Investigation of DNA damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in synthetic cannabinoid users

Abstract

Background: The widespread use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) among youth has become an important public health problem. Several life-threatening side effects of SC have been reported, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, renal, metabolic, ophthalmologic, and pulmonary effects, besides skin toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Methods: Given that high levels of SC can lead to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, it has been aimed in this study to investigate the effects of SC in aspects of primary DNA damage, plasma total oxidant status (TOS)/total antioxidant status (TAS), thiol–disulfide homeostasis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) level, and cytokine levels (interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)) of 40 SC users (SCUs) in Turkey. Results: Mean plasma TOS levels were significantly higher in the SCUs group than in the healthy group (HG). Similarly, mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage, plasma TOS, MPO activity, disulfide, oxidative stress index levels, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the SCU group than in the HG, whereas plasma TAS, total, and native thiol levels were significantly lower in the SCU group than in the HG. Conclusion: It is concluded that SC can cause increase in oxidative stress and in inflammatory processes in addition to its potential for DNA damage. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations should be held to understand more specific outcomes of SC use.

Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis are the Main Mediators in AMB-FUBINACA Induced Brain Injury in Male Albino Rats

“…The obtained data of the current study are in the same line with that obtained by Oztas et al, 50 who reported the impact of the synthetic cannabinoid AKB48 in the induction of a dose dependent significant increment in TNF-α and IL-6, revealing the neurotoxicity of AKB48 which is one of the third-generation psychoactive synthetic cannabinoid (Apinca). The obtained data in the current study also confirmed the finding of Guler et al 51 who recorded a significant elevation of IL-6, and TNF-α serum levels in synthetic cannabinoids users. So the present study proved the impact of inflammatory mediators among cannabinoid users.…”

Repeated exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 induces enduring immune and glial alterations in the rat brain

“…The authors observed an upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK 8) gene expression only with 25 µM AKB48, while the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were upregulated in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, the only case-control study available showed mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage, increased plasma total oxidant status, and increased levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in SCRA abusers [41]. Of note, only our group investigated in animal models the neuroin ammatory effects of active (self-administration) and passive (experimenter given, i.p.…”

Investigation of Antimicrobial Effect of Fluoxetine in Experimental Rat Sepsis Model

“…After electrophoresis, the slides were stained with ethidium bromide (2 μL/mL H 2 O, 70 μL/slide) and visualized using an epifluorescence-equipped 200x magnification fluorescence microscope (Leica DM 1000, Solms, Germany) equipped with a rhodamine filter (excitation wavelength of 546 nm and a barrier of 580 nm). We scored with a fluorescence microscope (Leica DM 1000, Solms, Germany) using the Comet assay IV software (Perceptive Instruments, Suffolk, UK) (Guler et al, 2020).…”