Pain modulation: effects of systemic treatment with cannabidiol and possible mechanisms

• Grant number: 22/05471-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Christie Ramos Andrade Leite Panissi
• Grantee: Christie Ramos Andrade Leite Panissi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Ribeirão Preto
• Associated researchers: Jesus Landeira Fernandez ; Olga Pol Rigau
• Associated research grant(s): 25/13872-3 - Effects of cannabidiol on oxidative stress and glial activation in female rats with neuropathic pain., AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/08922-9 - Assessment of inflammatory markers in a model of persistent pain associated with systemic treatment with cannabidiol, BP.TT

Abstract

Chronic pain has a high worldwide prevalence, being considered a public health problem with a high financial and social cost. The treatment of patients with chronic pain is challenging because, in some cases, the therapeutic efficacy is not adequate. Additionally, chronic pain is associated with critical emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression, making its pharmacological approach difficult. The search for the improvement of pain therapies involves a better understanding of the neurochemical mechanisms involved since the origin of pain, whether nociceptive/inflammatory or neuropathic, may involve different mechanisms of transmission and peripheral or central sensitization. Our research group has been investigating the mechanisms involved in the modulation of pain and emotional responses over the last decade. Our most recent findings describe mechanisms involving the neuromodulation performed by carbon monoxide and the interaction with opioid receptors. Additionally, we address treatment effects with cannabidiol (CBD) in a neuropathic pain model. However, the mechanisms involved in CBD-mediated analgesia still need to be clarified. Still, a gap to be better clarified is the interaction between CO, the opioid system, and the endocannabinoids in pain modulation. Based on the current scenario, this project initially aims to characterize the profile of treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) for neuropathic pain in an animal model that presents different levels of anxiety (Low and High Freezing Carioca strains). Additionally, considering the anti-inflammatory characteristics of CBD, we intend to assess whether early treatment with this compound prevents the development of peripheral neuropathy. In parallel, a third objective will be to evaluate the possible interactions between the endocannabinoid system with the opioid system and the CO gas neuromodulator in an inflammatory pain model. This study will deepen the knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the analgesia produced by systemic treatment with cannabidiol, and the interactions of the endocannabinoid system. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVA-CARDOSO, GLEICE K.; LAZARINI-LOPES, WILLIAN; PRIMINI, EDUARDO OCTAVIANO; HALLAK, JAIME E.; CRIPPA, JOSE A.; ZUARDI, ANTONIO W.; GARCIA-CAIRASCO, NORBERTO; LEITE-PANISSI, CHRISTIE R. A.. Cannabidiol modulates chronic neuropathic pain aversion behavior by attenuation of neuroinflammation markers and neuronal activity in the corticolimbic circuit in male Wistar rats. Behavioural Brain Research, v. 452, p. 16-pg., 2023-08-24. (21/13622-6, 19/12439-3, 22/05471-0, 18/06877-5, 14/50891-1)

MACEDO-SOUZA, CAROLINA; FERRARESE-TIBALLI, ALINE A.; MAISONNETTE, SILVIA SOARES; ROSSETI, FLAVIA; CATALAO, CARLOS HENRIQUE ROCHA; HALLAK, JAIME E.; CRIPPA, JOSE A.; ZUARDI, ANTONIO W.; LANDEIRA-FERNANDEZ, J.; LEITE-PANISSI, CHRISTIE RAMOS ANDRADE. Chronic cannabidiol treatment effects on contextual fear and neuropathic pain in Carioca rats high and low conditioned freezing. Behavioural Brain Research, v. 496, p. 13-pg., 2025-10-11. (22/05471-0, 14/50891-1, 19/22120-4)

SILVA-CARDOSO, G. K.; BELLO JR, P. E.; LAZARINI-LOPES, W.; FERRARESE-TIBALLI, A. A.; LEITE-PANISSI, C. R. A.. Low-intensity sciatic nerve-stretch injury increases nociception, anxiety-like behaviors, and astrocyte activity in male Wistar rats. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 58, p. 9-pg., 2025-01-01. (22/05471-0, 19/12439-3, 18/06877-5)