Cannabis use during adolescence leads to cognitive abnormalities. However, only some cannabis users display cognitive impairment, suggesting a genetic predisposition to the detrimental cognitive effects of cannabis. The mechanisms whereby genetic susceptibility interacts with cannabis exposure to produce cognitive dysfunction remain unknown. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) expressed in astrocytes mediates the adverse cognitive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC), a major psychoactive ingredient of cannabis. In order to explore the molecular mechanisms of predisposition to cannabis effects, we will utilize our mouse model of astrocyte-specific inducible expression of dominant-negative Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (DN-DISC1). Our overarching hypothesis is that astrocytic DN- DISC1 and adolescent ?9-THC treatment synergistically up-regulates CB1R-mediated COX-2 signaling, leading to an increase in glutamate release and deficits in adolescent neuronal maturation and cognitive function.
Specific Aim 1 will identify the critical period required for the synergistic cognitive effects of astrocyte-specific DN-DISC1 expression and chronic ?9-THC exposure.
Specific Aim 2 will examine the synergistic effects of DN-DISC1 and ?9-THC on extracellular and tissue content of glutamate, GABA, and endocannabinoids.
Specific Aim 3 will examine the synergistic effects of DN-DISC1 and ?9-THC on adolescent maturation of pyramidal neurons and GABAergic interneurons.
Specific Aim 4 will identify the mechanisms by which up-regulation of COX-2 signaling synergistically induced by DN-DISC1 and ?9-THC exposure leads to increased glutamate release and cognitive dysfunction. Our proposed research will identify the molecular mechanisms of how adolescent cannabis use leads to cognitive impairment in susceptible individuals to facilitate an informed search for preventive treatments of long-term adverse effects of marihuana use.

Public Health Relevance

The grant application aims to determine the convergent mechanisms of genetic predispositions and adolescent cannabis exposure on neuronal maturation and long-term cognitive changes. The proposed work will provide important knowledge about the cell type-specific molecular mechanisms of deleterious effects of adolescent cannabis use on cognitive behaviors in adults. It will uncover new therapeutic targets for major mental diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA041208-05
Application #
9954036
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Wu, Da-Yu
Project Start
2016-09-15
Project End
2021-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Leishman, Emma; Manchanda, Meera; Thelen, Rachel et al. (2018) Cannabidiol's Upregulation of N-acyl Ethanolamines in the Central Nervous System Requires N-acyl Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine-Specific Phospholipase D. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 3:228-241
Xu, Zhexue; Zhang, Shu; Huang, Liyuan et al. (2018) Altered Resting-State Brain Activities in Drug-Naïve Major Depressive Disorder Assessed by fMRI: Associations With Somatic Symptoms Defined by Yin-Yang Theory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Front Psychiatry 9:195
Leishman, Emma; Murphy, Michelle; Mackie, Ken et al. (2018) ?9-Tetrahydrocannabinol changes the brain lipidome and transcriptome differentially in the adolescent and the adult. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 1863:479-492
Jouroukhin, Yan; Kageyama, Yusuke; Misheneva, Varvara et al. (2018) DISC1 regulates lactate metabolism in astrocytes: implications for psychiatric disorders. Transl Psychiatry 8:76
Zhu, Xiaolei; Nedelcovych, Michael T; Thomas, Ajit G et al. (2018) JHU-083 selectively blocks glutaminase activity in brain CD11b+ cells and prevents depression-associated behaviors induced by chronic social defeat stress. Neuropsychopharmacology :
Yoshimura, Atsushi; Goodson, Carrie; Johns, Jordan T et al. (2017) Altered cortical brain activity in end stage liver disease assessed by multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy: Associations with delirium. Sci Rep 7:9258
Shevelkin, Alexey V; Terrillion, Chantelle E; Abazyan, Bagrat N et al. (2017) Corrigendum to ""Expression of mutant DISC1 in Purkinje cells increases their spontaneous activity and impairs cognitive and social behaviors in mice"" [Neurobiol. Dis. 103 (2017) 144-153]. Neurobiol Dis 108:362
Nishi, Akira; Numata, Shusuke; Tajima, Atsushi et al. (2017) De novo non-synonymous TBL1XR1 mutation alters Wnt signaling activity. Sci Rep 7:2887
Terrillion, Chantelle E; Abazyan, Bagrat; Yang, Zhongxi et al. (2017) DISC1 in Astrocytes Influences Adult Neurogenesis and Hippocampus-Dependent Behaviors in Mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 42:2242-2251
Shevelkin, Alexey V; Terrillion, Chantelle E; Abazyan, Bagrat N et al. (2017) Expression of mutant DISC1 in Purkinje cells increases their spontaneous activity and impairs cognitive and social behaviors in mice. Neurobiol Dis 103:144-153