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Local acidosis has been found in various pain-generating conditions such as inflammation and tissue injury. Cannabinoids exert a powerful inhibitory control over pain initiation via peripheral cognate receptors. However, the peripheral molecular targets responsible for the antinociceptive effects of cannabinoids are still poorly understood. Here, we have found that WIN55,212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, inhibits the activity of native acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. WIN55,212-2 dose-dependently inhibited proton-gated currents mediated by ASICs. WIN55,212-2 shifted the proton concentration–response curve downwards, with an decrease of 48.6±3.7% in the maximum current response but with no significant change in the EC50 value. The inhibition of proton-gated current induced by WIN55,212-2 was almost completely blocked by the selective CB1 receptor antagonist AM 281, but not by the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630. Pretreatment of forskolin, an AC activator, and the addition of cAMP also reversed the inhibition of WIN55,212-2. Moreover, WIN55,212-2 altered acid-evoked excitability of rat DRG neurons and decreased the number of action potentials induced by acid stimuli. Finally, WIN55,212-2 attenuated nociceptive responses to injection of acetic acid in rats. These results suggest that WIN55,212-2 inhibits the activity of ASICs via CB1 receptor and cAMP dependent pathway in rat primary sensory neurons. Thus, cannabinoids can exert their analgesic action by interaction with ASICs in the primary afferent neurons, which was novel analgesic mechanism of cannabinoids.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the mental health and psychological responses in Wuhan, a severely affected area, and other areas of China during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on February 10-20, 2020. A set of online questionnaires was used to measure mental health and responses. A total of 1397 participants from Wuhan (age, 36.4 ± 10.7 years; male, 36.1%) and 2794 age-and sex-matched participants from other areas of China (age, 35.9 ± 9.9 years; male, 39.0%) were recruited. Results: Compared with their counterparts, participants from Wuhan had a significantly higher prevalence of any mental health problems (46.6% versus 32.2%; adjusted odds ratio [

Objectives: This present study aimed to examine the effects of adiponectin-transfected endothelial progenitor cells (LV-APN-EPCs) on cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods: Seventy male Sprague–Dawley rats with T2DM were randomly divided into sham, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), LV-APN-EPCs, LV-EPCs, and EPCs groups. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by the intraluminal suture method. After 1 h of reperfusion, the five interventions were performed by tail-vein injections. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was used to assess neurological function before and on days 1, 7, and 14 after MCAO. After 14 days, magnetic resonance imaging scanning, hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal dUTP nick-end labeling staining, Western blotting analysis, cluster of differentiation (CD) 31 immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate infarct rate, morphological damage, cell apoptosis, and microvessel density.Results: Compared with PBS, LV-EPCs, and EPCs groups, the LV-APN-EPCs group showed significantly lower mNSS score, lower infarct rate, and less morphological damage (all P < 0.05). In addition, compared with other groups, the LV-APN-EPCs group had significantly increased levels of B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) protein, CD31+ microvessels, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and decreased levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein and neuronal apoptosis in the peri-infarct cortex (all P < 0.05).Conclusion: These results suggest that LV-APN-EPCs exert protective effects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in T2DM rats by increasing angiogenesis.

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