Metabolon is thrilled to participate as an exhibitor at the highly anticipated Neuroscience 2023 conference hosted by the Society for Neuroscience (SFN). The event, renowned for its focus on advancing scientific understanding in the field of neuroscience, will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from November 11-15, 2023.
Booth No. 2402 – View Map
Poster Presentation
Identifying Changes in Phytocannabinoid and Endocannabinoid Metabolites in Cannabis Users Utilizing a Novel UPLC-MS/MS Panel
Date: November 11, 2023, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Session: PSTR046 – Cannabinoids: Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms and Addiction
Poster No. PSTR046.08
Location: WCC Halls A-C
Presenter: Dr. Scott Hutton
Abstract:
Cannabinoid signaling plays a crucial role in the regulation of diverse neurological processes. However, the complex interactions between exogenous and endogenous cannabinoids in the human body remain unclear. The endogenous endocannabinoid system (ECS) modulates a broad spectrum of neurological functions, including pain perception, appetite, mood, memory, motor function, and inflammatory responses. Moreover, dysregulation of the ECS has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many disorders such as chronic pain, inflammatory disease, neurological disorders, and cancer. Exogenous phytocannabinoids are a diverse group of bioactive compounds found in Cannabis sativa that have been shown to act as exogenous ligands for the ECS, exerting diverse physiological effects on ECS-regulated pathways. As a result, there is significant interest in exploring the potential therapeutic applications of these compounds for ECS-modulated ailments. However, quantifying cannabinoids and their metabolites present unique challenges due to their low abundance and structural variability. A novel targeted UPLC-MS/MS method based metabolomic panel was developed to investigate the potential relationship between cannabis use and endocannabinoid levels in plasma samples from consenting young adults (age 18-25) diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) based on DSM-5 criteria. Our analysis measured up to eleven endocannabinoids, fifteen phytocannabinoids, and their associated metabolites. Statistically significant differences were observed between the CUD samples and the control group. As expected, tetrahydrocannabinols including delta 9-THC, delta 8-THC, and CBN, as well as human metabolites 11-COOH-THC and 11-OH-THC, were significantly elevated in the CUD group compared to the control group. Conversely, multiple neurotransmitter-conjugated acyl amide endocannabinoid metabolites were significantly reduced in individuals with CUD. Interestingly, these acyl amides are synthesized by the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which previous studies have shown to be differentially expressed in young adult cannabis users. Therefore, the use of our cannabinoid targeted metabolomics panel reveals for the first time an indirect correlation between plasma levels of phytocannabinoid metabolites and neurotransmitter-conjugated acyl amide endocannabinoids in individuals with CUD. Moreover, our study supports the use of targeted metabolomics in providing novel insight involving phyto- and endocannabinoid signaling.
Link to Poster Details: Identifying changes in phytocannabinoid and endocannabinoid metabolites in cannabis users utilizing a novel UPLC-MS/MS panel (abstractsonline.com)
