Atypical cannabinoid ligands O-1602 and O-1918 administered chronically in diet-induced obesity

• Main Authors: Anna C Simcocks, Kayte A Jenkin, Lannie O’Keefe, Chrishan S Samuel, Michael L Mathai, Andrew J McAinch, Deanne H Hryciw
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bioscientifica 2019-02-01
• Series: Endocrine Connections
• Subjects: cannabinoid; GPR55; GPR18; high-fat diet; O-1602; O-1918; obesity
• Online Access: https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/8/3/EC-18-0535.xml

Atypical cannabinoid compounds O-1602 and O-1918 are ligands for the putative cannabinoid receptors G protein-coupled receptor 55 and G protein-coupled receptor 18. The role of O-1602 and O-1918 in attenuating obesity and obesity-related pathologies is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the role that either compound had on body weight and body composition, renal and hepatic function in diet-induced obesity. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (40% digestible energy from lipids) or a standard chow diet for 10 weeks. In a separate cohort, male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 9 weeks and then injected daily with 5 mg/kg O-1602, 1 mg/kg O-1918 or vehicle (0.9% saline/0.75% Tween 80) for a further 6 weeks. Our data demonstrated that high-fat feeding upregulates whole kidney G protein receptor 55 expression. In diet-induced obesity, we also demonstrated O-1602 reduces body weight, body fat and improves albuminuria. Despite this, treatment with O-1602 resulted in gross morphological changes in the liver and kidney. Treatment with O-1918 improved albuminuria, but did not alter body weight or fat composition. In addition, treatment with O-1918 also upregulated circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-2, IL-17α, IL-18 and RANTES as well as plasma AST. Thus O-1602 and O-1918 appear not to be suitable treatments for obesity and related comorbidities, due to their effects on organ morphology and pro-inflammatory signaling in obesity.