Anandamide

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Anandamide
Anandamide skeletal.svg
Names
IUPAC name
(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)icosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenamide
Other names
N-arachidonoylethanolamine
arachidonoylethanolamide
Identifiers
94421-68-8 N
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
Interactive image
ChEBI CHEBI:2700 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL15848 YesY
ChemSpider 4445241 YesY
2364
MeSH Anandamide
PubChem 5281969
UNII UR5G69TJKH YesY
Properties
C22H37NO2
Molar mass 347.53 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamine or AEA, is a fatty acid neurotransmitter derived from the non-oxidative metabolism of eicosatetraenoic acid (arachidonic acid) an essential ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means "joy, bliss, delight", and amide.[1][2] It is synthesized from N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways.[3] It is degraded primarily by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme, which converts anandamide into ethanolamine and arachidonic acid. As such, inhibitors of FAAH lead to elevated anandamide levels and are being pursued for therapeutic use.[4][5]

Physiological functions[edit]

Anandamide was first described in 1992 by W. A. Devane, Lumír Hanuš.[1]

Anandamide's effects can occur in either the central or peripheral nervous system. These distinct effects are mediated primarily by CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system, and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the periphery.[6] The latter are mainly involved in functions of the immune system. Cannabinoid receptors were originally discovered as being sensitive to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol9-THC, commonly called THC), which is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. The discovery of anandamide came from research into CB1 and CB2, as it was inevitable that a naturally occurring (endogenous) chemical would be found to affect these receptors.

Anandamide has been shown to impair working memory in rats.[7] Studies are under way to explore what role anandamide plays in human behavior, such as eating and sleep patterns, and pain relief.

Anandamide is also important for implantation of the early stage embryo in its blastocyst form into the uterus. Therefore, cannabinoids such as Δ9-THC might influence processes during the earliest stages of human pregnancy.[8] Peak plasma anandamide occurs at ovulation and positively correlates with peak estradiol and gonadotrophin levels, suggesting that these may be involved in the regulation of AEA (anandamide) levels.[9] Subsequently, anandamide has been proposed as a biomarker of infertility, but so far lacks any predictive values in order to be used clinically.[10]

Anandamide plays a role in the regulation of feeding behavior, and the neural generation of motivation and pleasure. In addition, anandamide injected directly into the forebrain reward-related brain structure nucleus accumbens enhances the pleasurable responses of rats to a rewarding sucrose taste, and enhances food intake as well.[6][11] Moreover, the acute beneficial effects of exercise (termed as runner's high) seem to be mediated by anandamide in mice.[12]

Anandamide is the precursor of a class of physiologically active substances, the prostamides.[13]

Anandamide inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation.[14]

Anandamide is found in chocolate together with two substances that might mimic the effects of anandamide, N-oleoylethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine.[15]

Additionally, anandamide and other endocannabinoids are found in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly).[16][17]

Synthesis and degradation[edit]

In humans, anandamide is biosynthesized from N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE). In turn NAPE arises by transfer of arachidonic acid from lecithin to the free amine of cephalin through an N-acyltransferase enzyme.[18][19] Anandamide synthesis from NAPE occurs via multiple pathways and includes enzymes such as phospholipase A2, phospholipase C and NAPE-PLD.[3]

The crystal structure of NAPE-PLD in complex with phosphatidylethanolamine and deoxycholate shows how the cannabinoid anandamide is generated from membrane N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs), and reveals that bile acids - which are mainly involved in the adsorption of lipids in the small intestine - modulate its biogenesis.[20]

Endogenous anandamide is present at very low levels and has a very short half-life due to the action of the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which breaks it down into free arachidonic acid and ethanolamine. Studies of piglets show that dietary levels of arachidonic acid and other essential fatty acids affect the levels of anandamide and other endocannabinoids in the brain.[21] High fat diet feeding in mice increases levels of anandamide in the liver and increases lipogenesis.[22] This suggests that anandamide may play a role in the development of obesity, at least in rodents.

Paracetamol (or acetaminophen in the U.S.A.) is metabolically combined with arachidonic acid by FAAH to form AM404.[23] This metabolite of paracetamol is a potent agonist at the TRPV1 vanilloid receptor, a weak agonist at both CB1 and CB2 receptors, and an inhibitor of anandamide reuptake. As a result, anandamide levels in the body and brain are elevated. In this fashion, paracetamol acts as a pro-drug for a cannabimimetic metabolite. This action may be partially or fully responsible for the analgesic effects of paracetamol.[24][25]

Endocannabinoid transporters for anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol include the heat shock proteins (Hsp70s) and fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs).[26][27]

Medical benefits[edit]

