Cannabidiol protects oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from inflammation-induced apoptosis by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa that has no psychoactive properties. CBD has been approved to treat inflammation, pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), of which demyelination and oligodendrocyte loss are hallmarks. Thus, we investigated the protective effects of CBD against the damage to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) mediated by the immune system. Doses of 1 μM CBD protect OPCs from oxidative stress by decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species. CBD also protects OPCs from apoptosis induced by LPS/IFNγ through the decrease of caspase 3 induction via mechanisms that do not involve CB1, CB2, TRPV1 or PPARγ receptors. Tunicamycin-induced OPC death was attenuated by CBD, suggesting a role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the mode of action of CBD. This protection against ER stress-induced apoptosis was associated with reduced phosphorylation of eiF2α, one of the initiators of the ER stress pathway. Indeed, CBD diminished the phosphorylation of PKR and eiF2α induced by LPS/IFNγ. The pro-survival effects of CBD in OPCs were accompanied by decreases in the expression of ER apoptotic effectors (CHOP, Bax and caspase 12), and increased expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. These findings suggest that attenuation of the ER stress pathway is involved in the ‘oligoprotective' effects of CBD during inflammation

Urban water quality

Anthropogenic activities which are common to urban areas generate a range of physical, chemical and biological pollutants which are subsequently incorporated in stormwater runoff, leading to the deterioration of receiving water environments. This poses risks to both human and ecosystem health including carcinogenic and neurological effects and the loss of aquatic biodiversity. Water environments are an essential asset for enhancing urban liveability. Significant research has been undertaken in relation to stormwater pollutant characterisation and pollutant processes, which forms the baseline knowledge for developing effective stormwater pollution mitigation strategies. The current practice of formulating strategies to improve stormwater quality relies on the fundamental understanding that pollutants accumulate on urban surfaces during dry weather periods and are subsequently washed-off during rainfall. However, there are significant gaps in the current knowledge base in relation to how pollutant load and composition could vary temporally and spatially, which is critical for understanding the dynamic nature of stormwater quality in urban catchments. This acts as a major constraint to informed decision-making in the context of designing effective stormwater pollution mitigation strategies. Moreover, climate change is a significant influential factor in relation to urban stormwater pollution. The predicted changes to dry and wet weather conditions would lead to changes to pollutant accumulation on urban surfaces, change pollutant characteristics and increase the likelihood of discharging shock loads of pollutants to receiving waters. Research is needed to understand the complex mechanisms underpinning pollutant processes and their influential factors and the role of climate change in order to enhance the well-being of urban communities