Phytocannabinoids, neuroprotection and the blood-brain barrier

The blood brain barrier (BBB) is central to the neurovascular unit (NVU) where it creates a semi-permeable barrier between neuronal tissue and the vascular networks that feed the brain. In neurodegenerative conditions and ischaemic stroke, the BBB becomes compromised and as a result its permeability increases. This not only exacerbates neuronal damage at the site of injury but also causes unwanted extravasation of peripheral immune cells into the brain, fuelling the overactivation of the immune response. Endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids have both displayed neuroprotective effects, attenuating damage in a range of models including Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, amyloid lateral sclerosis and ischaemic stroke. The current study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective properties of emerging phytocannabinoids; specifically focusing on the BBB and NVU in the context of ischaemic stroke pathophysiology. A four-cell blood brain barrier model was constructed consisting of; human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), astrocytes, pericytes and neurons. Cells were cultured on collagen coated transwell inserts and permeability was assessed using transepithelial resistance (TEER). A systematic review was conducted to examine work on the neuroprotective properties of minor phytocannabinoids, aside from cannabidiol (CBD) and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Following on from this, in vitro experiments were conducted using minor phytocannabinoids with the most neuroprotective potential; cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). Inserts or monocultures (four cell model and pericyte, HBMECs and neuronal monolayers) were subjected to either a 4 h oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) protocol or an 8 h OGD (astrocyte monocultures), to model ischaemic stroke in vitro. Media was analysed for various chemokines and cytokines using enzyme-linked immunoassays or multiplex assays. From the systematic review, emerging phytocannabinoids cannabidivarin (CBDV) and cannabigerol (CBG) were found to display efficacy in various neurogenerative conditions and of the limited available mechanistic data, were found to mediate some of their effects through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARy). Data showed CBDV (300 nM-10 µM) attenuated MCP-1 levels in HBMEC monolayers, as well as reducing IL-6 (30 nM, 1 µM and 10 µM; p<0.05) and VEGF (10 nM- 10 µM; p<0.01) levels in astrocyte monocultures post OGD. CBG (10 nM-3 µM; p