Oral Adelmidrol Administration Up-Regulates Palmitoylethanolamide Production in Mice Colon and Duodenum through a PPAR-γ Independent Action

Adelmidrol is a promising palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) analog which displayed up-and-coming anti-inflammatory properties in several inflammatory conditions. Recent studies demonstrated that Adelmidrol is an in vitro enhancer of PEA endogenous production, through the so called “entourage” effect. The present study investigated the ability of Adelmidrol (1 and 10 mg/Kg per os) to increase the endogenous level of PEA in the duodenum and colon of mice after 21-day oral administration in the presence and absence of PPAR-γ inhibitor (1 mg/kg). The level of PEA was analyzed by HPLC-MS. The expression of PEA-related enzymatic machinery was evaluated by western blot and RT-PCR analysis. Our findings demonstrated that Adelmidrol significantly increased PEA levels in the duodenum and colon in a dose/time-dependent manner. We also revealed that Adelmidrol up regulated the enzymatic machinery responsible for PEA metabolism and catabolism. Interestingly, the use of the selective irreversible PPAR-γ antagonist did not affect either PEA intestinal levels or expres-sion/transcription of PEA metabolic enzymes following Adelmidrol administration. The “entourage effect” with Adelmidrol as an enhancer of PEA was thus PPAR-γ-independent. The findings suggest that Adelmidrol can maximize a PEA therapeutic-based approach in several intestinal morbidities

Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome expression and pro-inflammatory response activated by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cultured murine alveolar macrophages

Despite its possible therapeutic potential against COVID-19, the exact mechanism(s) by which palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) exerts its beneficial activity is still unclear. PEA has demonstrated analgesic, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Most of the anti-inflammatory properties of PEA arise from its ability to antagonize nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway via the selective activation of the PPARα receptors. Acting at this site, PEA can downstream several genes involved in the inflammatory response, including cytokines (TNF-α, Il-1β) and other signal mediators, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX2. To shed light on this, we tested the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of ultramicronized(um)-PEA, both alone and in the presence of specific peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) antagonist MK886, in primary cultures of murine alveolar macrophages exposed to SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (SP). SP challenge caused a significant concentration-dependent increase in proinflammatory markers (TLR4, p-p38 MAPK, NF-κB) paralleled to a marked upregulation of inflammasome-dependent inflammatory pathways (NLRP3, Caspase-1) with IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α over-release, compared to vehicle group. We also observed a significant concentration-dependent increase in ACE-2 following SP challenge. um-PEA concentration-dependently reduced all the analyzed proinflammatory markers fostering a parallel downregulation of ACE-2. Our data show for the first time that um-PEA, via PPAR-α, markedly inhibits the SP induced NLRP3 signalling pathway outlining a novel mechanism of action of this lipid against COVID-19

Theoretically nanoscale study on ionization of muscimol nano drug in aqueous solution

In the present work, acid dissociation constant (pKa) values of muscimol derivatives were calculated using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method. In this regard, free energy values of neutral, protonated and deprotonated species of muscimol were calculated in water at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) basis sets. The hydrogen bond formation of all species had been analyzed using the Tomasi's method. It was revealed that the theoretically calculated pKa values were in a good agreement with the existing experimental pKa values, which were determined from capillary electrophoresis, potentiometric titration and UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements

Cannabidiol Reduces Aβ-Induced Neuroinflammation and Promotes Hippocampal Neurogenesis through PPARγ Involvement

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) has been reported to be involved in the etiology of pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cannabidiol (CBD), a Cannabis derivative devoid of psychomimetic effects, has attracted much attention because of its promising neuroprotective properties in rat AD models, even though the mechanism responsible for such actions remains unknown. This study was aimed at exploring whether CBD effects could be subordinate to its activity at PPARγ, which has been recently indicated as its putative binding site. CBD actions on β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in rat AD models, either in presence or absence of PPAR antagonists were investigated. Results showed that the blockade of PPARγ was able to significantly blunt CBD effects on reactive gliosis and subsequently on neuronal damage. Moreover, due to its interaction at PPARγ, CBD was observed to stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis. All these findings report the inescapable role of this receptor in mediating CBD actions, here reported

Multiplicity of cerebrospinal fluid functions: New challenges in health and disease

