Title

Ajulemic acid, a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid acid, suppresses osteoclastogenesis in mononuclear precursor cells and induces apoptosis in mature osteoclast-like cells

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology; Department of Cell Biology

Publication Date

2008-03-06

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Animals; Apoptosis; Cannabinoids; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Macrophages; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Osteoclasts; Psychotropic Drugs; RANK Ligand; Stem Cells; Tetrahydrocannabinol

Disciplines

Cell Biology

Abstract

Oral administration of ajulemic acid (AjA), a cannabinoid acid devoid of psychoactivity, prevents joint tissue injury in rats with adjuvant induced arthritis. Because activation of osteoclasts is central to the pathogenesis of bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated the influence of AjA on osteoclast differentiation and survival. Osteoclast cultures were established by stimulation of RAW264.7 cells and primary mouse bone marrow cultures with receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL). Simultaneous addition of AjA (15 and 30 microM) and RANKL to both culture systems significantly suppressed development of multinucleated osteoclasts (osteoclastogenesis) in a dose dependent manner, as determined by quantification of multinuclear, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells. AjA impaired growth of RAW264.7 monocytes and prevented further osteoclast formation in cultures in which osteoclastogenesis had already begun. Reduction by AjA of both monocyte growth and osteoclast formation was associated with apoptosis, assayed by annexin V and propidium iodide staining, and caspase activity. The anti-osteoclastogenic effects of AjA did not require the continuous presence of AjA in the cell cultures. Based on these findings, we propose that AjA or other nonpsychoactive synthetic analogs of Cannabis constituents may be useful therapy for diseases such as RA and osteoporosis in which bone resorption is a central feature.

DOI of Published Version

10.1002/jcp.21263

Source

J Cell Physiol. 2008 Mar;214(3):714-20. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of cellular physiology

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

17786950

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