissue remodeling and wound healing. They are secreted predominantly as latent complexes which are stored at the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix. The release of biologically active TGF-β isoform from a latent complex involves proteolytic processing of the complex and /or induction of conformational changes by proteins such as thrombospondin-1. TGF-β2 has been shown to exert suppressive effects on IL-2 dependent T-cell growth, and may also have an autocrine function in enhancing tumor growth by suppressing immuno-surveillance of tumor development. Recombinant human TGF-β2 is a 25.0 kDa protein composed of two identical 112 amino acid polypeptide chains linked by a single disulfide bond. * Manufactured using (BTI-Tn-5B1-4) cells under license from the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.
Description: AHSG Human Recombinant produced by transfected human cells is a single polypeptide chain containing 357 amino acids (19-367). AHSG is fused to an 8 amino acid His-tag at C-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
FGF-2 Fibroblast Growth Factor-Basic Human Recombinant Protein
Description: Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Human Recombinant (FGF-2) produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated, polypeptide chain containing 154 amino acids and having a molecular mass of 17.2kDa.;The FGF-b is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
TIMP2 Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloprotease 2 Human Recombinant Protein
Description: TIMP2 Human Recombinant produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated, polypeptide chain containing 194 amino acids and having a molecular mass of 21.8kDa.
Given the complexity of modern displays, pathologists must become better informed regarding display technology if they wish to have more choice over their future “microscopes.”