This review integrates eight aspects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulatory dynamics: formation rate, pressure, flow, volume, turnover rate, composition, recycling and reabsorption. Novel ways to modulate CSF formation emanate from recent analyses of choroid plexus transcription factors (E2F5), ion transporters (NaHCO3 cotransport), transport enzymes (isoforms of carbonic anhydrase), aquaporin 1 regulation, and plasticity of receptors for fluid-regulating neuropeptides. A greater appreciation of CSF pressure (CSFP) is being generated by fresh insights on peptidergic regulatory servomechanisms, the role of dysfunctional ependyma and circumventricular organs in causing congenital hydrocephalus, and the clinical use of algorithms to delineate CSFP waveforms for diagnostic and prognostic utility. Increasing attention focuses on CSF flow: how it impacts cerebral metabolism and hemodynamics, neural stem cell progression in the subventricular zone, and catabolite/peptide clearance from the CNS. The pathophysiological significance of changes in CSF volume is assessed from the respective viewpoints of hemodynamics (choroid plexus blood flow and pulsatility), hydrodynamics (choroidal hypo- and hypersecretion) and neuroendocrine factors (i.e., coordinated regulation by atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin and basic fibroblast growth factor). In aging, normal pressure hydrocephalus and Alzheimer's disease, the expanding CSF space reduces the CSF turnover rate, thus compromising the CSF sink action to clear harmful metabolites (e.g., amyloid) from the CNS. Dwindling CSF dynamics greatly harms the interstitial environment of neurons. Accordingly the altered CSF composition in neurodegenerative diseases and senescence, because of adverse effects on neural processes and cognition, needs more effective clinical management. CSF recycling between subarachnoid space, brain and ventricles promotes interstitial fluid (ISF) convection with both trophic and excretory benefits. Finally, CSF reabsorption via multiple pathways (olfactory and spinal arachnoidal bulk flow) is likely complemented by fluid clearance across capillary walls (aquaporin 4) and arachnoid villi when CSFP and fluid retention are markedly elevated. A model is presented that links CSF and ISF homeostasis to coordinated fluxes of water and solutes at both the blood-CSF and blood-brain transport interfaces

Palmitoylethanolamide improves colon inflammation through an enteric glia/toll like receptor 4-dependent PPAR-α activation

Objective Enteric glia activation has been reported to amplify intestinal inflammation via the enteroglial-specific S100B protein. This neurotrophin promotes macrophage recruitment in the mucosa, amplify colonic inflammation and interacts with toll-like receptors (TLR). Molecules inhibiting S100B-driven enteric activation might mitigate the course of ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aims to investigate the effects of palmitoylethanolammide (PEA), a drug able to counteract astroglial activation in the central nervous system, on intestinal inflammation, in humans and mice. Design Mouse models of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis, colonic biopsies deriving from UC patients and primary cultures of mouse and human enteric glial cells (EGC), have been used to assess the effects of PEA, alone or in the presence of specific PPAR alpha or PPAR gamma antagonists, on: macroscopic signs of UC (DAI score, colon length, spleen weight, macrophages/neutrophils infiltration); the expression and release of proinflammatory markers typical of UC; TLR pathway in EGCs. Results PEA treatment improves all macroscopic signs of UC and decreases the expression and release of all the proinflammatory markers tested. PEA anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by the selective targeting of the S100B/TLR4 axis on ECG, causing a downstream inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)-dependent inflammation. Antagonists at PPAR alpha, but not PPAR gamma, abolished PEA effects, in mice and in humans. Conclusions Because of its lack of toxicity, its ability in reducing inflammation and its selective PPAR alpha action, PEA might be an innovative molecule to broaden pharmacological strategies against UC

EFFECTS OF SINGLE AND REPEATED ELECTROCONVULSIVE SHOCK ON ISOPROTERENOL-STIMULATED PINEAL N-ACETYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY AND MELATONIN PRODUCTION IN RATS

The response of the pineal gland to acute isoproterenol administration represents a useful tool to investigate beta(1)-adrenoceptor function, because the production of melatonin and the activity of its main synthesizing enzyme, N-acetyltransferase (NAT), are regulated by beta(1)-adrenergic receptors. In the present study, rats underwent single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) administration (0.80 mA, 0.5 s, at midday), chronic ECS treatment (0.80 mA, 0.5 s, once daily for 8 days), or sham treatments. On the day after the last ECS or sham ECS, animals were injected with isoproterenol hydrochloride (1 mg.kg(-1) SC) or volume-matched saline at 1600 h. After single ECS, isoproterenol injection induced a clear-cut increase in both pineal NAT activity and melatonin levels with no significant differences between ECS-treated rats and the sham-treated ones. In rats chronically treated with ECS, the isoproterenol-induced increases in both pineal NAT activity and melatonin content were significantly lower than in sham-treated animals (p < 0.001 for NAT activity; p < 0.005 for melatonin levels; Tukey's test). These data show that the pinealocyte beta-adrenoceptor function is reduced by chronic, but not acute ECS administration, and that this change is not due to the nonspecific stress effect of animal handling or to the acute effects of the last of a series of ECS