It has been suggested that AM1172 could potentially be developed into a drug that would increase the brain's anandamide levels to help treat anxiety and depression.[28] Black pepper contains an alkaloid, Guineensine, which appears to be a relatively potent Anandamide reuptake inhibitor, thus increasing its physiological effects.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Devane, W.; Hanus, L; Breuer, A; Pertwee, R.; Stevenson, L.; Griffin, G; Gibson, D; Mandelbaum, A; Etinger, A; Mechoulam, R (18 December 1992). "Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor". Science. 258 (5090): 1946–1949. doi:10.1126/science.1470919. PMID 1470919. 
  2. ^ Mechoulam R, Fride E (1995). "The unpaved road to the endogenous brain cannabinoid ligands, the anandamides". In Pertwee RG. Cannabinoid receptors. Boston: Academic Press. pp. 233–258. ISBN 0-12-551460-3. 
  3. ^ a b Wang, J.; Ueda, N. (2009). "Biology of endocannabinoid synthesis system". Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators. 89 (3–4): 112–119. doi:10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2008.12.002. PMID 19126434. 
  4. ^ Gaetani, Silvana; Dipasquale, Pasqua; Romano, Adele; Righetti, Laura; Cassano, Tommaso; Piomelli, Daniele; Cuomo, Vincenzo (2009). "The endocannabinoid system as a target for novel anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs.". International review of neurobiology. 85: 57–72. doi:10.1016/S0074-7742(09)85005-8. PMID 19607961. 
  5. ^ Hwang, Jeannie; Adamson, Crista; Butler, David; Janero, David R.; Makriyannis, Alexandros; Bahr, Ben A. (April 2010). "Enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling by fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition: A neuroprotective therapeutic modality". Life Sciences. 86 (15-16): 615–623. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2009.06.003. PMC 2848893Freely accessible. PMID 19527737. 
  6. ^ a b Pacher P, Batkai S, Kunos G (2006). "The Endocannabinoid System as an Emerging Target of Pharmacotherapy". Pharmacol Rev. 58 (3): 389–462. doi:10.1124/pr.58.3.2. PMC 2241751Freely accessible. PMID 16968947. 
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  10. ^ Rapino, C.; Battista, N.; Bari, M.; Maccarrone, M. (2014). "Endocannabinoids as biomarkers of human reproduction". Human Reproduction Update. 20 (4): 501–516. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmu004. ISSN 1355-4786. PMID 24516083. 
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  13. ^ Woodward, D. F.; Liang, Y; Krauss, A. H. (2007). "Prostamides (prostaglandin-ethanolamides) and their pharmacology". British Journal of Pharmacology. 153 (3): 410–419. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707434. PMC 2241799Freely accessible. PMID 17721551. 
  14. ^ De Petrocellis, Luciano; Melck, Dominique; Palmisano, Antonella; Bisogno, Tiziana; Laezza, Chiara; Bifulco, Maurizio; Di Marzo, Vincenzo (7 July 1998). "The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 95 (14): 8375–8380. doi:10.1073/pnas.95.14.8375. PMC 20983Freely accessible. PMID 9653194. 
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  16. ^ Jeffries K, Dempsey D, Behari A, Anderson R, Merkler D (Nov 2014). "Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to study long-chain fatty acid amide metabolism". FEBS Letters. 588 (9): 1596–1602. doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2014.02.051. PMID 24650760. 
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  18. ^ Natarajan V, Reddy PV, Schmid PC, Schmid HH (August 1982). "N-Acylation of ethanolamine phospholipids in canine myocardium". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 712 (2): 342–55. doi:10.1016/0005-2760(82)90352-6. PMID 7126608. 
  19. ^ Cadas H, di Tomaso E, Piomelli D (February 1997). "Occurrence and biosynthesis of endogenous cannabinoid precursor, N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, in rat brain". J. Neurosci. 17 (4): 1226–42. PMID 9006968. 
  20. ^ Magotti P, Bauer I, Igarashi M, Babagoli M, Marotta R, Piomelli D, Garau G (Dec 2014). "Structure of Human N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine-Hydrolyzing Phospholipase D: Regulation of Fatty Acid Ethanolamide Biosynthesis by Bile Acids". Structure. 24 (3): 598–604. doi:10.1016/j.str.2014.12.018. PMID 25684574. 
  21. ^ Berger, Alvin; Crozier, Gayle; Bisogno, Tiziana; Cavaliere, Paolo; Innis, Sheila; Di Marzo, Vincenzo (15 May 2001). "Anandamide and diet: Inclusion of dietary arachidonate and docosahexaenoate leads to increased brain levels of the corresponding N-acylethanolamines in piglets". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 98 (11): 6402–6406. doi:10.1073/pnas.101119098. PMC 33480Freely accessible. PMID 11353819. 
  22. ^ Osei-Hyiaman, Douglas; DePetrillo, Michael; Pacher, Pál; Liu, Jie; Radaeva, Svetlana; Bátkai, Sándor; Harvey-White, Judith; Mackie, Ken; Offertáler, László; Wang, Lei; Kunos, George (2 May 2005). "Endocannabinoid activation at hepatic CB1 receptors stimulates fatty acid synthesis and contributes to diet-induced obesity". Journal of Clinical Investigation. 115 (5): 1298–1305. doi:10.1172/JCI23057. PMC 1087161Freely accessible. PMID 15864349. 
  23. ^ Högestätt, E. D.; Jönsson, B. A.; Ermund, A.; Andersson, D. A.; Björk, H.; Alexander, J. P.; Cravatt, B. F.; Basbaum, A. I.; Zygmunt, P. M. (2005). "Conversion of Acetaminophen to the Bioactive N-Acylphenolamine AM404 via Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase-dependent Arachidonic Acid Conjugation in the Nervous System" (pdf). Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280 (36): 31405–31412. doi:10.1074/jbc.M501489200. PMID 15987694. 
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  28. ^ Evans, Jon (July 2004). "Easing anxiety with anandamide". Chemistry World. 

External links[edit]