CBD modulates DNA methylation in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of mice exposed to forced swim

Author(s)

Sales, Amanda J. ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Francisco S. ^{[2, 1]} ; Joca, Samia R. L. ^{[2, 1, 3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Pharmacol, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Interdisciplinary Res Appl Neurosci NAPNA, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biomol Sci, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Aarhus Univ, AIAS, Hoegh Guldbergs Gade 6B, Bldg 1632, DK-8000 Aarhus C - Denmark

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Behavioural Brain Research; v. 388, JUN 18 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa plant, shows therapeutic potential in psychiatric disorders, including depression. The molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effects of CBD are not yet understood. Previous studies in differentiated skin cells demonstrated that CBD regulates DNA methylation, an overall repressive epigenetic mechanism. Both stress exposure and antidepressant treatment can modulate DNA methylation in the brain, and lead to gene expression changes associated with depression neurobiology. We investigated herein if the antidepressant effect of CBD could be associated with changes in DNA methylation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC) of mice submitted to the forced swimming WA (FST). Therefore, we assessed: i) the behavioral effects induced by CBD and DNA methylation inhibitors (DNMTi: 5-AzaD and RG108), alone or in association; ii) the effects induced by CBD and DNMTi in global DNA methylation and DNMT activity, in PFC and HPC. Results showed that treatment with CBD (10 mg/kg), 5-AzaD and RG108 (0.2 mg/kg) induced an antidepressant-like effect in the FST. Similar effects were observed after the combination of sub-effective doses of CBD (7 mg/kg) and 5-AzaD or CBD (7 mg/kg) and RG108 (0.1 mg/kg). Also, stress reduced DNA methylation and DNMT activity in the HPC and increased it in the PFC. CBD and DNMTi treatment prevented these changes in both brain structures. Altogether, our results indicate that CBD regulates DNA methylation in brain regions relevant for depression neurobiology, suggesting that this mechanism could be related to CBD-induced antidepressant effects. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/17626-7 - Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the role of atypical neurotransmitters in neuropsychiatric disorders
• Grantee: Francisco Silveira Guimaraes
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/17281-7 - Involvement of epigenetic mechanisms induced by DNA methylation on stress-induced behavioral consequences and on the expression of genes involved in the neurobiology of depression
• Grantee: Sâmia Regiane Lourenço Joca
• Support type: Regular Research Grants