CANNABISTARG

Regulation of normal and pathological activity of cortical networks by cannabinoids: focus on direct modulation of inhibitory GABAA and glycine receptors

Coordinatore	UNIVERSITE DE LA MEDITERRANEE D'AIX-MARSEILLE II    more  Organization address address: Boulevard Charles Livon, Jardin du Pharo 58 city: MARSEILLE postcode: 13284 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Céline Cognome: Damon Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 91 31 97 97 Fax: +33 4 91 31 71 77
Nazionalità Coordinatore	France [FR]
Totale costo	0 €
EC contributo	226˙491 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008
Funding Scheme	MC-IIF
Anno di inizio	2009
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2009-03-02   -   2011-03-01

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	UNIVERSITE DE LA MEDITERRANEE D'AIX-MARSEILLE II  Organization address address: Boulevard Charles Livon, Jardin du Pharo 58 city: MARSEILLE postcode: 13284 contact info Titolo: Ms. Nome: Céline Cognome: Damon Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 91 31 97 97 Fax: +33 4 91 31 71 77	FR (MARSEILLE)	coordinator	226˙491.12

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Cannabinoid signaling is ubiquitous in the brain, but until now the focus has been on G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) mediated effects. Recently growing number of studies report that cannabinoids at physiologically relevant concentrations can modulate the functional properties of a number of ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels, independent of CB1R activation. However, so far the importance of this pathway in cannabinoid signaling remains largely underestimated. Our new findings show that cannabinoids can act as direct neuromodulators of the GABA and glycine receptors. The newly discovered direct interaction of cannabinoids with inhibitory receptors displays features which differ from the CB1R-dependent modulation, therefore it may have completely different, so far unexpected, impact on neuronal activity. It is generally accepted that the balance between synaptic excitation and synaptic inhibition is essential for network activity and information processing. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders affecting 2% of the world’s population, in which normal brain function is disrupted as a consequence of intensive and synchronous burst activity from neuron assemblies. At present ~30% of epileptics are not adequately controlled with conventional drugs due to development of tolerance and pharmacoresistance, therefore justifying the search for new antiepileptic targets.We hypothesized that direct modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission by cannabinoids might have high impact on initiation and development of the epileptoform activity and may provide effective tools for controlling the network function.Using multidisciplinary approach within the proposed project we will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying CB1R-independent interaction of cannabinoids and inhibitory receptors and the role of this interaction in the function of normal and epileptic cortical networks.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded study of the neurological action of cannabinoids points to their potential as pharmacological tools to treat epilepsies.