Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression
Substance use/abuse is one of the main causes of depressive symptoms. Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids in particular gained significant popularity in the past years. There is an increasing amount of clinical data associating such compounds with the inflammatory component of depression, indicated...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/5903 |
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| author | Ferenc Zádor Sâmia Joca Gábor Nagy-Grócz Szabolcs Dvorácskó Edina Szűcs Csaba Tömböly Sándor Benyhe László Vécsei |
| author_facet | Ferenc Zádor Sâmia Joca Gábor Nagy-Grócz Szabolcs Dvorácskó Edina Szűcs Csaba Tömböly Sándor Benyhe László Vécsei |
| author_sort | Ferenc Zádor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Substance use/abuse is one of the main causes of depressive symptoms. Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids in particular gained significant popularity in the past years. There is an increasing amount of clinical data associating such compounds with the inflammatory component of depression, indicated by the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are also well-known to regulate the enzymes of the kynurenine pathway (KP), which is responsible for metabolizing tryptophan, a precursor in serotonin synthesis. Enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels may over-activate the KP, leading to tryptophan depletion and reduced serotonin levels, which can subsequently precipitate depressive symptoms. Therefore, such mechanism might represent a possible link between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the KP in depression, via the inflammatory and dysregulated serotonergic component of the disorder. This review will summarize the data regarding those natural and synthetic cannabinoids that increase pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the data on such cytokines associated with KP activation will be further reviewed accordingly. The interaction of the ECS and the KP has been postulated and demonstrated in some studies previously. This review will further contribute to this yet less explored connection and propose the KP to be the missing link between cannabinoid-induced inflammation and depressive symptoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:51:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59d603f99e214dd0aa8066bb6255686d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:51:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-59d603f99e214dd0aa8066bb6255686d2023-11-21T22:12:28ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-05-012211590310.3390/ijms22115903Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in DepressionFerenc Zádor0Sâmia Joca1Gábor Nagy-Grócz2Szabolcs Dvorácskó3Edina Szűcs4Csaba Tömböly5Sándor Benyhe6László Vécsei7Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryDepartment of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, DenmarkFaculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryInstitute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryInstitute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryInstitute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryInstitute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, H-6726 Szeged, HungaryAlbert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6725 Szeged, HungarySubstance use/abuse is one of the main causes of depressive symptoms. Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids in particular gained significant popularity in the past years. There is an increasing amount of clinical data associating such compounds with the inflammatory component of depression, indicated by the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are also well-known to regulate the enzymes of the kynurenine pathway (KP), which is responsible for metabolizing tryptophan, a precursor in serotonin synthesis. Enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels may over-activate the KP, leading to tryptophan depletion and reduced serotonin levels, which can subsequently precipitate depressive symptoms. Therefore, such mechanism might represent a possible link between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the KP in depression, via the inflammatory and dysregulated serotonergic component of the disorder. This review will summarize the data regarding those natural and synthetic cannabinoids that increase pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the data on such cytokines associated with KP activation will be further reviewed accordingly. The interaction of the ECS and the KP has been postulated and demonstrated in some studies previously. This review will further contribute to this yet less explored connection and propose the KP to be the missing link between cannabinoid-induced inflammation and depressive symptoms.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/5903depressionendocannabinoid systemkynurenine pathwaypro-inflammatory cytokinescannabissynthetic cannabinoids |
| spellingShingle | Ferenc Zádor Sâmia Joca Gábor Nagy-Grócz Szabolcs Dvorácskó Edina Szűcs Csaba Tömböly Sándor Benyhe László Vécsei Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression International Journal of Molecular Sciences depression endocannabinoid system kynurenine pathway pro-inflammatory cytokines cannabis synthetic cannabinoids |
| title | Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression |
| title_full | Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression |
| title_fullStr | Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression |
| title_short | Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines: Potential Links between the Endocannabinoid System and the Kynurenine Pathway in Depression |
| title_sort | pro inflammatory cytokines potential links between the endocannabinoid system and the kynurenine pathway in depression |
| topic | depression endocannabinoid system kynurenine pathway pro-inflammatory cytokines cannabis synthetic cannabinoids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/11/5903 |
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